- Meet our local representative on arrival at Kigali International Airport
- Transfer from Kigali International Airport to Kigali Serena Hotel (± 45 minutes)
- Stay at Kigali Serena Hotel in a Standard Room for 2 nights
- Breakfast included
- Guided City Tour of Kigali and Lunch
Kigali is the capital and largest city of Rwanda, located geographically at the heart of the Country and one of Africa's / World's cleanest cities. The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare. Today, the city offers a remarkable mix of rural and urban town overflowing on contrasting hilly terrain. Highlights include the Old City, the craft market, the Hotel des Mille Collines and the Genocide memorial.
Located just outside of Kigali City Centre in the Gasabo district, Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. The centre is an extremely moving, challenging, educational and ultimately inspiring as well as a great place to understand the cause, tragedy and successful rebuilding post-genocide.
The memorial hosts a tour which is transparent and educational but very sombre and humbling when guests realise that over 250,000 deceased are buried on the site of the memorial.
- Private road transfer from Kigali Serena to Magashi Camp (± 3.5 hours)
- Stay at Magashi Camp in a Tented Room for 3 nights
- Twice daily safari activities included - game drives, boating, fishing
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
- Private road transfer from Magashi Camp to Kigali Serena (± 3.5 hours)
- Stay at Kigali Serena Hotel in a Standard Room for 1 night
- Breakfast included
- Private road transfer from Kigali Serena to One&Only Nyungwe House (± 8 hours, including visit to the King's Palace & Butare National Museum)
- Stay at One&Only Nyungwe House for 2 nights
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
- ± 5:00am Transfer to Nyungwe Park HQ for safety briefing and to be sorted into groups
- Spend a morning trekking in search of the chimpanzees
Spotting chimpanzees, with whom we humans share 98% of our DNA, cannot be guaranteed. They nest at different sites every night and are not easier to spot as they de-nest and start foraging for food, this is why Clients depart very early for the trek, accompanied by trained trackers who will be looking for signs - including nests and fresh droppings - and listening out for calls to lead trekkers to the chimpanzees.
Although Cyamdongo has an area of just 1.5 sq miles, the density of tropical trees, foliage and liana vines makes sightings tricky, the trail leading into the shadowy greenery is worn flat and precariously slippery in places, however the guides will offer support.
Afternoon activities included a canopy walk along the 500 foot long suspension bridge, which is suspended over 200 feet above the lush rainforest, offering a thrilling perspective of the ancient treetops and wildlife or a bird walk to view some of the over 300 species.
- ±7:30am: Colobus Monkey Trek
Transfer to park headquarters for a half day forest hike in search of the Angola Colobus monkeys which can be found here in large troops, some up to 450 individuals. They differ from the more common Eastern colobus by the extent of white hair and a leaner frame. This fair to moderate trek can be adapted to guests' fitness
- Afternoon road transfer from One&Only Nyungwe House to Lake Kivu (± 3 hours)
- Stay at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel 1 night
- Breakfast and dinner included
- Road transfer from Lake Kivu Serena Hotel to Virunga and onto Virunga lodge (± 3 hours)
- Stay at Virunga Lodge in a Banda for 3 nights
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
- ± 6:00am Transfer to Volcanoes National Park HQ for safety briefing and to be sorted into groups (±45 minutes)
- Hike to the gorilla family and spend an hour with them
- Your private guide will meet you after the trek and drive you back to the lodge for late lunch/tea and rest
The exhilarating trek, in the footsteps of the rare and critically endangered Mountain Gorillas, the largest living primate on earth, starts in the cultivated foothills of the Virungas with stirring views in all directions. Upon entering the national park, her paths littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive buffalo and elephant, trekkers will be immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with colorful bird calls, butterflies, etc. Through gaps in the canopy, the magnificent Virunga peaks, among the highest in Africa yet easily accessible, are glimpsed, beckoning an ascent.
Weaving through overhanging vines, moss-covered hagenia and giant lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate, our experienced trackers, they spent their entire lives in or close to this forest, soon bring you up close with the family.
Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting; raising their young. Coming face to face with a giant Silverback must truly be one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth!
- ± 6:00am Transfer to Volcanoes National Park HQ for safety briefing (±45 minutes)
- Hike to the golden monkeys and spend an hour with them
- Your private guide will meet you after the trek and drive you back to the lodge for late lunch/tea and rest
After an early breakfast you will be collected from your lodge and driven to Volcanoes National Park Headquarters for the start of your Golden Monkey experience.
The very beautiful Golden Monkey has a golden body, cheeks and tail with contrasting black limbs, crown, and tail-end. Not much is known about their behavior; other than they live in social groups of up to 30 individuals and their diet consists mainly of leaves and fruit - it is believed they eat insects too. Restricted to the highland forest of the Virungas especially near bamboo, they share this habitat with their big Brother the Mountain Gorilla, inhabiting a small area that overlaps the territory of one of the Gorilla families Together, they face the same threats; snares, human encroachment etc. and are listed on the IUCN Red List of critically endangered species.
Tracking usually takes from 2 to 4 hours. Once you come to the habituated families, you will spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch while females carry their young, completely oblivious of on-lookers.
- Road transfer from your lodge to Kigali International Airport (± 2 ½ hours)
