Rwanda’s Gorillas, Nyungwe & Lake Kivu

KIGALI, RWANDA When you arrive at Kigali International Airport, you will be greeted and taken to your first hotel for check-in. You will spend the afternoon at your leisure before checking into the Kigali Serena Hotel. The Kigali Serena Hotel, located on a boulevard in the city core, is the height of grandeur. The hotel is decorated with magnificent Rwandan artworks, creating a vivid atmosphere of being introduced to Rwandan culture.

NYUNGWE, RWANDA After breakfast, you will be transported to Butare, Rwanda's cultural hub. You will go to the Butare National Museum, which has a remarkable collection of traditional clothing, maps, pictures, and historical objects. You will be escorted to Nyungwe National Park after a fantastic lunch at a local eatery. You'll spend the following two nights at the magnificent One & Only Nyungwe House, deep in the forest on a functioning plantation, away from locals and crowds as you make the jungle your wild home. This national park is one of Africa's oldest rainforests, home to endangered monkeys, reptiles, orchids, and unique birds. On the third day, you will journey into the bush in search of monkey colonies. You'll see them when they peer down from fig trees or as troops launch from canopy to canopy. Every journey is unique, and these endearing critters surprise and delight those who traverse their old jungle route. For two nights, you'll stay at One & Only Nyungwe House, which is nestled on a tea plantation on the outskirts of Nyungwe Forest National Park, a close-canopy rainforest 150 miles west of Kigali noted for its 13 species of primates, including chimps. On day 3 of your chimp trekking adventure, you'll get the chance to observe these beautiful monkeys in their natural environment.

RWANDA After breakfast, you will be taken along the beaches of Lake Kivu to Gisenyi, a picturesque lakeside town with an awe-inspiring shoreline and colonial-style hotels. Lake Kivu is one of Rwanda's most beautiful freshwater lakes, with a hidden interior beach fringed with leaning palms and surrounded by verdant terraced hills. The remainder of the day is free to spend as you like before retiring for the night at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. The resort-style hotel overlooks the lake and has its own swimming pool, tennis courts, and gym. You may also spend the day fishing, jet-skiing, or having a quiet canoe trip on the lake, simply soaking in the scenery.  

RWANDA VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK After breakfast, you have the morning to yourselves before departing for Volcanoes National Park. This national park offers a spectacular location for endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Your next two nights will be spent at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, a stone and terracotta tiled roofed woodland refuge. Views of the mist flashing from your own veranda, as well as roaring log fires in the evening, are available. There are few things more wonderful than trekking into the Virungas' wooded hills to see Africa's gorillas. Some gorilla families are elusive, and tracking may take a full day, especially when it's wet and muddy, but seeing these animals in their native habitat is well worth the effort. You'll get an hour with them before returning to base for lunch.

KIGALI, RWANDA Another exciting day awaits, as does the possibility to spend more time hiking to view gorillas and the golden monkeys who occupy this breathtaking region. You'll return to the resort for lunch before continuing your Rwanda adventure trip back to Kigali. Your final night will be spent in Kigali Serena Hotel, bringing your journey full circle.

After your final breakfast, you will embark on a city tour of Kigali including a visit to the Genocide Memorial, followed by lunch, whereafter you will be transferred to the airport to travel to your next destination or head home.