🐒 Primate Safaris
Primates, rainforest, Lake Kivu and a relaxed Kigali finale
Day 1
Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where you will be welcomed by your private guide and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, a short Kigali experience may be arranged or you can simply relax after your journey.
Overnight: Akira Hotel, Kigali
Meals: Depending on arrival time.
Day 2
After breakfast, begin the journey toward Nyungwe Forest National Park. Travel through Rwanda’s rolling green hills, countryside, villages and tea-growing landscapes. Visit the historic King’s Palace and discover Rwanda’s royal heritage, traditions and former monarchy, with an opportunity to see the long-horned Ankole cattle associated with this heritage. Continue toward Nyungwe and settle into the rainforest environment.
Overnight: Essencia Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 3
Wake up to the sounds of Nyungwe and hike toward the Ndambarare Waterfalls, discovering rainforest vegetation, birds and wildlife along the way. Later, experience the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walkway and continue the adventure with the forest zipline. Afterward, transfer toward Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu and relax at your lakeside accommodation.
Overnight: Cormoran Lodge, Kibuye
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 4
Enjoy a private boat excursion on Lake Kivu. Explore Napoleon Island, known for dramatic scenery and fruit bats, as well as Monkey Island and Peace Island. After the boat experience, cross into Uganda and continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of the world’s important habitats for endangered mountain gorillas.
Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 5
After an early breakfast, head to the Rushaga sector for gorilla trekking. Following the briefing, enter Bwindi’s ancient forest with ranger guides in search of a mountain gorilla family. After the trek, cross back into Rwanda and meet local women for a traditional banana beer experience, including an introduction to the process, local stories, traditional music, dancing and hospitality.
Overnight: Volcano View Bed & Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 6
After breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park for Golden Monkey trekking. Enter the bamboo-covered slopes of the Virunga Mountains in search of the playful and endangered golden monkeys, endemic to the Albertine Rift. After the trek, visit the Dian Fossey exhibition and learn about her pioneering work with mountain gorillas and the history of gorilla conservation in the Virunga Mountains. Continue to Kigali and check in at Hideaway Hotel for a relaxed final evening.
Overnight: Hideaway Hotel, Kigali
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
Day 7
After breakfast, enjoy a Kigali city tour, depending on your departure time. Explore Kigali’s vibrant neighborhoods, local culture and selected city highlights. If your flight schedule allows, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an important place of remembrance and education about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and Rwanda’s journey of rebuilding and reconciliation. Transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure.
Meals: Breakfast
End of the Adventure.
Two Countries, Multiple Primate Experiences
Experience mountain gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys in Rwanda and the rich primate diversity of Nyungwe Forest.
Two Ancient Forest Worlds
Discover the distinct rainforest environments of Nyungwe and Bwindi, each offering a different atmosphere and wildlife experience.
Lake Kivu Experience
Enjoy a private boat excursion and explore beautiful islands before continuing into Uganda.
Adventure & Nature
Combine rainforest hiking, Ndambarare Waterfalls, the Canopy Walkway and forest zipline with wildlife experiences.
Culture & Conservation
Go beyond wildlife through Rwanda’s royal heritage, the banana beer cultural experience and the Dian Fossey exhibition.
A Relaxed Kigali Finale
The additional night in Kigali avoids rushing directly from Golden Monkey trekking to the airport and gives flexibility for a city tour and Genocide Memorial visit.
From Rwanda’s royal hills and ancient Nyungwe rainforest to the peaceful waters of Lake Kivu, Uganda’s misty Bwindi forest, unforgettable gorilla and golden monkey encounters, and the cultural heart of Kigali, this seven-day journey brings together wildlife, adventure, culture and conservation in one remarkable East African experience.
Note: Accommodation and activities are presented according to the supplied itinerary. Final arrangements may be adjusted according to availability, park requirements, border procedures and the traveller’s flight schedule.
