This is your ultimate 11-day journey through Rwanda, combining luxury with adventure and culture. The tour showcases Rwanda’s most iconic national parks and experiences, beginning with Akagera for game drives and a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, continuing to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and cultural immersion, and then on to the serene shores of Lake Kivu for relaxation, coffee tours, and scenic cruises. The adventure concludes with the misty forests of Nyungwe, where chimpanzee trekking, canopy walks, and tea plantation tours await. To ensure comfort and save travel time, scenic helicopter transfers are included to Volcanoes and back from Nyungwe to Kigali.
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport and transfer to the hotel
On the first day, you will arrive at Kigali International Airport where you will be warmly welcomed by your private driver-guide. After a short briefing about your safari, you will be transferred to your booked hotel in the heart of Kigali. The evening is reserved for relaxation and settling in, with dinner served at Kigali Serena Hotel where you will spend the night.
Dinner and Overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Kigali City tour –Akagera National Park (2.5 hours’ drive)
After breakfast, your guide will take you on a city tour of Kigali. You will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a moving site where more than 250,000 Rwandans were laid to rest, offering powerful insight into the country’s history. You will then explore the Inema Arts Center, home to some of Rwanda’s best contemporary art, and stop at Kimironko Market, a lively hub for local produce and crafts. After this enriching experience, you will drive east towards Akagera National Park, a protected savannah park filled with rolling plains, woodland, and lakes. Upon arrival, you will enjoy lunch and then set off on an evening game drive, searching for lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos along with giraffes, zebras, and hyenas. The night will be spent at Magashi Camp where you will enjoy dinner under the stars.
Overnight at Magashi camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Morning game drive and boat cruise at Lake Ihema
Have a relaxed breakfast very early with a sunrise game drive in Akagera National Park. This is the best time to see predators on the move and catch the early risers like lions and hyenas before they retreat into cover. You will have another chance to spot the Big Five if you missed any the previous evening. After the game drive, you return to the lodge for a hearty brunch. In the afternoon, you will head to Lake Ihema for a boat cruise. The lake, located in the southern part of Akagera, is home to hippos, crocodiles, elephants along the shores, and a variety of birdlife including the elusive shoebill stork. Dinner and overnight will once again be at Magashi Camp
Overnight at Magashi camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Kigali Airport – Helicopter flight to Volcanoes National Park (25 minutes’ fly)
After breakfast, you will check out and drive back to Kigali to connect with your helicopter transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Helicopter flights in Rwanda are operated by Akagera Aviation and depart from Kigali International Airport. You will board a modern aircraft — either the Agusta 109, Agusta 139, or Robinson R44 depending on the booking — with seating for 3 to 6 passengers. The flight takes approximately 25 to 30 minutes, saving hours of road travel. From the air you will have breathtaking views of Rwanda’s rolling green hills, patchwork farmland, lakes, and volcano ranges. The helicopter will land at Musanze airstrip near Volcanoes National Park where a representative from your lodge will meet you for the short transfer by road to Bisate Lodge. The afternoon is at leisure, allowing you to enjoy the serene environment, fine dining, and luxurious comfort of the lodge.
Overnight at Bisate Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park
This day marks the highlight of your journey in Rwanda. After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a detailed briefing about gorilla trekking. The park is home to ten habituated gorilla families, and visitors are divided into small groups of eight, with each group assigned to track a specific family. The trek itself has been described as one of the most thrilling wildlife experiences in the world. Once you encounter the mountain gorillas, you are granted a magical hour in their company. During this time, you will observe their fascinating way of life — watching them feed, groom one another, interact, and even witness the playful young ones swinging effortlessly from tree branches. The intimacy of this encounter leaves an everlasting impression. After the trek, your guide will drive you back to your lodge where the rest of the afternoon and evening is reserved for relaxation and reflection on this unforgettable adventure.
Overnight at Bisate Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Golden Monkey trekking and Volcanoes Cultural Experience
After an early breakfast, you will head to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a short briefing before beginning your Golden Monkey trek at 8:00 am. These rare primates, with their striking golden-orange patches of fur, live in large troops of up to 60–80 individuals and are found only in the high-altitude bamboo forests of this region. Scientifically known as Cercopithecus mitis kandti, they are a unique subspecies of the Sykes or “Blue Monkey.” During the trek, you will watch them as they leap gracefully between bamboo stems, forage on the forest floor, and play with endless curiosity. Your time with them is limited to one special hour, but the memory of observing these energetic and colorful monkeys will stay with you forever. After this remarkable encounter, you will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will set out on a village cultural walk, where you will experience the rhythms of local life. The community will welcome you to witness and even participate in traditional activities such as farming, basket weaving, beekeeping, wood carving, and butter churning, all brought to life with vibrant music and dancing.
Overnight at Bisate Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Volcanoes National Park – Lake Kivu (2 hours drive)
Drive from Volcanoes National Park to Lake Kivu. After breakfast, you will enjoy a scenic two-hour drive through the countryside, passing the beautiful twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Along the way, you will visit Rosamond Carr’s house and gardens, which remain a testament to her devotion to Rwanda and its people. You will continue on to Lake Kivu where you will check into the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Lake Kivu serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Lake Kivu boat cruise, Coffee tour and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park (4.5 hours drive)
You will enjoy a boat cruise on the tranquil waters of Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s largest freshwater lake. As you glide along, you will spot numerous bird species and take in the spectacular views of the surrounding hills and islands. You will then visit Kisimbiri for a coffee experience, learning the process from planting to roasting and tasting freshly brewed Rwandan coffee. Later, you will drive south to Nyungwe Forest National Park, where you will stay at the luxurious One & Only Nyungwe House.
Overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Nyungwe Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy Walk
After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to the Nyungwe Forest National Park headquarters for a detailed briefing before setting out at 8:00 am with ranger guides for an exciting forest walk in search of chimpanzees. Nyungwe is home to man’s closest relatives, and the experience of following their calls through the dense montane forest is nothing short of remarkable. As you encounter them, you will observe their fascinating behavior watching them leave their nests, play energetically, feed on fruits, and nurture their young. Along the way, the forest reveals its other hidden treasures, with up to twelve additional primate species to be seen, including the elusive Owl-faced monkey (Hamlyn’s monkey), Grey-cheeked mangabey, Red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, Vervet monkey, Olive baboon, Dent’s Mona monkey, Blue monkey, and the striking Angolan colobus monkey.
In the afternoon, the adventure continues with a canopy walk one of the highlights of Nyungwe. Suspended 70 meters above the forest floor, the 160-meter-long metallic bridge offers breathtaking views across the treetops, valleys, and ridges. The canopy walk is part of the Igishigishigi trail but can also be accessed by those hiking the Imbaraga or Umuyove trails. As you step onto the suspension bridge, you will feel the gentle sway beneath your feet, surrounded by bird calls and panoramic vistas of the ancient rainforest stretching as far as the eye can see. After this extraordinary day of exploration, you will return to One & Only Nyungwe House for dinner and an overnight stay.
Overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Water Fall Hike and Gisakura tea plantation and factory tour
You will set off on a guided waterfall hike, walking beneath towering trees, crossing streams, and arriving at a beautiful hidden waterfall deep in the forest. The hike takes about four hours round-trip. After lunch, you will visit a nearby tea plantation and factory where you will learn about tea cultivation and production before tasting some of the freshest tea in the region.
Day 11: Helicopter flight to Kigali Airport
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and head to the helipad for your helicopter flight back to Kigali. This scenic flight takes about 45 minutes, offering sweeping views of the Nyungwe rainforest, Lake Kivu, the Virunga volcanoes, and Rwanda’s famed rolling hills. Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your guide will meet you and transfer you to a fine restaurant in Kigali for lunch. Depending on your flight schedule, there will be time for shopping or a city stroll before being dropped off at the airport for your international departure.
- Airport transfers.
- Transportation by a 4wd luxury land cruiser.
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
- Gorilla permit per person to be secured and paid for in advance.
- Golden monkey tracking Park fees.
- Nyungwe Chimpanzee Permits.
- Water fall Walk.
- Rosemond carr house visit.
- Boat cruise on Lake Ihema and Lake Kivu.
- Coffee tour.
- Canopy walk.
- Cultural experience.
- Golden monkey trekking.
- Tea plantation tour.
- Helicopter flight as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Services of English speaking Driver/guide.
- Enroute lunches.
- Game drives.
However, the package excludes:
Expenses of personal nature like: flights, Visa, Golden Monkey, Pygmy village walk, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, and tobacco, Local flights, International flight.