Journey time: Less 30 Minutes

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, meet our safari guide at the waiting area. He will offer luggage assistance and then conduct your transfer to the hotel within Kigali.   

Overnight:

Midrange: Mille Collines Hotel – or similar

Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel – or similar

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Journey Time: Approx. 02 Hours  

Pick-up time: 09:00AM. Breakfast at the hotel and check-out to start with a tour of Kigali.

Start by exploring the highlights of Kigali City: This Kigali excursion is the best way to explore Rwanda’s hilly capital and largest city. On your city tour visit Kigali’s historical and cultural sites: places such as Kigali Genocide Memorial Site: Following the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, this site and others were converted into burial grounds for the genocide victims; today over 250,000 are resting at Kigali Memorial. Continue to Kandt House and head to Mount Kigali for splendid views of the city, to the Natural History Museum. Tour the Presidential Palace Museum; once a residence for two former Presidents of Rwanda. After the tour continue to Volcanoes; get to the lodge and check-in for a late lunch.

Planned Activity: Iby’Iwacu Cultural Experience – Get to learn about the traditional lifestyle and Rwanda’s cultural heritage. Be engaged in cultural activities: guided community walks, visit the King’s house replica (be enthroned to be a king for the moment), traditional entertainment (“Intore dance” and cultural songs), listen to traditional folktales, and observe a banana beer and spirit brewing locally.

Overnight:

Midrange: Ingagi Parkview Lodge – or similar

Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board

Journey Time: Approx. 03 Hours

Pickup Time: 06:00AM. Early breakfast at the lodge and transfer to the park’s Kinigi Office for registration and briefing before starting the climb (Packed lunch included). Planned Activity: Mount Bisoke Climb – Arrival time is 07:00AM for briefing with guide allocation. Your optional guided hike starts: Rising 3,711 meters above sea level, Mount Bisoke is one of the region’s most hike-friendly and scenic volcanoes, offering an awesome hiking experience. The mountain is part of the eight Virunga ranges. Bisoke is active and prone to possible eruptions; but last erupted in 1957 thus the stunning peak features. Hiking Bisoke is relatively steep but easily conquered by seasoned hikers and requires no prior experience. By taking Bisoke’s most popular trail, will be led to the scenic Crater Lake at the peak – a 6-hour hike based on climbers’ pace (approx. 4 hours summiting and 2 hours descending down the slopes) An alternative trail will lead you to Ngezi Crater Lake – a much shorter hike taking 2 hours to summit and only one-hour descending. However, whichever options taken makes for a full day adventure; you will be treated to sights animals such as buffaloes, elephants, and monkeys as well as various birds – by chance spotting a gorilla or two for 10 minutes but no photography allowed. The other important sight is the Dian Fossey Tomb in the vicinity. What to pack; hiking boots, trousers, an insect repellent, Rain coat, hat, long-sleeved shirt, and drinking water. After the hike transfer to the Border and crossover to Uganda: Arrive at the lodge in Bwindi late evening to check-in and refresh for dinner.  

Overnight:

Midrange: Four Gorillas Lodge – or similar

Luxury: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board

Pickup Time: 06:30AM. After an early breakfast you will be handed a lunchbox and mineral water to put in your backpack, then proceed to the park office.

Bwindi Gorilla Tracking Experience – Upon completing your park formalities, you will embark onto a once in a life time experience of tracking the endangered mountain gorillas. Once you meet the gorillas on a tracking adventure, you will be allowed between 1 to 2 hours watching and photographing the gentle apes including the silverback. This is perhaps one of the most breath-taking wildlife experiences on earth!!! Upon close encounter, you will stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 700 living today, but you will get within meters for stunning photography, but considering all the necessary safety measures. Gorilla tracking may be fairly strenuous lasting approximately an hour at a relatively high altitude. During the trek, your ranger guide will identify a safe spot for your picnic lunch after which you will proceed with the trek or back to the lodge (Subject to change).  Do not forget your camera, hiking shoes, gators, facemask, trousers and long sleeves, hand gloves and drinking water. After your gorilla trek, feel free to take an optional cultural experience.

Optional Activity (at 30$pp.): Batwa Cultural Trail – this 3-hour cultural trail exhibits a mutual relationship between the Batwa and the jungle before their expulsion in the process of converting this forest into a protected reserve. In a bid to promote their heritage and traditions; the Batwa will walk you through their small pocket forests, showcasing a nomadic culture during their occupation of the rain forest. Approach the Batwa settlement and observe how the women go about cooking and serving a traditional meal. Visit the traditional herbalists to explore their various herbs with medicinal significance, and listening to ancient legends alongside traditional songs by the indigenous Batwa.  

The rest of this evening is yours at leisure after the day’s adventures. Dinner included.

Overnight:

Midrange: Four Gorillas Lodge – or similar

Luxury: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board

Pickup Time: 06:00AM. Early breakfast at the lodge and check-out. Thereafter travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for the golden monkey trek in the morning.  

After briefing, your golden monkey trek starts at 08:00AM through the rain forest to reach the golden monkeys; on a moderate hike since the golden monkeys stay in the relatively lower bamboo areas of the forest. Spend approx. 1–2 hours with the golden primates and take pictures as you loosely observe their behaviour. You are reminded to wear waterproof hiking boots, long sleeved shirt, trousers, with a backpack for your lunchbox and documents. Do not forget an insect repellent, drinking water, a face mask, and a walking stick, or feel free to hire a porter for your backpack.

Planned Activity – After the trek, be dropped off at Cheba’s Point – starting point for your boat cruise on Lake Mutanda. Enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise on this scenic lake exploring its various islands. Accompanied by a local guide you will get to explore more about the surrounding communities, sight the birds, and otters with splendid views of the volcanoes sheltering the lake. Visit the lake’s only habituated island to meet the Abagesera (local residents), and visit the Punishment Island with its interesting history. Thereafter, reunite with your guide and head to Chameleon Hill Lodge for a late lunch.

After lunch transfer back to Kigali: Arrive late evening and check-in at the hotel.  

Overnight:

Midrange: Mille Collines Hotel – or similar

Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel – or similar

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Journey time: Approx. 04 Hours

Pickup Time: Flexible but the hotel check-out time is 10:00AM. Today sleep-in a bit and enjoy this morning at leisure (personal engagements). Based on your flight schedule, be dropped off at Kigali Airport to check-in for your departure flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast Only