Day 1: Kigali City Tour

On your arrival at Kigali International Airport meet and greet with your guide after a briefing about your tour, and drive to your hotel for check-in.

Afterward, depending on your arrival time, your guide will take you for a city tour which includes, among others the Gisozi genocide memorial site. This takes you 4 hours; here you learn and comprehend the history of genocide in Rwanda and other countries of the world.

Thereafter proceed to Kimilonko Market one of the busiest and biggest markets in the city where you will enjoy and buy most of Rwanda's traditional delicious food, and interact with local people, continue to visit Nyarutarma Golf club then proceed to Belgium memorial site and Richard Kandt historical museum here you will be at the exact point where Kigali city started by a Germany colonialist and administrator 1907. Lunch at one of the city restaurants

Accommodation options available (no meals included today)

Upmarket: Serena Kigali Hotel

Mid-range: Hotel Chez Lando Kigali

Lower Budget: Five to Five Hotel

Meals included: No meals included today.

Day 2: Akagera National Park - Game Drive

Have breakfast at the hotel and drive through Rwanda's phenomenal landscapes to Akagera National Park.

Relax as we wait for lunch at Akagera Game Lodge. Proceed with the southern game drive alongside the Lake Ihema circuit where plenty of animals can be seen, including elephants, Masai giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many other mammal species. This game drive will also enable you to clearly view the gentle hills blending beautifully with lowland swamps and water bodies.

In the evening, you can relax at the lodge poolside or take evening walks around the hotel, where you can see various bird species or participate in the day-to-day local pastoral lifestyle.

Accommodation options:

Upmarket: Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Mid-range: Mantis Akagera Game Lodge

Lower Budget: Akagera Rhino Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 3: Nyungwe National Park - Chimp Tracking and other primates

After an early morning breakfast, we shall set off driving to Nyungwe Forest. Nyungwe is a verdant 1000-square-kilometer Park in Southwestern Rwanda with over 80 mammal species, of which 12 are species of primates (that include chimpanzees-our closest relatives in the animal Kingdom). The journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park lasts about 6 hours, filled with endless views of the countryside and when you get there, check-in and relax for the rest of the evening. Accommodation options

Upmarket: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge

Mid-range: Chimpanzee Lodge Nyungwe

Lower Budget: Chimpanzee Lodge Nyungwe

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 4: Nyungwe Forest National Park  Chimpanzee Trekking  and Canopy Walk to see more monkeys

Today, you trek to the chimps - one of the most famous primate species in Nyungwe Forest National Park, the highlight of any tour to this forested park. Your chimpanzee tracking day starts early with breakfast before driving to the park offices for a briefing. Afterward, go into the forest for a rewarding chimpanzee trekking experience. Nyungwe Forest has huge concentrations of habituated chimpanzees whose troops can consist of 400 to 500 individuals! This is a unique tourism phenomenon. Keep your camera on standby and be on the lookout, as you might spot other primate species and beautiful birds during your trek. Just like with the colobus monkeys, you will spend an hour with the chimpanzees, then return from the forest. You also have a chance to probably meet the other 12 primate species and 300 bird species in Nyungwe.  Apart from the chimpanzees, there are blue monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, endangered golden monkeys, and the Angolan black and white colobus monkeys, among others.

As the only remaining mountain rain forest in East and Central Africa, Nyungwe boasts of 260 species of trees and shrubs, over 200 species of orchids and giant lobelias, 275 Species of birds, of which 25 are endemic, colorful butterflies, and 13 recorded species of primates (25% of Africa’s total), including the chimpanzees.

The forest is ideal for walks with beautiful waterfalls cascading in this serene environment. In the afternoon, you will go for the rewarding canopy walk over the treetops of the forest, enjoying the panoramic views. Accommodation options

Upmarket: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge

Mid-range: Chimpanzee Lodge Nyungwe

Lower Budget: Chimpanzee Lodge Nyungwe

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 5: Colobus  Monkeys Trails of Nyungwe & Lake Kivu

After breakfast, we enter Nyungwe Forest to track the Nyungwe colobus monkeys at Uwinka.

The Uwinka troop is reputed to be 400 strong -  the largest troop of arboreal primates in Africa. A walk in the forest is a whole learning experience conducted by knowledgeable guides well-versed in botany, ornithology, and interspecies relationships in this forest.

Upon returning, we shall be driving northwards to Lake Kivu. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Virunga Mountains and the green vegetation en route. Located on the border of Rwanda & Democratic Republic of Congo, the 2370-square-kilometer Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes and the largest Lake in Rwanda. The Lake was formed by Volcanic activity about 1-5 million years ago and boasts a shoreline of 860 kilometers with beautiful Resorts and beaches. The Lake and its basin have about 6 mammal species, 6 reptile species, and 5 Amphibian species. Also, over 300 bird species have been recorded around the area. Lake Kivu’s Islands, the surrounding vegetation, and pockets of green gardens give this place a very spectacular and unique look. Besides being the best place to unwind, it’s where you will enjoy the freshest local fish while in Rwanda.

Enjoy the rolling hills for which Rwanda is well known. This afternoon, you have an option to go Kayaking and get to explore the pristine coastline while immersing yourself in the breathtaking scenery, gazing up at the magnificent mountainous backdrop and the calm waters. After a road drive, you may opt for a guided tour of Rubavu town (formerly known as Gisenyi) and visit the Nyamyumba Hot springs (a place people from different corners of Rwanda go for natural healing from ailments). The town walk will take you towards the open-air central market with fresh fruits, interact with the local communities, have a drink in the local bars and restaurants, get a feel of how people in this area spend their evening hours. After an afternoon of water adventure or a town walk, return to the lakeside and relax by the shores of Kivu. This is the best spot for magnificent golden hour as the sun dips in the highlands of Congo and the far East of Rwanda’s forests.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Upmarket: Serena Lake Kivu Hotel

Moderate: Paradise Malahide.

Low Budget: Paradise Malahide.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 6: Boat Trip on Lake Kivu, Drive to Volcanoes National Park

Have a relaxed start of the day and later transfer to the pier for a midmorning boat cruise on Lake Kivu. The private cruise is by small, intimate motorboats, providing opportunities for accessing the lake shores. These are also the best boats for people and nature photography. The boat cruise takes a smooth ride towards the stunning Islands and the fishing villages. The most popular islands on Lake Kivu are Napoleon and Nyamirundi. If you love Birds, Lake Kivu is the right place! Over 300 bird species have been recorded here!  Look out for African fish eagles, Grey-crowned Cranes, African Openbill, Saddle-billed stork, Great white and pink-backed pelicans, Spur-winged Goose, White-backed Duck, Great cormorants, Water thick-knees, among others.

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Have breakfast and go to ORTPN offices for a briefing, after that set off in the forest for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

A thrilling trek through the refined foothills of the Virungas provides inspiring views in all directions. Then, suddenly, the trail enters the national park, engrossing trekkers in the strange closeness of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey and besieged with fresh spoor of the mountains' elusive populations of buffalo and elephant.

Through gaps in the forest canopy, the marvelous peaks are sighted, easily easy to get to, and among the uppermost in Africa, indicating an ascent. Gorilla trekking is quite strenuous but worthwhile in the encounter of these gentle giants. The enthusiasm of your coming across these apes will wipe away the intricacy of the strenuous trek.

Spend time watching gorillas, watch the adults feeding their young ones, brushing and resting as the youngsters play from vines in a pleasurably playful display.

Accommodation options

Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Five Volcanoes Lodge

Moderate: Gorilla Solution Lodge

Low Budget:  Hotel Muhabura

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 8: Volcanoes National Park - Golden Monkey Trekking 

Have an early breakfast at the lodge and enter the forest in search of golden monkeys and other primates. The trek will expose you to excellent birding and other primates like colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys, among others.

Accommodation options

Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Five Volcanoes Lodge

Moderate: Gorilla Solution Lodge

Low Budget:  Hotel Muhabura

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 9: Ibyachu Cultural Village Tour and Musanze Caves Visit, Transfer to Kigali to end the tour

Take a trip to Iby’iwacu village, where the villagers have convinced a group of ex-poachers to turn their backs on their former lifestyle and create a traditional dance group that performs for visitors on a cultural village tour. Known as The Intore, or The Heroes, this ancient form of celebration is based on the victory dance of the Rwandan kings. When not watching the traditional dances and drumming performances, you can step into the traditional dwelling of the local king, watch an authentic medicine man preparing his herbal concoctions, or try your hand at shooting the traditional weapon of bows and arrows. Lively music and festive dance play a great role in the traditions of all the people of Rwanda. One of Africa’s most dynamic and least well-known musical traditions, the Ballet of Rwanda is performed by the Intore, the chosen ones, and was at one time danced exclusively for the royal court.  The dance is performed by men dressed in grass wigs and carrying spears, who wear little tinkling bells on each foot, providing a ringing rhythm as the background music. The ‘Dance of Heroes’ is about returning warriors, celebrating victory in battle. Complex choreography reveals the performers shifting from side to side, blending agility and grace with raw aggression. The Musanze Caves are a new addition to Rwanda’s tourism sites. Underneath there, they cover a distance of 1.25 miles, and it is believed to have been formed by basaltic lava layers that came from both Bisoke as well as the Sabyinyo volcanoes. To reduce the risk of accidents, there are well-set-up walkways and stairs where needed. Your tour guide shall make arrangements to drop you off at Kigali Airport in good time for your scheduled flight back home.