Rwanda Behind the Scenes

Fly from London Heathrow (or selected other UK airports) to Kigali, the Rwandese capital. On arrival you will be welcomed and transferred to the Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel located in a suburb of the city for an overnight stay.

This morning, you are met and transferred to Akagera National Park (an approx. 3hr drive), Rwanda’s only ‘Big Five’ protected area.

This afternoon, you venture out on a boat trip on Lake Ihema where you have the chance to spot Crocodiles and Hippos, as well as water birds such as African Darter, Cormorants, Open-billed Stork, African Jacana, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, and Papyrus Gonolek amongst many other bird species.

Check-in to Ruzizi Tented Lodge where you will stay for the next two nights on a full-board basis.

Today you enjoy game drives in Akagera National Park. Whilst wildlife densities might not be as prolific as in other east African parks given time you are likely to spot a good variety of big game and wildlife, including Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Oribi, Klipspringer, Impala, Hippo, and Crocodile.

This morning, you are transferred to Nyungwe Forest National Park (an approx. 7hr drive), where en-route you stop in Butare and visit the National Museum.

Check-in at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel where you will stay for the next three nights on a full-board basis.

Today, you are transferred Cyamudongo Forest (an approx 30min drive), where the most of Chimpanzee tracking excursions are organised. You will enjoy a morning of chimpanzee tracking. Note that the terrain where the Chimps are includes some steep slopes. Take rain gear for inclement weather. Guides lead you through the forest in search of these elusive beasts.

This afternoon, you enjoy an interesting canopy walk and view the birds, butterflies, and some monkeys from a high viewpoint.

Today you visit Gisakura Tea Estate, one of Rwanda’s most famous tea plantations and most probably the most beautiful located on the western fringes of Nyungwe Forest National Park. You also have the opportunity to visit a coffee plantation.

This morning, you have a long and very scenic drive (an approx. 5hr drive) on unmade roads to Kibuye, on the shores of Lake Kivu.

Check-in at Cormoran Lodge, a rustic yet stylish lodge set on a steep hill leading down to the shore of the lake where you will stay for the night on a full-board basis.

This morning, you travel north to Gisenyi (an approx. 2hr drive). You have the chance to explore Gisenyi, its small sandy beach, palm trees and a charming post-colonial boulevard frontage.

In the afternoon afternoon, you leave the lakeshore behind you and enjoy a wonderfully scenic transfer to Parc National des Volcans where you check-in to the Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, and stay for the next three night on a full-board basis.

After an early breakfast you will be taken to the park HQ for a briefing at 07h00 on conduct during gorilla tracking. You will then be allocated to a team of experienced ranger-guides who will take you into Parc National des Volcans, to seek out one of the resident, habituated Gorilla groups.

Time taken to reach the Gorillas varies from as little as 45 minutes to a few hours in closed forest. Once the Gorillas are located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them.

After the briefing at the Park HQ, set off to seek these endangered monkeys which are unique to the Albertine Rift, normally located high up in the dense bamboo groves. This afternoon is yours to relax at leisure.

This morning, you visit the Musanze Cave and view the large colonies of Bats and fascinating rock formations.

This afternoon, you are transferred back to Kigali, and onto the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, a historically factual and extremely moving exhibition of the Rwandan genocide.

Check-in to the Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel located in a suburb of the city for an overnight stay.

After a relaxing breakfast, you explore Kigali and have the opportunity to visit the Inema Art Center, Niyo Art Gallery and Kimironko Market.

Finally, you are transferred back to Kigali Airport to check-in for your indirect overnight flight back to London Heathrow (or selected other UK airports).

Arrive back into London Heathrow (or selected other UK airports) by mid-morning.