06 DAYS MOUNTAIN GORILLA & CHIMPANZEE TREKKING SAFARI RWANDA

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our driver guide who will then take you to your hotel in Kigali for an overnight and dinner.

Day Itinerary

• TBA: Proposed arrival flight time in to Kigali
• TBA: VIP meet & greet through immigration procedures.
• TBA: Pick up from Kigali International Airport for a 20 minutes transfer to the Hotel.
• TBA: Arrival at Serena for Check in.
• TBA: Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Overnight and Dinner:

• Retreat By Heaven-(Superior King Suite)- Luxury hotel
• Serena Hotel-(Deluxe room)- Mid-

Meal Plan: Dinner

Day 02-2023: Kigali Genocide memorial center & later, transfer to Volcano National Park.

Begin the day with a morning breakfast and then embark on Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum. It was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. The center is an extremely moving, challenging, educational and ultimately inspiring as well as a great place to understand the cause, tragedy and successful rebuilding post-genocide.

The memorial hosts a tour which is transparent and educational but very sombre and humbling when guests realize that over 250,000 deceased are buried on the site of the memorial.

Later, continue to Volcano National Park- bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face encounter with these intriguing creatures. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorillas are without a doubt the main draw card, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the Crater Lake on Mount Bisoke.

Day Itinerary

• 0800: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0830: Depart for Kigali Genocide memorial center.
• 0900: Visit the Genocide memorial center.
• 1130: Transfer to Volcanoes. Travel time 2.5hrs.
• 1330: Arrival at the Lodge.
• 1350: Lunch for the day and spend the rest of the afternoon on relaxation.
• 1500: The rest of the afternoon is for relaxation around the lodge.
• 1800: Dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.

Overnight:

• Bisate Lodge- Luxury hotel
• Volcano Inn- Mid-Range

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 03-2023: Gorilla trekking, and Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus.

After the early morning breakfast at the lodge, set off for Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National Park which offers visitors the unique opportunity of discovering the 10 families of gorillas that live within the national park. Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee before the trek starts and will be separated into groups of 8 depending on their physical abilities. Each group is guided by a guide and two scouts who are well trained in emergency situations. The amount of time set aside per trek is different depending on where the gorilla family is situated. Some trips may take as little as half an hour and some taking the better part of the day.

Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus, whose main mission of existence is to create more space for engaging the different stakeholders in conservation including scientists, tourists, conservation partners, students, and local community members around Volcanoes National Park. Bringing together these stakeholders is one of the ways of advancing the collective goal of protecting mountain gorillas and the planet in general.

Day Itinerary

• 0600: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0630: Transfer to the park headquarters for gorilla trekking briefing.
• 0800: Start the gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
• 1200: Estimated time of returning from the jungle.
• 1230: Transfer back to the Lodge.
• 1300: Lunch at the Lodge.
• 1500: Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus.
• 1800: Dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.

Overnight:

• Bisate Lodge- Luxury hotel
• Volcano Inn- Mid-Range

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 04-2023: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park.

Start the day with morning breakfast and drive Nyungwe Forest National Park situated in south-western Rwanda, the Nyungwe Forest National Park is known for its exceptional biodiversity and its wide range of endemic species. The park is composed of lush tracts of rainforest set high up on fertile mountain slopes. It is one of Africa’s most ancient forests and the home of Rwanda’s sole remaining chimpanzee population, as well as 85 additional mammal species, 43 reptile species, nearly 300 bird species and over 1000 plant species. Visitors can enjoy spotting Colobus monkeys and chimpanzees hiding in the trees, hiking on a well-maintained network of trails passing through lush equatorial rainforest and catching a glimpse of a beautiful array of colourful birdlife. Don’t miss the thrilling Canopy Walk, it is one of its kind in Africa and offers impressive views of the forest.

Day Itinerary

• 0800: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0830: Prepare for a transfers to Nyungwe Forests.
• 1300: Estimated time to arrive at Nyungwe forests.
• 1330: Take on an early lunch at the Lodge.
• 1600: Take part in the Complimentary Lodge activities.
• 1800: Overnight and dinner at the Lodge.

Overnight:

• Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel- Mid Luxury
• Emeraude Kivu Resort - Mid-Range

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 05- 2023: Chimpanzee trekking & Canopy walk.

The Nyungwe Forest National Park Cyamudongo Forest Chimpanzee Trekking provides visitors with a unique chimpanzee experience. Visitors will follow a path through the lush vegetation to a point where they will be able to witness the chimpanzees acting out their daily activities, such as waking up, eating and socializing within their natural environment.

Canopy Walk

Suspended above ravine amidst the lush vegetation and montane forest of the Nyungwe National Park, Canopy Walk offers participants an exhilarating perspective atop the ancient treetops and wildlife. The 160 meters long suspended bridge is accessible as a part of a guided hike along the Igishigishigi trail or those hiking the Imbaraga and Umuyove trails.

Day Itinerary

• 0500: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0530: Prepare for transfers to Park headquarters for Chimpanzee trek briefing.
• 0530: Start the Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forests.
• 1230: Estimated time to return from the jungle.
• 1330: Lunch at the Lodge and entire day relaxing and winding at the Lodge.
• 1500: Take on a Canopy Walk experience
• 1800: Overnight and dinner at the Lodge.

Overnight:

• Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel- Mid Luxury
• Emeraude Kivu Resort - Mid-Range

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 06- 2023: Transfer to Kigali International Airport with stopover for lunch & Ethnographic Museum

Start the day with morning breakfast and drive back to Kigali with road side scenic view stopover for lunch in Kigali. Later you will embark on Ethnographic Museum after drive to Kigali International Airport.

Day Itinerary

• 0730: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0800: Drive to Kigali.
• 1300: Have lunch in Kigali.
• 1400: Visit the Ethnographic Museum.
• 1630: Transfer to Kigali International Airport