7-Day Highlights of Rwanda

Board your international flight to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. Once you arrive, you will be swiftly escorted by our representative who will transfer you to your chosen accommodation. As this is your first day, you will have time to leisurely explore Rwanda’s lively city. You’ll have an opportunity to visit the bustling local markets and the Caplaki Craft Co-operative where you’ll find local craftsmen in wooden huts. They'll be selling handicrafts, including jewellery, paintings, batik, fabrics, wood carvings, traditional masks, baskets, bags, scarves and beading. Main Destination: Kigali Accommodation: Heaven Boutique Hotel Mid-range hotel located in Kigali +3 Photos Meals & Drinks: Meals at own expense Drinks not included

After breakfast, you’ll be driven through spectacular scenery to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda’s mountainous southwest. The rain forest within the park is home to chimpanzees and monkeys, plus an abundance of birdlife and butterflies. *Accommodation upgrades are optional at an extra cost. Main Destination: Nyungwe Forest National Park(Chimps) Best Time To Visit June to September (Dry weather, best chimp trekking) High Season June to September (Popular gorilla trekking time in Volcanoes NP) Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot) Wildlife in Nyungwe NP Chimpanzee Common White Rhino None Black Rhino None Lion None Leopard None Cheetah None Show more Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel Mid-range hotel located just outside Nyungwe NP (Chimps) Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks not included

Today, you’ll join a guided hike through the dense forest of Nyungwe National Park to track chimpanzees. This is a phenomenal wildlife experience that is at par with gorilla tracking. Whilst the trek is undoubtedly exciting, it can be challenging as the chimps are very mobile and they’re always running around in the canopies, on the move from one place to another. During your time in Nyungwe National Park, you’ll also have an opportunity to cross the Canopy Walkway, a 200-meter bridge suspended between giant trees, 50 meters above the forest. The walkway offers incredible views of the upper canopy and it is excellent for spotting wildlife. Many of the primates live in trees so you’ll have better chances of locating them from the walkway. It is also a fantastic way to see the birds and butterflies that are found in the forest. *Accommodation upgrades are optional at an extra cost. Main Destination: Nyungwe Forest National Park (Chimps) Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel Mid-range hotel located just outside Nyungwe NP (Chimps) Meals & Drinks: All meals included Drinks not included

Today, you’ll depart Nyungwe and head to your next accommodation which is located on the white sandy shores of Lake Kivu. Here you can relax on the stunning palm-fringed beaches, kayak on the calm waters of the lake, take a boat tour to the nearby islands or coffee and banana plantations. You can also hike in the surrounding hills or visit Imbabazi Orphanage. *Accommodation upgrades are optional at an extra cost. Main Destination: Lake Kivu Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel Luxury hotel located at Lake Kivu +22 Photos Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks not included

After a hearty breakfast at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, you’ll be driven from Lake Kivu to Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park), which is roughly a four hour drive passing through breathtaking scenery. On arrival at your accommodation, you’ll have a briefing about tomorrow’s gorilla trek. *Optional accommodation upgrades are at an extra cost. Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park(Gorillas) Best Time To Visit June to August (It is drier and hiking is easier) High Season June to September (Permits are scarce) Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot) Wildlife in Volcanoes NP Gorilla Common Chimpanzee None Elephant Rare Buffalo Rare White Rhino None Black Rhino None Show more Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) +7 Photos Meals & Drinks: All meals included Drinks not included

After an early breakfast, you’ll venture out to Kinigi, at the foothills of the Virungas, in Parc National des Volcans where you’ll begin your trek. Your guide and tracker will lead you deep into the forest in search of your allocated gorilla family. Your trek could last from 30 minutes to eight hours depending on the exact location of the specific gorilla family which you’re tracking. When you meet the gorillas you’ll have the chance to spend up to one magical hour quietly observing them. The gorillas are likely to be just a few meters away from you and they will continue to go about their daily lives, feeding and interacting with each other, under the watchful gaze of the silverback. Late in the afternoon, you’ll be transferred back to your accommodation where you can spend the evening reflecting on your incredible encounter with the wild mountain gorillas of Rwanda. *Accommodation upgrades are optional at an extra cost. Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park(Gorillas) Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) Meals & Drinks: All meals included Drinks not included

On this morning, you’ll be driven back to Kigali, where you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Genocide Memorial and Education Centre which is a permanent memorial to those who were killed during the 1994 genocide. You will then be transferred to the airport for your flight home. Main Destination: Kigali Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour) Meals & Drinks: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinks not included