Travel with your private party on this Luxury Tailor Made Journey, departing when you choose and with expert local guides leading the way; you can even customize the itinerary to your interests.
Discover the wilds of Rwanda as you trek through Nyungwe Forest National Park in search of chimpanzees and track endangered mountain gorillas in verdant Volcanoes National Park, interacting with and observing them face-to-face.
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
DAY 7
DAY 8
DAY 1
Arrive in Kigali and transfer to your hotel.
The Retreat
DAY 2
This morning, pay a moving visit to the Genocide Memorial Site, and learn how the country has dealt with its past and recovered to stand today as a testament to humankind’s resilience. After lunch at a local restaurant, learn how to grow and harvest the coffee bean, from de-pulping to roasting and brewing during a visit to a Kigali coffee operation. Afterward, having gotten to know the coffeehouse staff, savor coffee made from the beans you roasted.
The Retreat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 3
After breakfast, drive south to Nyanza, the historical seat of the Rwandan kingdom, to visit the King’s Palace Museum. Continue to Nyungwe Forest National Park, a pristine, bio-diverse natural rainforest filled with intriguing wildlife. Arrive at your lodge, a serene hideaway occupying a tea plantation on the edge of the forest. Enjoy lunch on site and the remainder of your day at leisure, free to relax or enjoy the activities on offer.
One&Only Nyungwe House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
Early this morning, partake in a chimpanzee tracking excursion. Home to one of East Africa’s last intact chimpanzee populations, Nyungwe is an ideal place to observe chimps in their natural habitat. They are most active in the morning, making for an exhilarating encounter of the chimps playing free in the wild. The park is also home to nearly a dozen other primate species and a birder’s paradise with over 300 species, including 16 endemics. This afternoon, tour a nearby tea plantation where you have the opportunity to visit local farmers. Alternatively, you may choose to embark on a canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
One&Only Nyungwe House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
Set out on a scenic drive to Kibuye that take you to your boutique luxury lodge, a serene escape located on the shores of Lake Kivu. This afternoon, explore Lake Kivu on a peaceful kayaking excursion led by an experienced and qualified guide. Paddle out across the lake, soaking up the spectacular scenery. At sunset, as you return to your lodge, watch for fishermen heading out for night fishing in their unique and superbly crafted boats. Later, enjoy dinner on site.
Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6
Following breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park, where your early afternoon is free, yours to relax at your luxurious lodge overlooking a great volcanic massif that encompasses six active and three extinct volcanoes. The park is the residence of around 400 endangered mountain gorillas, about half of the world’s total wild population, and served as the base for the groundbreaking work of primatologist Dian Fossey, portrayed in the evocative book and film Gorillas in the Mist. Later, relax and cool off on an A&K-exclusive canoe trip accompanied by an experienced guide, gliding down the gently flowing Mukungwa River, which runs through the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes. Take in impressive views of the soaring volcanic cones in the distance, spot abundant birds, look out for the otters and meet some friendly locals along the way. To cap off your adventure, pull up on a bank for a refreshing sundowner, watching the sun slip behind the majestic peaks, your favorite drink in hand.
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7
Drive to Volcanoes National Park headquarters to join your gorilla-trekking group. With help from your park guide, traverse the dense forest until you come face-to-face with a local gorilla family. Observe them as they play, forage and rest in the shade of the trees. You are given one hour to spend in the presence of these magnificent animals.
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8
This morning, set out on another trek, this time observing a different gorilla family, marveling at their behavior so like our own. Following lunch at your lodge, return to Kigali this afternoon, where you relax in a provided dayroom, before transferring to the airport for your departing flight
Kigali Serena Hotel (dayroom)
Meals: Breakfast
Elevate your experience with a host of options available for an additional cost.
Add a night to your stay in Volcanoes National Park to join a morning trek to find the region’s rare and beautiful golden monkeys. Watch as these endangered creatures frolic and chatter among the tree branches, their infectious playfulness making them a joy to watch.
The Retreat
One&Only Nyungwe House
Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Kigali Serena Hotel
