Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional English or French-speaking driver-guide. Depending on your arrival time, you will enjoy a Kigali city tour, visiting landmarks such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the bustling Kimironko Market, and art centers that showcase Rwanda’s cultural vibrancy.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Dinner will be served at the hotel or at one of Kigali’s renowned local restaurants, offering a first taste of Rwanda’s hospitality.

After breakfast, your journey begins with a scenic drive through Rwanda’s famed rolling hills towards Volcanoes National Park in Musanze. Along the way, you will pass terraced farms, lush valleys, and local villages that highlight the beauty of the countryside.

Upon arrival, you will check into your lodge near the park and enjoy lunch. The afternoon can be spent at leisure, relaxing at the lodge, or visiting nearby cultural villages such as Iby’Iwacu, where you will experience traditional dances, drumming, and local crafts.

Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge, preparing for the exciting adventures ahead.

An early breakfast will be followed by a transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking etiquette. After being assigned a gorilla family, you will set off with your trekking team into the dense forests of the Virunga Mountains. The trek may take between 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorillas’ movements, but the reward is incomparable.

Once you encounter the gorilla family, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing their behavior, from the dominance of the silverback to the playful antics of juveniles. It is a humbling and life-changing experience that few destinations can offer.

After trekking, you will return to your lodge for lunch and rest. In the late afternoon, your driver-guide will take you to visit the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, where the serene waters are framed by dramatic volcanic peaks.

After an early breakfast, you will return to the park headquarters for a briefing on golden monkey tracking. These playful and brightly colored primates are unique to the Virunga massif and are a joy to watch in the bamboo forests. Their energetic movements and social behavior provide excellent photographic opportunities.

Following the trek, you will begin the journey south to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and home to chimpanzees and 12 other primate species. The drive is long but scenic, passing through tea plantations, rolling hills, and local markets along the way. Lunch will be taken en route, and you will arrive in Nyungwe by evening.

With an early morning start, you will head into Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee tracking. After a briefing by park rangers, you will venture into the lush rainforest to listen for calls and follow the signs of chimpanzees. Unlike gorillas, chimps are more active and move quickly through the trees, offering a thrilling and dynamic tracking experience.

The hour spent with them allows you to observe their complex social interactions, grooming behavior, and incredible agility.

After this adventure, you will return to your lodge for brunch, then begin your drive back to Kigali. Depending on your schedule, you will either be dropped off at your hotel for an overnight stay or directly at Kigali International Airport for your departure.