Holiday Types

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed outside customs and the immigration hall and transferred to your hotel where you can rest and prepare for your upcoming adventure.

After your early morning breakfast you’ll head out on your city tour of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Your guide will drive you around the quickly developing city including the memorial to the genocide of 1994. You will have the opportunity to witness the old Kigali blend seamlessly into the new developments which spring up around them. Kimironko Market will provide you with the chance to immerse yourself in the local culture with locals and visitors mingling in this cosmopolitan city. 

Following an early start you will be driven to Musanze with the chance to enjoy the countryside on the way. After checking into your lodge you will be taken to a village inhabited by reformed ex-poachers. The village is changing perceptions of what constitutes local tourism by sharing various aspects of rural cultures and turning livelihoods into tourist attractions. This creates income-generating activities for rural poor people. The village provides tourists experiences beyond wildlife viewing, by making the most of the people and their culture. The village also gives a chance to the visitors to enjoy the eight different local dances, listen to Gorilla songs, local food preparations, visit the local healer and get to hear old stories long into the evening. 

Leaving Musanze at dawn, you will be transferred to begin trekking to visit the golden monkeys through the jungle. Habituated groups can be found at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo and can number up to 100 monkeys. Visitors will have up to an hour of time with the monkeys and following lunch will be invited to visit the Gastura village and soak up the culture.

Another dawn start will lead to a morning of tracking magnificent Mountain Gorillas through Volcanoes National Park. The steep slopes protect the magnificent mountain range and the habitats where the gorillas are among the last of their species in the world. The rich mosaic of ecosystems will provide an enthralling morning with the highlight culminating in an hour spent with the gorillas in their natural environment.

Take the road to the south west towards the forests of Nyungwe where you will spend a couple of days marvelling at scenes straight out of a fairy tale. Scale the great treetops to take the canopy walk, among the primates, birds and butterflies for which Nyungwe is renowned. The canopy walkway consists of three bridges and is embedded in a guided tour along the Igishigishigi Trail. The park guide will point out the major features of the rainforest and its importance to Rwanda. Take the opportunity to engage with chimpanzees, making your way through dense forest to catch a glimpse of these reclusive creatures. Or take some time to relax with a traditional tea ceremony.  

Make your way slowly into Kigali, via the Kings Palace in the Nyanza District, the heart of the ancient Rwanda Kingdom before the arrival of the Europeans. The tradition hut has been rebuilt next to the modern palace which was built in 1934. Stay overnight in Kigali so you are centrally based for the next day’s activities.

Transfer for two hours in the morning to Akagera National Park for a day of games drives, boat rides and a more traditional safari. Stay in a tented lodge overnight as you stare in awe at the beautiful African night sky and take a different approach from the rest of your trip in order to make the most of your itinerary.

Having stayed overnight in Akagera, embark on another round of game drives to explore every environment possible. Track big game and the predators that hunt them. Return to Kigali and transfer to the airport for your flight home.