Day 1: Arrival in the Land of a Thousand Hills
Your journey begins upon arrival at Kigali International Airport (KGL), where you will be warmly greeted by your guide. After a brief introduction, you will transfer to your hotel in Rwanda’s surprisingly clean and vibrant capital city. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have the opportunity for a short city tour to acclimate. The day’s most profound moment, however, is a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This is a sobering but essential experience, providing critical context for Rwanda’s incredible story of resilience and reconciliation, which is deeply intertwined with its modern conservation successes. This visit lays the emotional groundwork for understanding the value of peace and preservation you will witness throughout your trip.
Day 2: Journey to the Misty Volcanoes
After a leisurely breakfast, you will depart Kigali and embark on a scenic drive north towards the Volcanoes National Park. The approximately two to three-hour journey is spectacular, winding through lush, terraced hillsides and offering glimpses of rural Rwandan life. As you approach the town of Musanze, the iconic silhouettes of the Virunga volcanoes begin to dominate the horizon, their peaks often shrouded in mist. You will arrive at your lodge, typically located with breathtaking views of this dramatic landscape. The afternoon is at your leisure to relax and acclimatize to the higher altitude. You might choose to take a nature walk on the lodge’s grounds or simply enjoy the warmth of a fireplace while soaking in the panoramic views, building anticipation for the days ahead.
Day 3: The Awe-Inspiring Gorilla Trek
This is the day you have been waiting for. You will wake early for a hearty breakfast before driving to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a crucial pre-trek briefing. Here, park officials will assign you to a specific gorilla family based on fitness level and explain the strict rules of conduct to protect these gentle giants. The trek itself is a unique adventure for each person; it can last from 30 minutes to several hours through sometimes challenging but beautiful terrain. Upon locating the family, the fatigue melts away, replaced by pure wonder. You will spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas—the majestic silverback, playful juveniles, and nurturing mothers—an experience that is often described as life-changing. In the afternoon, you can rest your legs or opt for a cultural visit to the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village to learn about local traditions.
Day 4: Playful Monkeys and Scenic Transfers
This morning offers another incredible primate encounter with a trek to find the endangered golden monkeys. These striking, bright orange primates are incredibly agile and playful, often found bouncing through bamboo groves in large, lively troops. The trek is generally less strenuous than the gorilla trek and offers fantastic opportunities for photography and observing different behaviors. After the trek and lunch, you will begin your scenic transfer south. This is a longer drive, but one of the most beautiful in Rwanda, traversing the entire length of the country. You will watch the landscape transform from volcanic slopes to rolling tea plantations as you approach the vast and ancient Nyungwe Forest, your home for the next two nights.
Day 5: Chimpanzees and a Canopy Adventure
After an early breakfast, you head to the park headquarters for another briefing before setting off on a chimpanzee trek. Unlike gorillas, chimps are highly mobile and arboreal, making their tracking an exhilarating challenge guided by their loud hoots and calls echoing through the forest. Finding them is a thrill, and watching them swing through the trees and interact is mesmerizing. The afternoon presents a complete change of perspective with a walk on Nyungwe’s famous canopy walkway. This 90-meter-long suspension bridge hangs 50 meters above the forest floor, offering unparalleled views across the lush canopy and the chance to see birds and monkeys you might have missed from the ground below.
Day 6: Primates of Nyungwe and Return to Kigali
Your final morning in Nyungwe can be spent on a more relaxed guided nature walk focused on spotting some of the forest’s other 12 primate species, such as the handsome L’Hoest’s monkey or the acrobatic Angolan colobus monkey. These walks are excellent for birdwatchers and botany enthusiasts as well, delving deeper into the biodiversity of one of Africa’s oldest forests. After lunch, you will begin your journey back to Kigali, reflecting on the week’s incredible primate encounters. You will arrive in the capital with time to relax, perhaps enjoy a farewell dinner, and reminisce about the unforgettable memories made.
Day 7: Departure with Lasting Memories
Enjoy a final leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for some last-minute souvenir shopping at a local market or a coffee tour to sample Rwandan coffee. Afterwards, you will be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, carrying with you not just photographs, but the profound experience of having connected with our primate cousins in their wild and beautiful homes.
