Welcome to Rwanda, the “land of a thousand hills”. This luxury tour has been designed to show you the best highlights of this fascinating country from a primate’s-eye view of Nyungwe Forest on a canopy walk, to close encounters with chimpanzees and the gorillas of the mist. In the evenings you will stay in the best lodges in the country, known for their excellent service and exceptionally beautiful locations.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival to Kigali
Day 2: Visit Genocide Memorial & Travel to Nyungwe Forest
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking & Canopy Walk (optional)
Day 4: Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking
Day 6: Return to Kigali
Day 1: Arrival to Kigali
Welcome to the land of a thousand hills! This small but scenically stunning country is thus known for its endless rolling green hills, which you will experience on your fly-over to Kigali International Airport.
At the airport you will be greeted by your Calsaar Safaris guide and driven to your hotel in a quiet leafy street in the heart of down-town Kigali. Over a complimentary drink by the hotel’s pool bar your guide will brief you on the details of your upcoming adventure.
If time allows, you are free to explore the city today. Your guide can take you on a city tour or visit the craft markets to browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, musical instruments, leather and fabrics on offer. Prepare to use your haggling skills!
Journey Time: 20 minutes
Accommodation: The Retreat by Heaven – Superior King Suite
Meal Plan: meals included today
Day 2: Visit Genocide Memorial & Travel to Nyungwe Forest
If you get an early start today there will be time to visit the Genocide Memorial in town before setting off to Nyungwe Forest. The Genocide Memorial is a place of commemoration for the 250,000 victims buried in mass graves in the area and an important remembrance of the unfathomable brutality of the 1994 genocide. The exhibit is an intensely emotional experiences but also an educational one, where you will learn about the darkest hour in Rwanda’s recent history.
On your drive out west today, you will be passing through the town of Butare, about 135km from Kigali. Here you can visit Butare National Museum displaying a range of ethnographic objects that will give you an insight into the rich traditional life and culture of the country.
At the end of the day you will reach Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of the world’s oldest and arguably Africa’s most beautiful rainforest. The forest is incredibly biodiverse with 13 known primate species in residence, from colobus monkeys, mangabeys, blue monkeys and, of course, our nearest relatives, the chimpanzees. Nyungwe Forest is also famous among the birding community who come to spot some of the 310 bird species recorded here, 26 of which are endemic to Rwanda.
You will have plenty of time to explore the interior of the forest tomorrow.
Journey Time: 5-6 hours
Accommodation: The One & Only Nyungwe House – Nyungwe Room
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Room Upgrade: Two-bedroom Forest Suite
The luxury Forest Suite offers plenty of comfort across large living spaces and private outdoor decks, so you can unwind in an engaging rainforest experience. Prices upon request. Let us know at the time of booking if you would like to make this upgrade.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking & Canopy Walk (optional)
Today you will venture deep into Nyungwe Forest National Park in search of the chimpanzees. On a Chimpanzee Tracking experience in Nyungwe Forest you will have the opportunity to follow an experienced guide into the forest to observe these fascinating creatures at a close range. Watching them interact with each other and go about their daily routine of grooming, playing and foraging is an incredible experience.
While your chances of encountering chimpanzees are high during your tracking excursion, it is never 100% guaranteed. These are, after all, wild animals with wills and minds of their own!
From the trails below the foliage you will now head up high into the forest canopy on one of East Africa’s first canopy walks. The network of suspension bridges will lead you on a 1.5 hour walk over a deep gorge, through beautiful and lush vegetation and difference animal habitats.
The canopy walk is an optional activity. Should you want to spend your afternoon enjoying the luxurious comforts of the lodge or doing one of the complimentary activities on offer there, just let your guide know in advance.
Journey Time: 1-2 hours each way
Accommodation: The One & Only Nyungwe House – Nyungwe Room
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Volcanoes National Park
If you think after Nyungwe Forest that Rwanda can’t get any more scenic, you haven’t seen Volcanoes National Park. The national park contains parts of the Virunga mountain range and its 5 volcanoes that form the border between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Besides being one of the most scenic sights in Africa, the park is also the gateway to face-to-face encounters with the iconic mountain gorillas.
While the main draw of visiting Volcanoes NP is to see the real gorillas in the mist, there are other fantastic activities to experience here like, tracking excursions to find the rare golden monkeys, spectacular volcano hikes and a visit to the Dian Fossey research center. Speak with your Travel Consultant if you would like to extend your stay in the park for an additional day to include one or more of these activities.
Journey Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Sabinyo Silverback Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Lodge Upgrade: Bisate Lodge (prices upon request)
Located in the natural amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone, with dramatic views of the peaks of the Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes, Bisate Lodge is one of Rwanda’s first genuinely luxurious and eco-sensitive safari lodges. Six opulent en-suite forest villas maximise comfort and views while adhering to environmentally responsible principles and reflecting the rich culture of rural Rwanda. Ask your Travel Consultant for a quote for this lodge upgrade.
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking
Encountering the rare and endangered mountain gorillas is an experience of a lifetime. In the company of an experienced park ranger you will be tracking the whereabouts of one of the habituated family groups who live in the park and can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day.
Your gorilla tracking experience will be an exciting, yet challenging, journey along forested (sometimes muddy and slippery) slopes, tangled vines, thick vegetation and bamboo forests before you reach the territory of these gentle giants. En-route, your ranger will point out telltale signs of previous gorilla activity like dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. Depending on the location of the gorillas on any given day the walk can take anything from 1 to 7 hours. Once the family of gorillas have been located, settle in to the environment and enjoy the hour you have to quietly observe these fascinating primates whose habits and mannerisms remind us so much of our own.
Encountering the mountain gorillas in the wild is a truly humbling and emotional experience, one that you are sure to remember for the rest of your life.
Journey Time: 15-30 minutes each way
Accommodation: Sabinyo Silverback Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Return to Kigali
Enjoy your last morning in the rainforest today. After an early lunch your guide will drive you back to Kigali for your departure flight. A farewell dinner with your guide in Kigali is included in your meal plan today before you are driven to the airport. Should you depart on an earlier flight please let your Travel Consultant know to deduct the meal from your package.
Journey Time: 2.5 hours
Accommodation: Not included today
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transport
All our exclusive tours are allocated the 4wd Toyota Extended Landcruiser. This is the ultimate safari vehicle in Africa; spacious, elevated and strong. The Extended Landcruiser has a fridge and of course a pop-up sun roof for excellent views.
This vehicle is suitable for a maximum of 8 people.
