Arrive in Kigali and you will be warmly welcomed by a representative outside the customs and immigration hall. A transfer will take you to your city accommodation, the Retreat by Heaven, where you can enjoy an insightful tour briefing. An assisted check-in assures a smooth experience, followed by dinner and an overnight stay with breakfast.
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will check-out. Then begins an illuminating city tour with highlights including the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Inema Arts Gallery.
Genocide Memorial Centre: The Genocide Memorial is a must-see. Rwanda’s painful past has haunted the country for years, yet their impressive recovery story has turned them into an inspiration. The Genocide Memorial acts as a humbling reminder to those present and honours those who have been lost. Audio visual equipment will be provided in Dutch, English, and other languages.
Inema Art Centre: Founded by brothers in 2012, Inema Arts Centre is a vibrant, colourful hub that spurs creative expression for personal, social, and economic growth in Rwanda, bringing the community and country alive.
After lunch, you’ll be transferred to Kigali International Airport for a breathtaking helicopter flight to Akagera.
After lunch, you’ll be transferred to the helipad for a breathtaking helicopter flight to Volcanoes National Park. via Kigali. Rwanda is also known as the Land of a Thousand Hills because of the undulating grassy landscape. The Karisimbi Volcano (4,519m high) in the Virunga Mountains is the highest point in Rwanda, and on a clear day, you will be able to see it as you near your destination.
Your exciting journey culminates at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest resort helipad, where you will be warmly welcomed into the resort. Your evening in the jungle is at leisure, and includes a delicious dinner and overnight stay.
An early breakfast sets you up for a full day of discovery. You’ll journey to the park headquarters for the Golden Monkey trek briefing at 7am, before being taken to the head of the trail, ready for your guided walk at 8am.
The amazing trekking process usually takes around 4 hours, and once you come to the habituated monkey families, you’ll spend a fascinating hour with them as they go about their daily life.
Trekking to see the Golden Monkeys is an absolute highlight of Volcanoes National Park. The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti) is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the ‘Blue Monkey’ and is endemic to the high altitude forests. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive and often spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor. There are two habituated groups of Golden Monkey, one group comprises around 80 - 100 members, with its home at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo.
On the conclusion of your trek, you’ll return to the resort for a well-earned lunch and rest.
In the afternoon at 2.30pm a visit to the inspiring Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest awaits.
Iby’Iwacu is changing the traditional perception of tourism by sharing various aspects of their rural culture and livelihoods, creating income-generating activities for people that have reformed from living on poaching for generations
Another beautiful early breakfast precedes the day, before heading to the park headquarters for the gorilla trek briefing at 7am. We will then transfer you to the starting point of your guided walk, ready to begin this amazing adventure at 8am.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is often described as “life changing” and with good reason. With only an estimated 880 Gorillas left in the world, to see these gentle creatures in their natural habitat are a truly unique moment. Hikes in the mountains can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours+ depending on the family allocated to your group and their location. The journey back can take just as long, but you are often carried along by the euphoria you feel after seeing the gorillas,
The largest gorilla group ever studied is in Rwanda and was led by Cantsbee. He was the oldest known mountain gorilla in the world. A gorilla family is led by a Silverback and include several younger males, adult and juvenile females, and infants. In addition to providing protection to group members, Silverbacks maintain order and decide all activities within their troop. They schedule feeding trips, resting time, and travel. They also father the majority of young in the group.
After a most memorable experience encountering these creatures, you will return to the resort for lunch. The afternoon is at your leisure, with an array of captivating activities on offer, should you wish to keep discovering.
After your breakfast at the resort, you will be assisted with check-out. At 11am it’s time to climb aboard the helicopter for an unforgettable scenic flight to Nyungwe National Park, where the largest mountain forest in East and Central Africa is found. The heart of Nyungwe National Park is like a scene from a fairy tale. Ancient mahoganies, ebonies, and giant tree ferns tower above you, whilst orchids and other epiphytes cling to every branch. Brightly coloured birds flit around; butterflies hum in the air; not to mention the appearance of a variety of playful primates for which Nyungwe National Park is renowned.
Arriving at 11.45am, you’ll be greeted by our guide and brought to the exceptional One&Only Nyungwe House. Once you’re checked-in, it’s time to enjoy a delectable lunch. The afternoon is free for you to unwind amongst the elements, or take part in one of the complimentary activities on offer, such as boot camp, spear throwing, a conservation walk, tea tasting, exploring by bicycle or Nyungwe’s nocturnal walk. In the evening, a beautifully prepared dinner is served and you’ll enjoy an overnight stay at One&Only Nyungwe House.
The day begins bright and early, driving to the park headquarters at 5am with a delicious packed breakfast. After an insightful chimpanzee trek briefing, you’ll be escorted to the Evergreen Forest for 6am, when the adventure begins. Alongside the famous chimps, you are likely to spot a wide variety of bird life.
Their playfulness and human–like characteristics make this journey so rewarding. You may even be welcomed by chimp morning calls deep in the forest. Upon encountering the chimps, you can stay in their presence for one hour as you enjoy their acrobatics, feeding, and day-to-day behaviours.
You’ll make your return to the resort at around 11am, and a welcome lunch will be served at 1pm.
The afternoon is then at your leisure, for relaxation or experiencing a new activity of your choice. A traditional tea tasting will be a highlight of the evening, before another delightful dinner and overnight stay.
After breakfast at the resort, we take you once again to the park headquarters for the canopy walk briefing at 8am. Your guided canopy walk will then begin at 9am.
The canopy walkway consists of three bridges and three towers, with a total length of 200m. The walkway is embedded in a guided tour along the breathtaking Igishigishigi Trail. On this journey, your expert Park Guide will not only reveal the forest canopy, but also explain why it is an integral part of the tropical rainforest ecosystem. You will learn what the major characteristics of a rainforest and its canopy are, and the importance Nyungwe National Park has for Rwanda as a whole.
After this insightful tour, you’ll return to the resort for lunch. The afternoon is again free, to indulge, relax, or get active around resort. In the evening, dinner is served, and you can enjoy your final overnight stay, surrounded by the jungle elements.
The morning is at leisure within the resort, including a beautiful relaxed breakfast. Check out is at 12pm, though you can then enjoy lunch and a little more time to relax.
Your scenic helicopter flight to Kigali takes off at 3.30pm, where you will arrive and check-in for your outbound flight.
For now, your safari adventure concludes, but the memories will stay with you forever!
