Gorillas & Green Hills
The Experience
Seven days to see Rwanda properly. This itinerary builds from the gorilla encounter at Volcanoes National Park through golden monkeys and chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest, then arrives at a final chapter that most visitors never reach: Lake Kivu. One of Africa’s Great Lakes, straddling the Congo border, fringed with volcanic hills and fishing villages, with a boat excursion to Napoleon Island for the African fruit bat colony at dusk. It is the Rwanda that stays with you longest — the detail that makes you plan a return visit on the flight home. Seven days. The three great primates. A great lake. The complete country.
The Itinerary
Seven days tracing the rhythm of the wild.
Kigali · Arrival
Arrival in Kigali. City orientation: Genocide Memorial, Kimironko market, Inema Arts Centre. Rooftop dinner with views over the city. Briefing for the days ahead.
Kigali → Volcanoes NP
Transfer northwest to Musanze. Afternoon at leisure — optional Musanze caves or twin lakes. Ranger briefing at the lodge. Early night.
Gorilla Trekking
Pre-dawn departure for gorilla trekking. One hour with a habituated family in the Afromontane rainforest. Return by early afternoon. Rest day — the experience deserves space.
Golden Monkeys → Nyungwe
Early golden monkey trek in the bamboo zones of Volcanoes NP. Return to lodge for lunch. Afternoon transfer south to Nyungwe — approximately 4 hours through Rwanda’s interior.
Chimpanzees + Canopy Walkway
Morning chimpanzee trekking in the deep forest. Afternoon: the Igishigishigi canopy walkway through the upper Nyungwe canopy. Extraordinary birdlife throughout.
Nyungwe → Lake Kivu
Morning transfer west to Lake Kivu and the town of Rubavu. Afternoon boat excursion — Napoleon Island for the fruit bat colony, a swimming stop, sunset on the water. Lakeside dinner.
Lake Kivu → Kigali
Final lakeside breakfast. Optional morning kayak or market in Rubavu. Transfer east to Kigali, arriving early afternoon for your onward flight.
- Included
- Domestic flight Nairobi–Mombasa and return (or road)
- All road transfers Mombasa ↔ Diani
- 3 nights beach accommodation
- Breakfast daily · dinner on arrival
- Masai Mara conservancy and park fees
- Excluded
- International flights · Kenya e-Visa · Travel insurance
- Lunch and additional dinners
- Dhow excursion (optional) · Marine park entry (optional)
- Water sports, diving, personal spending · Alcoholic beverages
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