Journey Time: Less 30 Minutes

Upon arrival at Kigali Int. Airport and completing immigration formalities, be received by our dedicated Safari Guide. After briefing, transfer to the hotel – Arrive and check-in to enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Overnight:

Midrange: Mille Collines Hotel – or similar

Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel – or similar    

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Journey Time: Approx. 03 Hours    

Pick-up time: 09:00AM. Have breakfast at the hotel and check-out to go for a city tour.

Explore the highlights of Kigali – Rwanda: This Kigali excursion is the best way to enjoy an authentic experience of Rwanda’s hilly capital and largest city. This photogenic city has an all-year-round moderate climate allowing you to visit any time. Kigali ranks among Africa’s cleanest and safest cities; with world-class facilities. On your city tour visit Kigali’s historical and cultural sites. Visit Kandt House – a former residence of Dr Richard Kandt. Head to Mount Kigali for splendid views of the city, to the Natural History Museum. Visit Kimironko Market for cultural interactions – and to shop for a few craft souvenirs. Tour the Presidential Palace Museum; once a residence for two former Presidents of Rwanda. Drive past Kigali commercial areas and suburbs and stop over at Kigali Genocide Memorial: Following the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, this site and a few others were converted into burial grounds for the victims; today over 250,000 are buried here.

Lunch may be served at a local restaurant. After lunch, depart Kigali to Volcanoes National Park. Arrive and check-in at the lodge with the rest of this evening at leisure.

Overnight:

Midrange: Ingagi Parkview Lodge – or similar

Luxury Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board (Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch)

Pick-up Time: 05:30AM. After an early breakfast at the lodge; be handed a lunchbox and mineral water to put in your backpack. Thereafter, proceed to the Park headquarters at Kinigi for registration and briefing.

Volcanoes Gorilla Tracking Experience – Upon completing park formalities, embark onto your once-in-a-lifetime experience of tracking the mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Upon an encounter with the gorillas, enjoy a magical hour of human-primate interactions and photography. Tracking the gorillas in the light mountain forests on the slopes of the Virunga is a captivating experience; these massive primates are usually hidden in the dense tropical forest, with less than 700 living today, but you will get within meters with any of the family visited today. Gorilla tracking may be fairly strenuous, lasting for an hour at a relatively high altitude of a dense tropical forest – an adventure worth the efforts invested. Wear hiking boots, trousers, and gloves for protection against stinging nettles as well as sufficient water as the rain forest gets hot and humid during the day. In case the trek takes longer than usual, your ranger guide will choose.

In the afternoon go for Iby’Iwacu Cultural visit – Exploring Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village offers an opportunity to meet the local people, in their community, with a taste of Rwanda’s culture and traditions. You will get to learn about the locals and their heritage treasures such as: a traditional lifestyle, activities, artefacts and unique crafts. Be engaged in cultural activities such as: A guided community walk, visiting some households for interactions | Visit the King’s house replica – be enthroned to be a king for the moment | Enjoy traditional entertainment | Listen to traditional folktales and learn about the herbs | Visit a local school | Witness a traditional banana beer and vodka brewery process.  

After exploring Rwanda’s culture, return to the lodge to refresh for dinner at leisure.

Overnight:

Midrange: Ingagi Parkview Lodge – or similar

Luxury Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Journey Time: Approx. 2 – 5 Hours – Based on lodge location

Pick-up Time: 06:00AM. Early breakfast at the lodge and luggage stored at the reception. Thereafter, depart the lodge and transfer to the Park’s Kinigi office.

Planned Activity: Hike to the Tomb of Dian Fossey – This exciting and interesting hike is offered every morning. The experience starts with arrival at the park office in Kinigi at 7am to have briefing by Ranger Guides. After briefing take a 30 minutes’ drive from the park office to the base of Mount Bisoke (Incl. is a walking stick and porters at a fee). The hike aimed at offering you a learning experience about the legendary works of Dian Fossey (an American primatologist and conservationist), who dedicated most of her life to research about the mountain gorillas. To facilitate research activities, Dian set up a camp in the valley between Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke thus named ‘Karisoke’ Research Centre resulting from its location – however, she was assassinated on 26^th Dec, 1985 due to conflicts with poachers, and she was buried close to her favourite gorilla named “Digit”.

The hiking trail will take you to both Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi; exploring some of the most beautiful features of the park; see unique plant life, scenic views of the Virungas, varied forest/mountain wildlife with chances of seeing the gorillas but with no pictures. At Karisoke you will get to the exact house from where Dian Fossey was murdered as well as her grave; buried close to gorillas killed by poachers or death from other ailments. You will as well visit Ellen De Generes Campus of Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund – opened in 2022 to keep Dian Fossey’s legacy and saving the gorillas from extinction.

Return to the lodge for an early lunch and travel to Lake Kivu: Arrive and get to the hotel to check-in with the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner inclusive.

Overnight:

Midrange: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel – or similar

Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena – or similar

Meal Plan: Half Board (Dinner and Breakfast)

Breakfast, Lunch and dinner is arranged at the hotel. 

The day’s planned activities to explore include:

Visiting Gisenyi Hotsprings – In “Kinyarwanda”, the Hotsprings are called “Amashuza”. The Gisenyi Hotsprings are situated in Gisenyi district on the eastern shores of Lake Kivu; with numerous vents of water boiling from 70 to 80^OC, capable of boiling eggs within 20minutes. To the locals, the site is a sickbay for body baths in times of illnesses (chest pain, stress, flu and aiding digestion). While at the hotsprings you will sight half-naked children, women, bare-chested men as well as eggs getting boiled by nature. Explore the natural healing properties of the hotsprings onsite as you interact with the locals.

Next is a Boat Cruise on Lake Kivu (Approx. 2 Hours) – Lake Kivu is a true African gem surrounded by scenic rolling hills and misty mountains. By taking a boat ride (approx. three hours), you will be exploring the lake’s crystal clear waters and learning about the region’s culture, ecology and the water-human correlation. A boat trip on Lake Kivu will take you up to Napoleon Island; from where you will spot a large colony of fruit bats and a variety of birds especially the African fish eagle and shoreline fishing villages.

In the late afternoon, go for a Mountain Bike Tour – Mountain Biking along Lake Kivu offers opportunities for viewing a breath-taking landscape (lush green rolling hills and serene lakeside paths) through the region’s dramatic terrain: This is another best way to connect with nature, surrounding local communities and great views at sunset! Traversing the picturesque villages and towns around Lake Kivu, is a great opportunity to indulge in cultural interactions – seeing hospitable locals and witness their everyday lives.

Returning to the hotel will be in the late evening – dinner inclusive.  

Lake Kivu known for beautiful scenery, numerous activities, fancy hotels and a perfect place to relax following a strenuous gorilla experience. This is one of the great lakes of East Africa, situated between D.R. Congo to the west and Rwanda to the east. This picturesque lake lies at 1,460M above sea level and covers an area of 2,700km2 with a length of 90km and a width of 48km. Lake Kivu is composed of numerous islands, and Idjwi is the largest of all. At the shores of Lake Kivu, you will find densely populated principal towns such as Bukavu and Goma in Congo and Gisenyi in Rwanda. 

Overnight:

Midrange: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel – or similar

Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Journey Time: Approx. 5 – 7 Hours – Based on lodge location  

Pick-up time: 06:00AM. Early Breakfast and travel to Akagera National Park. Upon arrival at Akagera, get to the lodge and check-in for lunch before the boat.  

After lunch, enjoy a boat Cruise on Lake Ihema – Situated south of the park, Lake Ihema is the largest out of the ten lakes within Akagera National Park. This 5 – 7M deep lake covers an area of 90sq.km on the border between Rwanda and Tanzania and composed of a very rich biodiversity. Ihema is known for large hippo concentrations than any other East African country with other grazers, in addition you will spot a variety of birds such as papyrus gonolek, African jacana, herons, sandpiper, malachite kingfisher, hawks, with a chance to spot the rare shoebill stork.

Return to the lodge after the boat cruise and refresh for dinner at leisure.

Overnight:

Midrange: Akagera Safari Camp – or similar

Luxury: Mantis Akagera Game Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board (Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast)

Journey Time: Approx. 03 Hours

Pick-up Time: 06:00AM. Early breakfast at the lodge and check-out. Thereafter, depart as planned for an early morning game drive at sunrise.

Morning game drives offer more chances of spoting predators (lions, leopards and hyenas), and other nocturnal animals. During your guided game drive expect to spot various animals: Cape buffalo, African bush elephant, black eastern rhino, Rothschild giraffe, Bruch ell’s zebra, hippos, antelopes as well as predators such as lions and leopards. Akagera is home to over 500 bird species and on your evening safari expect to spot birds such as; the endemic shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter and more.

After the safari, leave Akagera for Kigali City – Lunch is arranged at a restaurant. Arrive late afternoon and check-in at the hotel; the rest of the day is yours at leisure – best time to explore Kigali City like a local.   

Overnight:

Midrange: Mille Collines Hotel – or similar

Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel – or similar    

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Journey Time: Less 1 Hour

Pickup time: Flexible based on flight schedule. Today is your departure day! With breakfast at the hotel, check-out not later than 10:00AM. Based on your flight timing, be dropped-off at Kigali Airport. For late flights: a dayroom may be offered at a fee.

Meal Plan: Breakfast Only