Day 1
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our representative who will assist you with customs and immigration clearance before collecting your luggage.
After clearing customs and immigration formalities, you will be met by our representative and escorted to the vehicle for your transfer to Kigali International Airport. Transfer time is approximately 30 min.
Day 1 – Day 2
Spend 1 night at Kigali Serena Hotel in a Prime room on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 2
Private road transfer from Kigali Serena Hotel to Magashi Tented Camp. Driving time is approximately 5 hours. As an alternative to the shuttle, a scheduled helicopter flight is available daily.
Day 2 – Day 5
Spend 3 nights at Magashi Tented Camp in 1 Double tent on a full board basis including accommodation, local drinks (excludes premium imported brands and champagne), transfer from the entrance gate of Akagera National Park to the lodge, daily safari activities, park fees, laundry, and local Government taxes. Lodge activities include guided game drives, boat cruises and walking safaris.
Enjoy a day at leisure.
Enjoy a day at leisure.
Day 5
Private helicopter flight with an Agusta 109 from Magashi to One&Only Nyungwe House.
Day 5 – Day 8
Spend 3 nights at One&Only Nyungwe House in a Nyungwe Room on a full board basis including non-alcoholic beverages with meals and two on site activities per person per day. On site activities include Natures Boot Camp, Chefs Garden, spear throwing, Umuganda community participation, conservation walk, The Secrets of African Tea, hilltop archery, exploring by bicycle and nocturnal spotlighting.
In Southwest Rwanda, just south of Lake Kivu on the Burundi border, One&Only Nyungwe House is set amongst the rich tea-plantations of Gisakura, on the edge of the iconic Nyungwe National Park. The park itself covers approximately 1020 km² of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps and bogs, and is one of the last mountain rainforest habitats on the planet.
Day 6
Scheduled Chimpanzee Tracking (morning activity only)
Depart the lodge early to go chimp trekking in nearby Cyamudongo Forest (1 hour drive). This small forest was historically connected to Nyungwe and is rich in bird species typical of the Albertine Rift Valley system. It also has a resident habituated chimpanzee group, and with the compact size of this forest, sightings are usually better here than for those trekking chimps in Nyungwe Forest itself. Nyungwe is the home of roughly 400 species of chimpanzees, Nyungwe is home to one of East Africa's last intact populations and boasts two wild chimp communities that welcome guests (one in Cyamdungo and other around Uwinka). Thus, it's not surprising that chimpanzee tracking is a popular activity in Nyungwe (especially when the park's trees are in full bloom during the summer) as well-trained guides often lead visitors through the park's forests. And while actually viewing chimpanzees is not guaranteed, you'll enjoy learning about these creatures and their natural habitats from your guides. But you'll probably have to get up around four a.m. to succeed in this very challenging activity as chimps are mostly likely to be seen early in the morning.
Day 7
Scheduled Primate Tracking (morning or afternoon activity)
Chimpanzees are far from the only creature that will fascinate wildlife lovers in Nyungwe as with thirteen recorded species, the park is home to East Africa's most diverse primate population. Nyungwe is the only location in Africa where you'll find "supergroups" of more than 300 Colobus monkeys and one of the few places worldwide where you'll see L'Hoest's monkeys (primarily on the main round near Uwinka). Another rare animal you might also run into is the owl-faced monkey, an Albertine Rift endemic that inhabits Nyungwe's southern forests. In fact, most of the monkey species found in the park are endemic.
Scheduled Canopy walk (afternoon activity)
The canopy walkway soars 50 metres above the forest floor. Experience the rainforest from a new perspective: The Canopy Walkway. Hanging 60 meters above the forest floor between giant trees and towers, East Africa's only Canopy Walkway provides a stunning view of the park's amazing wildlife and nature.
Day 8
Private helicopter flight with an Agusta 109 from One&Only Nyungwe House to Bisate Lodge.
Day 8 – Day 11
Spend 3 nights at Bisate Lodge in a Forest Villa on a full board basis including local drinks (excludes premium imported brands and champagne), laundry, complimentary in-room welcome massage (**additional massages would be for guests own account), “Gym in a bag” concept per guest, wireless internet connection in room only and local Government taxes. Lodge activities on the property include guided nature / birding walks in the forest on the property, guided nursery visit and indigenous tree planting, guided walk and vegetable picking at organic fields, guided walk to pyrethrum fields, sef-guided running trail, Rwanda coffee and tea cupping/tasting and sundowners with views of the volcanoes.
Bisate Lodge is located in the natural amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone – the word bisate means 'pieces' in Kinyarwanda, describing how the cone was once whole but has worn away through natural erosion. The area has dramatic views of the peaks of the volcanoes, Bisoke and Karisimbi, rearing up through the Afro-alpine forests of nearby Volcanoes National Park. The lodge will accommodate 12 guests in sumptuous en-suite Forest Villas that maximise comfort and views while retaining environmental principles and reflecting the culture of surrounding rural Rwanda.
Day 9
Scheduled Gorilla Trek
Today you will be tracking Mountain Gorillas. These critically endangered primates live in family groups of between 8 and 25 individuals. A number of these families have been habituated over a period of 5 years each to tolerate human presence for a brief period every day. Only 8 visitors per day are allowed to track each gorilla family. You will have an early start (at 07h00) at Kinigi Park HQ, where you receive a briefing and select your porters for the day.
Initially, you will walk along established paths, your ranger coordinating with the advance trackers by radio to guide you to the gorillas last know location. As you get to where the gorillas are, you will leave the paths and begin hacking your way through the slippery underbrush. Your porters will stay back as only your privileged party of 8 and your ranger approach the gorillas to spend your magical hour with them. The hour passes all too quickly, and then it’s time to reluctantly make your way back to your waiting vehicles.
In the afternoon, time, weather and energy permitting, your guide will accompany you through the rural countryside and villages of Kinigi and Musanze, where one can experience spontaneous street level culture.
Gorilla Permits
Please note we are not able to hold Gorilla Permits provisionally and confirmation of accommodation does not automatically mean confirmation of Gorilla Permits. We are only able to book Gorilla Permits on receipt of full payment for them. Once this has been received, we will then request for the Gorilla
Permits. Once booked, Gorilla Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Only 80 permits are issued for each day and they are sold on a first come first serve basis. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
Fitness Level for Gorilla Tracking
A standard Gorilla trek is a strenuous hike of between 1 – 4 hours each way. You will be tracking through thick forest at heights of up to 3,000 metres, crossing steep sided mountains and if the gorillas are high up it can be difficult and wet. Visitors need to be fit, in good health and properly equipped for the humid and muddy conditions of a rainforest hike. Expect to encounter tangled vegetation. The altitude can pose a problem for some visitors. You are advised to pace yourself, drink plenty of water and eat well the night before and at breakfast on the day of your gorilla trek.
GORILLA TRACKING PERMITS
Permits cannot be held provisionally, and confirmation of accommodation does not automatically mean confirmation of Gorilla Permits. The permits can only be booked on receipt of full passport details and full payment for the permits. Once this has been received, Journey Beyond will request the Gorilla Permits. Once booked, Gorilla Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Day 10
Scheduled Gorilla Trek
Today you will be tracking Mountain Gorillas. These critically endangered primates live in family groups of between 8 and 25 individuals. A number of these families have been habituated over a period of 5 years each to tolerate human presence for a brief period every day. Only 8 visitors per day are allowed to track each gorilla family. You will have an early start (at 07h00) at Kinigi Park HQ, where you receive a briefing and select your porters for the day.
Initially, you will walk along established paths, your ranger coordinating with the advance trackers by radio to guide you to the gorillas last know location. As you get to where the gorillas are, you will leave the paths and begin hacking your way through the slippery underbrush. Your porters will stay back as only your privileged party of 8 and your ranger approach the gorillas to spend your magical hour with them. The hour passes all too quickly, and then it’s time to reluctantly make your way back to your waiting vehicles.
In the afternoon, time, weather and energy permitting, your guide will accompany you through the rural countryside and villages of Kinigi and Musanze, where one can experience spontaneous street level culture.
Day 11
Private helicopter flight with an Agusta 109 from Bisate Lodge to Kigali International Airport.
