Best of Rwanda

Arrival at Kigali international airport met and transferred to your Kigali Hotel.
Overnight: Five to Five Hotel

Breakfast at your hotel, City Tour of Kigali including the Genocide Memorial site a grim reminder of a senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Have lunch thereafter set off along the Rwamagana – Kayonza road to Akagera National Park. You will come across a lot of bird’s activity along the way. Banana plantations abound, with vegetable and Fruit markets lined along the roads.
Overnight: Akagera Game Lodge

Early breakfast, enter the park for Game drives; Akagera is home to a variety of game, and an exciting reserve in which to spend a few days. It offers an interesting contrast to the more mountainous central and western parts of Rwanda. There are plenty of animals around and the birdlife is quite exceptional. Mammals include a healthy population of Elephant and Buffalo, plus 11 species of antelope including Impala, Common Duiker, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Oribi, Tsessebe, Cape Eland and the rare Sable Antelope. Hippos are present in impressive numbers in the lakes and rivers and Zebra and Giraffe still roam the more open acacia dotted plains. After game viewing drive back to the lodge.
Overnight: Akagera Game Lodge

Breakfast at your hotel, Drive back to Kigali and proceed on the drive to Nyungwe National park via Butare, the second largest city of Rwanda and regarded as the intellectual city of Rwanda. Butare hosts the National Museum, several academic (Universities) and research institutions. Visit Nyanza the former Mwami’s Palace (King’s palace) and the seat of the feudal monarchy. The palace has been reconstructed to its 19th century state and shows a traditional dome. You will also visit the Butare National Museum in Huye which is one the bets set-up, if not the finest ethnographic museum of East Africa. A good source of information on the cultural history of Rwanda.Lunch at a local restaurant in Butare. Afternoon drive to the wonderful rainforest reserve of Nyungwe at an altitude range of between 1600 M-2950 M above sea level with temperatures varying between 0°C and 30° C; average day temperatures 15°C. Nyungwe receives rainfall ranging 1800-2500 mm per year. Rainy season is September to May. Dry season June to August with some dry weeks in December and January.The main features and attractions in Nyungwe forest include Largest montane rain forest remaining in Africa, Mt. Bigugu (2925M), Kamiranzovu marsh (13 Km²). Nyungwe forest has 260 species of trees and shrubs and Over 100 species of orchids and giant lobelias. For those interested in botany, the flora in Nyungwe comes as an added bonus.
Overnight: Gisakura Family Hostel

Early breakfast at your lodge, transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park offices. Enter the park for chimp trekking. Chimpanzees are great apes that are closely related to humans. During the morning’s walk we are also likely to encounter troops of primates. Nyungwe Forest hosts these intelligent primates who are an endangered species. The forest harbors more than 275 endemic and migratory bird species recorded Including the Ruwenzori turaco, Ross’s turaco, Grey –cheeked hornbill, Red-throated alethe, Red-breasted sparrow hawk, White-headed wood-hoopoe, Kungwe apalis, Ruwenzori batis, Blue-headed and Regal sunbirds. Afternoon, relax or enjoy the many optional activities in Nyungwe or visit the nearby areas including a tea farm / factory.
Overnight: Gisakura Family Hostel

Depart to Gisenyi a scenic drive that takes you over the Albertine (western) Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valleys. Gisenyi city lies on the eastern shores of Lake Kivu on the northwest part of Rwanda. Lake Kivu is one of the greatest Lakes in Rwanda, an extraordinarily beautiful inland sea enclosed by steep, green terraced hills along eastern Rwanda. Gisenyi has a beautiful sandy beach lined with swaying palms and colonial-era hotels that exude an atmosphere of tropical languor.
Overnight: Inzu Lodge

Morning at Leisure to explore the Lake Kivu , optional boat ride to explore nearby islands, thereafter drive to Ruhengeri, at the foothills of Virunga Volcanoes and the base for Gorilla. The town itself, located only 25km from Uganda boarder, is relatively a small city of about 70,000 people. The constant flow of humanity is quite remarkable. The Town has great views of the surrounding volcanoes. People are very friendly here and although a former Belgian colony.
Overnight: Red Rocks camp

This day is set out for Golden Monkey tracking in the Volcanoes National Park. Entering dense stands of bamboo interspersed with open glades; you will make your way deep into golden monkey territory. Guides lead visitors to the habitat of groups of ‘habituated’ golden monkeys – monkeys that have become accustomed to human presence. Have lunch visit Red Rocks initiatives for the promotion of descend work and economic growth, we support an association of local artists to produce and sell attractive art pieces to tourists. The art pieces also have the message on conservation. Talented youth have the opportunity to profit from their artistic skills. Later in the evening join bee keeping association to their bee hives that they place in swamps forest areas rich in certain types of plants. Traditionally honey was used to cure several local diseases, you will be introduced to herbs and plants that help cure different. (https://www.redrocksinitiative.org/)
Overnight: Red Rocks Campsite

After breakfast engage in becoming part of a village. Visit a family and be introduced to their traditional methods of farming, Milking, cutting grass for domestic animals and other agricultural activities. Be involved in conservation activities: Learn how to make traditional beer from banana. Later after lunch join local women association for handicraft lessons. Learn how to make a decorative basket (AGASEKE), a precious feminine gift that has connotations of beauty and love.
Overnight: Red Rocks Campsite

After breakfast drive to the two compellingly twin lakes Bulera and Ruhondo, located just adjacent of the volcanoes. Take a boat to explore the breath-taking scenery or even join fishermen with their local canoes on the lake. You will visit one of the communities living in an Island and the highest point to have some good photos of the volcanoes especially during a clear day. Afterwards drive to Red Rocks for lunch, check out the camp and bid farewell to the locals. Later in the evening drive back to Kigali.