Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park - Depart from Kigali early in the morning after breakfast to ensure ample time for a stop at the Ethnographic Museum in Huye. This museum, also known as Rwanda’s national museum, offers a deep dive into the country’s historical and cultural heritage. It features exhibits and guides that highlight Rwanda’s rich culture and history. After exploring the museum, we will have lunch before continuing our journey to Nyungwe Forest. The road from Huye to Nyungwe is mostly winding, offering stunning views of the renowned “thousand hills.” You will arrive at your lodge near Nyungwe Forest in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay. Prepare for chimpanzee trekking the following day.

Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

Nyungwe Forest National Park - Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park begins very early in the morning. You will need to leave your lodge by 5:00 am to reach the briefing area at the Uwinka overlook. Nyungwe Forest has two main trailheads for chimpanzee trekking: the Uwinka trail and the Cyamudongo section. The forest is rich in botanical diversity, hosting over 200 species of trees and flowering plants, as well as 13 species of primates, including colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. There are also 300 bird species, many of which are Albertine Rift endemics, and several species of butterflies. After the briefing, you will be assigned a trail. If you are trekking in Cyamudongo, you will need to drive a certain distance, and your driver guide will take you to the starting point. After the chimpanzee trek, you can either go on a canopy walk or return to the lodge to relax and take the canopy walk later in the afternoon. Return for dinner and an overnight stay.

Transfer to Lake Kivu for hiking and boat ride

Lake Kivu - After breakfast, transfer to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi for a morning boat ride on the lake. You will have the opportunity to see many bird species. Lake Kivu is a great place to relax and swim, as it is free of hippos, crocodiles, and bilharzia. You will visit the hot springs at Lake Kivu and Punishment Island, where girls who became pregnant before marriage were once taken. Lake Kivu has many islands, including Nyamirundi Island, which is home to a large coffee plantation. Here, you can learn about the coffee-making process, from harvesting to roasting, and sample some fresh, organic, award-winning Rwandan coffee. Later, return for dinner and an overnight stay.

Transfer to Volcano National Park and visit the Twin Lakes

Volcanoes National Park - After breakfast at 7:30 am, transfer to Musanze at 8:00 am and visit the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Enjoy a nature walk and visit the Karisoke Research Center and Exhibits. Have lunch at Migano Café, and later head to Hotel Muhabura for dinner and an overnight stay.

Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo - Visit the Twin Lakes

Golden monkey tracking in Volcano and transfer to Bwindi in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - After an early breakfast, transfer to the park’s head offices in Kinigi by 7:00 am. Join other golden monkey trekkers and meet the ranger guide for a briefing about the activity and the park. At 8:00 am, transfer to the trailhead just outside the park. Enjoy the mountain scenery as you begin your trek to find the golden monkeys. These monkeys live near the park’s edge in bamboo forests, where the ground is relatively flat and easy to trek. Observe the monkeys as they skillfully pick young bamboo leaves from the tips of the bamboo trees. They may also venture into the potato fields, where they enjoy eating potatoes. After spending an hour with the golden monkeys, return to the trailhead and drive back to the lodge for lunch. Then, head to the border and proceed to Bwindi.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and transfer back to Kigali

Kigali - After an early breakfast, walk to the park headquarters for a briefing on the do’s and don’ts of gorilla tracking. Then, proceed to the gorilla trail. Gorilla tracking can last between 2 to 8 hours or even a full day. However, you will be allowed to spend at least an hour with the gorillas. It is recommended to carry a packed lunch, as the duration of the trek is unpredictable. Later, transfer back to Kigali.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Parking fees