Majestic Rwanda

See the heart of Rwanda on this wildlife-focused trip through the country’s cloud-capped rainforests, pine-fringed beaches and soaring peaks. Seek out the country’s infamous chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park, trek with some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and explore Rwandan culture and history on this 8-day journey that will leave you in awe of nature’s power.

Itinerary
7 nights
7 nights from Kigali , Kigali: 1 night , Nyungwe Forest: 2 nights , Kibuye: 1 night , Volcanoes National Park: 2 nights , Kigali: 1 night
Safari

£5,495 - £5,995pp including international flights

Itinerary overview

Day 1

Arrival in Kigali

On arrival into Kigali, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel with time to e...

Day 2

Kigali & Nyungwe National Park

Today you’ll head to Butare – Rwanda’s second-biggest city, famous for its university. Take a tri...

Day 3

Nyungwe National Park

Head out early in search of chimps on a morning hike through Nyungwe Forest. You might spot one s...

Day 4

Nyungwe National Park & Kibuye

After an early breakfast, head back into Nyungwe for a final nature walk in this pristine, monkey...

Day 5

Kibuye & Volcanoes National Park

Take it easy on the shores of Lake Kivu in the morning before heading to Ruhengeri, a small town ...

Day 6

Volcanoes National Park

Get ready for a day of adventure as you head into Volcanoes National Park in search of Rwanda’s i...

Day 7

Volcanoes National Park & Kigali

This morning you have the option to re-enter the park to embark on another gorilla trek and track...

Day 8

Kigali & Departure

The tour comes to an end today. After breakfast, transfer to Kigali International Airport for you...

Day 1

Arrival in Kigali

On arrival into Kigali, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel with time to explore Rwanda’s capital and settle in ahead of your adventure. Overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel.

A flavour of Rwanda on a hands-on gourmet adventure

Kigali

This half-day tour introduces you to Rwandan food, a cultural staple.  Your host has run restaurants and has a developed relationships with all kinds of nearby farmers: people growing macadamia nuts, chia seeds, cassava and sweet potatoes. The tour starts with a visit to one of Kigali’s colourful farmers markets to shop for some of the ingredients for the cooking class later. The tour is customised to your interests so you may visit a farm outside Kigali or meet the locals with a visit to a milk bar. You'll take part in a short cooking class that focuses on Rwandan-inspired recipes. You'll pop on an apron and learn how to prepare various local fruits and vegetables, cook a few dishes and have a tasting, followed by a nice lunch. You can also incorporate cocktail making using lemongrass, passionfruit and tropical fruits to create innovative non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Food is a big part of the overall experience and this tour allows you to interact with farmers, explore community markets and discover new recipes that they can take home with them afterwards.

Day 2

Kigali & Nyungwe National Park

Today you’ll head to Butare – Rwanda’s second-biggest city, famous for its university. Take a trip to the nearby town of Nyanza, once the heart of the country, to explore the King’s Palace, a former royal residence which has been reconstructed in its traditional thatched, beehive-shape style. Visit the Ethnographic Museum in Huye to see artefacts, clothing and crafts from centuries past, before sampling traditional specialities at a local restaurant in the city. After lunch, drive to Nyungwe National Park to see the star of the show. One of the oldest rainforests in Africa, this lush, protected reserve sits high in the mountains with peaks reaching up to 3,000m and is known for its impressive array of wildlife, including a population of around 500 chimpanzees. Overnight at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay.

Day 3

Nyungwe National Park

Head out early in search of chimps on a morning hike through Nyungwe Forest. You might spot one swinging through the trees, or eye the endemic L’Hoest’s monkey, alongside 12 other species of primate that call the park home. Keep an eye out for cerval cats, mongoose, leopards and colobus monkeys, and get your binoculars ready for some world-class bird watching, including blue-headed sunbirds, the white-headed wood-hoopoe and the red-collared babbler. In the afternoon, head back to your hotel to relax at the pool and spa, or opt to visit a local tea plantation. Overnight at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay.

Learn the secrets of Rwandan tea

Nyungwe National Park

Learn the secrets of tea processing, from leaf to cup, on a guided tour of the on-site plantation. Nyungwe House has its own tea estate, Gisakura, which is owned and run by the local community. During the one-hour tour, you will learn how the popular black tea is made. You’ll get to pick the leaves and have a tasting session as you enjoy views over the lime-green tea fields, stretching to the rainforest and mountains beyond. As you pick the leaves, you will be taught about the history of the tea estate, which began in 1952 when the bushes were planted in this western region of Rwanda. The tea is picked every 11 days and pruned once every four years for germination. Thanks to the volcanic soil here and high elevation, an amazing full-bodied black tea that has around seven different grades is produced here. While you’re out on the plantation you can take pictures with the tea pickers and chat with them about their experiences. Afterwards, head into the tea lounge to learn about the production process. Once picked, the leaves are sent to the nearby tea factory where they’re dried, cut and fermented, sorted and packed. You’ll get to taste the different grades of high-quality tea, which has now become one of Rwanda’s largest exports. Each one has a different flavour to discover and they are paired with snacks like chocolate and scones. As an added extra you can also request to have a private meal in the tea plantation, surrounded by birds and beautiful scenery.\

Day 4

Nyungwe National Park & Kibuye

After an early breakfast, head back into Nyungwe for a final nature walk in this pristine, monkey-dappled forest, then return to the lodge for lunch. Drive to Kibuye, an idyllic beach resort on the eastern shores of Lake Kivu, where pines and eucalyptus trees slope into the water and colourful boats bob in peaceful bays. Relax by the water, venture off on a kayaking trip or head out on a mountain bike to explore these scenic landscapes from an alternative angle. Overnight at Cormoran Lodge.

Beaches, boats and gentle adventures on Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu

There’s nothing nicer if you’ve been on the go for a few days, trekking up volcanoes and through forests, than being able to flop on a sandy beach and just relax. You wouldn’t think that was possible in a landlocked country, but thankfully Rwanda has Lake Kivu – one of Africa’s biggest lakes – which has a string of lovely beaches along its eastern edge. It’s perfect for swimming, too, because there aren’t any hippos or crocodiles, and the water’s really clear and clean. It’s very popular with the Rwandans, but international travellers haven’t really discovered it yet and it still feels calm and unspoiled and a bit of a clever find.  You can’t come to Lake Kivu and not go out on a boat of some kind, and there are plenty of different trips on offer. On some of them, you literally just go out on the water for a scenic cruise, so look for one that includes stops at some of the most interesting islands. There’s quite a few: Napoleon Island with its huge colony of fruit bats and the occasional African fish eagle, Monkey Island with its population of vervet monkeys, Peace Island with the swimming cows. Another great option if you want to spend the day lazing on the beach is a sunset boat cruise. You'll be sitting with a drink, watching the amazing scenery get even more amazing as everything changes colour, and suddenly the local fishermen are going past in their dugout canoes singing their traditional songs. It’s magical. If you’re feeling a bit more energetic, you could rent a canoe or kayak and have a gentle paddle along the shore. Or, head off on an organised tour with an expert guide – you can do anything from a day to a few hours. You get the same feeling of peace just gliding along, but with the benefit of local knowledge. So you’ll visit places and see things you probably wouldn’t be able to find by yourself, whether it’s a particularly lovely hidden bay, a tucked-away fishing village or a spot where you might catch a glimpse of Congo clawless otters.  Land-based activities include hiking or mountain biking along the Congo Nile Trail which stretches all the way along the side of the lake for 140 miles. It would take about five days to cycle the whole thing, and twice as long to walk it, so most people just do a short section. It really takes you into the heart of rural Rwanda, along dirt roads and tracks through the forest, past tea, coffee and banana plantations, and into villages where you can watch daily life going on. Definitely worth getting off your sun lounger for.

Day 5

Kibuye & Volcanoes National Park

Take it easy on the shores of Lake Kivu in the morning before heading to Ruhengeri, a small town set close to the Ugandan border in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes. A former Belgian colony, this French-speaking settlement is the gateway to Volcanoes National Park – home to some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas as well as the rare golden monkey. Head to your lodge, located 3km from the park, and relax around the fire as you take in the majestic mountain surroundings. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Take a walk through nature at Wilderness Sabyinyo

Volcanoes National Park

The nature walk at Wilderness Sabyinyo is a meditative experience that will help you reconnect with Mother Earth. One of the in-house ornithologists will guide you on the hour-long walk, pointing out some of the 50 different species of birds that live here. The trail winds through the 31-acre grounds and along the way, you’ll learn about the native flora, explore the farm and have the chance to spot wildlife. The trail begins in the beautiful flower garden and this leads to a trail that meanders through eucalyptus woods. There are plans to start harvesting the leaves to make essential oils and candles, a process to teach local farmers so they’re able to make and export eucalyptus products. They’re also re-wilding this area by planting indigenous trees so that the property merges seamlessly with Volcanoes National Park when they expand their boundaries over the next few years. You’ll pass the barn, which is home to the artist-in-residency programme, and the large reservoir that is being turned into an eco-friendly aquaponics area. Next, head through the colourful wildflower forest to the vegetable garden. Meet the chickens and sheep - described as their sustainable lawnmowers. A highlight of the nature walk is the bamboo forest, which leads to a lava cave that was formed over 2.5 million years ago when the neighbouring volcano Mount Sabyinyo erupted; it has amazing white fluorescent algae growing on top. Be sure to spend some time sitting on the meditation bench beside the stream which irrigates the tea plantation. If you’re lucky, you may spot golden monkeys jumping through the trees.

Day 6

Volcanoes National Park

Get ready for a day of adventure as you head into Volcanoes National Park in search of Rwanda’s infamous gorillas. You’ll be put into groups depending on fitness level and driven up the mountain to the starting point; from there you’ll trek from two to six hours to seek out these intriguing creatures amid towering peaks and emerald rainforest. After the trek, you’ll be transferred back to your lodge for lunch and your final afternoon spent in these bucolic landscapes. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Day 7

Volcanoes National Park & Kigali

This morning you have the option to re-enter the park to embark on another gorilla trek and track down a different family, or trek the famous Dian Fossey Trail. Alternatively relax and enjoy the volcanic landscape air before you bid these burly primates farewell and head back to Kigali on a scenic drive through fertile hills laced with coffee, tea and banana plantations. Upon arrival in Kigali you will be transferred to the hotel for your final night. Overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel.

Day 8

Kigali & Departure

The tour comes to an end today. After breakfast, transfer to Kigali International Airport for your flight home or onward travel.

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Guide price information

Low Season

01 Jan - 31 May, 01 Nov - 31 Dec

£5,495pp

High Season

01 Jun - 31 Oct

£5,995pp

Guide price information is based on the included flights from London, accommodation, transport and experiences detailed in the itinerary above. Guide prices do not include optional things to do. Call us for up to date prices – the cost of your holiday depends upon the time of year you travel, how long you go for, preferred departure airport, airlines, hotels and things to do. Based on 2 people sharing.