Itinerary
- Day 1
Kigali
You'll arrive at Kigali Airport where your guide meets you for a briefing over specialty Rwandan coffee. After that, there's a Coffee Masterclass covering the crop-to-cup process and how the beans go from farm to cup. Then you'll head to the Kigali Genocide Memorial for an educational tour of the site. By evening, you'll check into your hotel and settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (High-grade Arabica coffee grown by women's coops in Rwanda at One Cup Coffee Cafe during tour briefing), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Coffee Masterclass - crop-to-cup experience covering Rwanda's coffee history, growing, roasting, packing and tasting
- Kigali Genocide Memorial Visit - educational tour explaining the history and conditions leading to the 1993 genocide, with insights into Rwanda's reconciliation and rebuilding
Landmarks/POIs Kigali Genocide Memorial One Cup Coffee Cafe - Day 2
Kigali to Akagera National Park
The drive to Akagera National Park takes about 2.5 hours, passing through local towns and villages. Once you arrive at Africa's second oldest national park, now a Big 5 safari destination, you'll do a morning game drive in the southern sector. After returning for lunch, you'll head back out for an afternoon game drive followed by a sunset boat safari on Lake Ihema. You'll stay at a tented lodge right on the lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Southern sector game drive - wildlife viewing for Giraffes, Zebras, Baboons, Waterbuck, and Buffalo
- Lake Ihema sunset boat safari (1 hour) - viewing hippos, crocodiles, and 423-bird species of Akagera
Landmarks/POIs Akagera National Park Lake Ihema - Day 3
Akagera National Park
Starting early, you'll take a guided 2-hour nature walk around the park perimeter with a community volunteer, getting close looks at wildlife. From there you'll transfer to Karenge Bush Camp for lunch. In the afternoon, you'll explore the northern circuit by game drive through the savannah, searching for top predators, giraffes, and elephants throughout the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk the Line Experience - 2-hour (7km, moderate difficulty) guided nature walk around park perimeter led by community volunteer with close wildlife viewing
- Northern sector afternoon game drive - wildlife viewing in the northern savannah for predators, giraffes, and elephants
Landmarks/POIs Akagera National Park - Day 4
Akagera National Park
This full-day game drive takes you from Akagera's southern reaches all the way up to the northern sector. You'll stop at Hippo's Beach viewpoint for a packed lunch where you can watch hippos while eating. From there you'll continue into the northern savannah looking for lions and rhinoceros, with views of numerous lakes and different bird species along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch at Hippo's Beach viewpoint), Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day game drive from southern to northern sector - wildlife viewing including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes, and bird species
Landmarks/POIs Akagera National Park Hippo's Beach viewpoint - Day 5
Akagera National Park to Volcanoes National Park
After early breakfast, you'll drive 2-3 hours through northeastern Akagera and rural Rwandan landscapes, stopping for lunch at Sooko, a local initiative. The road then climbs for about an hour through mountains until you reach Musanze at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park. You'll visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Fund, check in to your lodge, and then attend a 5:30 pm presentation by the Gorilla Doctors.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Sooko stopover), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Fund visit - state-of-the-art centre for Mountain Gorilla Conservation education and research
- Gorilla Doctors presentation (5:30 pm) - insight into the work of veterinarians caring for Mountain Gorillas and their population growth since 1986
Landmarks/POIs Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Fund Volcanoes National Park - Day 6
Volcanoes National Park
Very early wake-up at 6:30 am, then a 30-minute drive to Volcanoes National Park Headquarters. You'll meet traditional dancers and get a trek briefing from park rangers. The trek through thick forest lasts 2-6 hours tracking Mountain Gorillas, and if you find a troop, you'll spend an hour observing them. After descending back, lunch is at your accommodation. In the afternoon, you'll take a 2-3 hour canoe trip on the Mukungwa River through farms and communities at the park base.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast before 6:30 am departure), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Mountain Gorilla Trek - tracking trek lasting 2-6 hours through thick forest with possibility of one-hour encounter with a gorilla troop
- Mukungwa River Canoe (2-3 hours) - paddling around farms, fields, and communities at base of Volcanoes with views of bird life, handmade bridges, hills, and mountains
Optional Activities
- Porter hire - available to help carry backpack or bag and assist during hiking
Landmarks/POIs Volcanoes National Park Mukungwa River - Day 7
Volcanoes National Park to Muhanga District
You'll drive about 2 hours 49 minutes covering 133 km to Muhanga district to experience authentic rural Rwandan farming life in a mud hut. Choose one activity from eight authentic rural experiences available during the day. By evening, you'll enjoy the Azizi Life Musical Adventure with traditional artists performing sunset storytelling, then join in a traditional drumming and dancing workshop.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Authentic rural activity experience - choose one activity including: A Day in the Life of an Artisan, weaving cooperative participation, Imigongo (cow dung art), Traditional Construction, Banana Juice Making, Traditional Cooking Day, Azizi Life Pathways, Crafting Workshop, or Candle Dipping and Hive Making
- Azizi Life Musical Adventure - sunset performance by traditional artists and storytellers with traditional Rwandan drumming and dancing instruction and participation in traditional costume
Landmarks/POIs Muhanga District - Day 8
Muhanga to Lake Kivu
After sharing breakfast with your host family, you'll depart heading 108 km toward Lake Kivu, a journey of about 3 hours. Lunch and a relaxing afternoon at your accommodation follow. In the evening, you'll experience the Lake Kivu Singing Fishermen tradition, watching local fishermen fill the air with songs and whistles as they head out on the lake using traditional boats with hooks and nets for about 2 hours, with an option to try fishing yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with host family at homestay), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lake Kivu Singing Fishermen experience (2 hours) - witness age-old fishing techniques with local fishermen in traditional boats using hooks and nets, with option to participate
Landmarks/POIs Lake Kivu - Day 9
Lake Kivu to Nyungwe Forest National Park
You can relax over breakfast with a lazy 10 am checkout. Then drive 93 km through scenic terrain with terraced farmlands, tea plantations, and dense forests toward Nyungwe Forest National Park, Africa's largest temperate rainforest, a drive of about 2 hours 12 minutes. Watch for monkeys along the road. After a packed lunch, you'll explore the famous Canopy Walkway, a 160-meter suspended bridge offering treetop views and wildlife sightings. Settle into your hotel for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Canopy Walkway - 160-meter suspended bridge high above the forest floor providing close encounter with forest canopy, stunning vistas, and potential wildlife sightings
Landmarks/POIs Nyungwe Forest National Park Canopy Walkway - Day 10
Nyungwe Forest National Park to Lake Kivu
Very early wake-up at 5:00 am and eat packed breakfast on the way to the Chimpanzee Trek starting point, a 22 km drive taking about an hour. Park rangers will brief you on trek rules and chimp behavior before heading into the jungle with walking sticks. Depending on what the trackers find, you'll encounter troops of 20-60 chimps. Return for lunch and freshen up. In the afternoon, take a 3-hour boat tour around Nkombo Island on Lake Kivu, climbing to visit the island community and enjoy traditional dances and handcrafted baskets before returning.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Packed breakfast eaten on the way to trek), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Chimpanzee Trek - guided jungle trek with walking sticks, park ranger briefing on behaviors, and encounter with approximately 500 chimpanzees in troops of 20-60 individuals
- Nkombo Island Boat Tour (3 hours) - boat excursion to Rwanda's largest island (22 square kilometres) on Lake Kivu with steep climb to community speaking Rwandan and Congolese languages, traditional welcome dances, and traditional basket viewing
Landmarks/POIs Nyungwe Forest National Park Nkombo Island Lake Kivu - Day 11
Nyungwe Forest National Park to Kigali
Check out and drive 146 km to Gitarama and the King's Palace Museum in Nyanza, south of Kigali, a journey of 3.5 hours. This was King Mutara III Rudahigwa's original residence, restored to its 19th-century state. You'll explore the museum, see long-horned traditional cows recently brought back to the property, and visit the burial grounds of King Mutara III and Queen Rosalie Gicanda on neighboring Mwima hill. Then return to Kigali covering 100 km in 2.5 hours for a farewell dinner at Repub Lounge before heading to the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at King's Palace Museum cafe), Dinner (Farewell Dinner at Repub Lounge - Authentic Rwandan Food)
Included Activities
- King's Palace Museum visit - 19th-century restored royal residence with Rwandan cultural traditions, long-horned traditional cows, and access to burial grounds of King Mutara III and Queen Rosalie Gicanda on Mwima hill
- Farewell Dinner at Repub Lounge - Authentic Rwandan Food
Landmarks/POIs King's Palace Museum Nyanza Repub Lounge
