Best of Rwanda
Best of Rwanda
Nyungwe National Park, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes National Park.
This journey reveals the very best of Rwanda’s breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity, and powerful conservation stories. Begin in Kigali, a vibrant and welcoming capital, before travelling to the lush rainforests of Nyungwe National Park, home to rare primates, thrilling chimpanzee tracking, and a spectacular forest canopy walk. Continue to the shores of Lake Kivu to unwind amidst Rwanda’s serene Rift Valley scenery.
Your adventure culminates in Volcanoes National Park, where you’ll explore the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and spend unforgettable days tracking endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the misty Virunga Mountains. With community experiences, scenic drives, and meaningful wildlife encounters, this itinerary offers an inspiring and intimate look at one of Africa’s most remarkable countries.
7 nights / 8 day Best of Rwanda
Nyungwe National Park – Lake Kivu – Volcanoes National Park
DAY 01 – ARRIVE IN KIGALI
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for the night. Dinner is under your own arrangements.
Bronze: Hotel Milles Collines
Silver: Ligali Serena Hotel
Gold: The Retreat
DAY 02 – NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
BRONZE: Today, drive to the Nyungwe Forest National Park, have lunch on the way and arrive in the afternoon.
SILVER & GOLD: Take a morning flight to Kamembe airstrip. After lunch go on a forest canopy walk.
Tucked away in the southwest corner of Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to a plethora of extraordinary sites and activities. With over 80 species of mammal, 13 species of primate, 1,000 plant types and more than 300 kinds of bird – 27 of which are endemic – it is little wonder that many hail this forest as Rwanda’s most important site for biodiversity. The chance to track chimpanzees is high up on the list of things to do, with over 400 of these primates living beneath the forest’s dense canopy, some of which have been habituated to human contact.
Bronze: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Silver: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Gold: One & Only Nyungwe House – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Limited Beverages Included
DAY 03 – NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
After an early breakfast, you will make your way to the start point for a morning of chimpanzee tracking. These wonderful primates are very much like humans – they can be gentle, caring and tender but they can also be aggressive and irritable.
There are approximately 500 chimps left in the Nyungwe Forest and they live in extended communities of up to 100 individuals that break up into smaller subgroups as they forage through the forest. You are likely to hear them before you see them and they may be on the move so you will have to track them through the forest.
Bronze: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Silver: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Gold: One & Only Nyungwe House – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Limited Beverages Included
DAY 04 – LAKE KIVU
After breakfast drive north up to Lake Kivu. Arrive at the property in time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.
Lake Kivu is as impressive as it is picturesque; forming part of the Great Rift Valley, this body of water is the largest lake in Rwanda and one of the largest in Africa. The lake is surrounded by dramatic hills and mountains, dotted with idyllic islands, and fringed by sandy beaches and several tranquil, traditional fishing villages.
The Maasai Mara plays host to the most spectacular array of wildlife. 1,510 square kilometres (583 square miles) of broad biscuit-coloured savannah sprawls as home to huge numbers of birds (almost 600 species) and animals and is adjacent to the enormous expanse of the Serengeti; the two make up the most diverse ecosystem on the continent.
Bronze: The Cleo Hotel – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Silver: The Cleo Hotel – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Gold: The Cleo Hotel – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
DAY 05 – VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Today, there is time for a leisurely breakfast before driving north to Volcanoes National Park. The journey will give you an opportunity to view Rwanda’s splendid hilly terrain.
In the afternoon set off to the newly built Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund where you will enjoy a self-guided tour through the center. You will then be met by your guide who will take you on a walk through the community and surrounding farmlands. End the walk at the Kinigi Single Mothers Sewing Center, which supports single, mostly teenage mothers, by teaching them how to sew.
Bronze: Amakoro Songa Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Silver: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Limited Beverages Included
Gold: One & Only Gorilla’s Nest – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Limited Beverages Included
DAY 06 – GORILLA TRACKING
After an early breakfast drive to the Gorilla Tracking HQ to meet the guide, porter and the other people tracking your gorilla family.
Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is often described as “life changing” and with good reason. With only an estimated 1,000 gorillas left in the world, to see these gentle creatures in their natural habitat is a truly unique moment. Hikes in the mountains can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours + depending on the family allocated to your group and their location. The journey back can take just as long, but you are often carried along by the euphoria you feel at seeing the gorillas!
Bronze: Amakoro Songa Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Silver: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Limited Beverages Included
Gold: One & Only Gorilla’s Nest – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Limited Beverages Included
DAY 07 – GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING
Today, go on a golden monkey track. This unusual species is endemic to the Virunga Volcanoes Chain and can only easily be seen in Rwanda. The golden monkeys are very active creatures and spend a lot of time up in the bamboo jumping between them which can make them difficult to photograph. However, this is a rare and delightful experience and one not to be missed whilst in Rwanda.
There is time in the afternoon to head out on a canoe ride on the Mukungwa River. The Mukungwa River runs through the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes and gliding lightly down it in a modern canoe is a unique way to soak up the countryside. Take in the impressive views of the soaring volcanoes in the distance, spot abundant birds, look out for the otters and meet friendly communities.
Bronze: Amakoro Songa Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Silver: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Limited Beverages Included
Gold: One & Only Gorilla’s Nest – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Limited Beverages Included
DAY 08 – DEPART KIGALI
This morning have breakfast at leisure before driving back to Kigali. There will be some time for shopping and lunch before leaving to the airport for the flight home.
- Hidden amongst the thick rainforest of Volcanoes National Park in the northwest of Rwanda, lives one of the planet’s most endangered species: the Mountain gorilla.
- The park, which contains five out of the eight Virunga Mountain volcanos, is the most accessible gorilla national park in theworld and is home to 10 habituated groups of these rare animals.
- Aside from seeing gorillas, you can track the rare Golden monkey, trek to the top of Mount Bisoke and see its enormous craterlake or take a guided walk through local communities gaining insight into Rwandan culture.
- Another popular activity is hiking to the tomb of American primatologist Dian Fossey who spent nearly two decades studying gorillas in the park -her story has since been told in the film adaptation of her novel Gorillas in the Mist.
- Other nearby activities include a guided trip to the banana beer brewery or Musanze Caves.
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
- Volcanoes National Park is open for gorilla trekking and hiking throughout the year.
- Trails become very slippery in heavy rain and hiking is definitely easier in the dry season months, from June to August, and to a lesser extent in September, January and February.
- During the rains, the climate at the higher elevations is cooler and the gorillas prefer to remain on the lower slopes; it is therefore easier to track and spot them.
RWANDA
MONEY MATTERS
We urge you to try to spend all of your Francs while you are in Rwanda because the reverse exchange rate from Francs is very unfavorable. Be aware that only paper currency will normally be accepted for exchange. Very few places in Rwanda accept credit cards. Only the major hotels in Kigali plus a few airlines accept them. There are money-changing facilities in Kigali, which we recommend you use, as it is more difficult to change money while on safari. Visitors are advised that if they are carrying US Dollar cash with them, the notes should be no smaller than $100 denomination, and should have been issued no earlier than 2000. We recommend that you carry cash for convenience and security, and that you change about US$200-300 of this into Rwanda francs at the start of your tour. Cash is more easily exchanged in Rwanda, as many facilities are very reluctant to accept payment by traveler’s cheque.
WEATHER
Best time to go to Rwanda
A combination of tropical location and high altitude ensures that most of Rwanda has a temperate year-round climate. Temperatures rarely stray above 30 degrees Celsius by day or below 15 degrees Celsius at night, throughout the year. The exceptions are the chilly upper slopes of the Virunga Mountains, throughout the country, seasonal variations in temperature are relatively insignificant. Most parts of the country receive in excess of 1,000 mm of precipitation annually, with the driest months being July to September and the wettest February to May.
TIME ZONE
The time zone in Rwanda is GMT +2 hours throughout the year.
LANGUAGE
Kinyarwanda is the official language in Rwanda, although French and English are widely spoken and understood.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURES FORMALITIES
All visitors, except nationals of a few exempted countries, require a Visa to enter Rwanda. Citizens of the following countries enjoy visa FREE entry into Rwanda for a period of 90 days: Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Senegal, Seychelles, Sao Tomoe, Principe, Democratic Republic of Congo, East African Member Community Partner States, Mauritius, Philippines and Singapore.
Citizens of all other countries can get visa upon arrival at the port of entry. The entry visa fee is valid for a period of up to 30 days. Citizens of COMESA member states can get a 90 day visa on arrival on payment of the prescribed fee.
The Government of Rwanda has waived visa for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports from the following countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, India, Israel, Morocco and Turkey.
The East Africa Tourist Visa allows entry to Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Applications should be made in advance with the country to be entered first. For Rwanda, applications can be made with the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration or at any Rwandan Embassy or Diplomatic Mission, or online. Once an online application is approved, the visa can be collected upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. Cost is US$100 and validity is 90 days.
RATES
Different package levels are Bronze, Silver & Gold.
From $21,463 – $47,169 USD – Please enquire for detailed rates.
Rates are per person twin or double share.
Single supplement on request.
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