Day 1
Karibu Rwanda
Airside meet-and-greet with welcome kit. Transfer to Kigali Serena Hotel. Private guided Genocide Memorial visit with historian guide. Sundowner cocktails, dinner at your hotel.
Kigali Serena Hotel — Junior Suite (B&B)
03 / Kigali · Nyungwe Forest · Volcanoes NP
Primates of the Rainforest
Mountain Gorillas · Chimpanzees · Nyungwe Canopy Walk · Kigali Culture
— At a Glance
Duration
6 days / 5 nights
Route
Kigali → Nyungwe Forest NP (via Butare) → Volcanoes NP → Kigali
Primate Treks
1 mountain gorilla trek · 1 chimpanzee trek
Best For
Primate enthusiasts, couples, nature-focused travellers
Lodges
Kigali Serena Hotel (1n) · One&Only Nyungwe House (2n) · One&Only Gorilla's Nest (2n)
Vehicle
Private Toyota Land Cruiser V8
Culture & Experiences
Genocide Memorial · Coffee Farm · Butare National Museum · Karongi Lakeside Lunch · Iby'iwacu Village
— Day by Day
Day 2
South Through History to the Forest
Depart at 08:00 for the scenic drive south on RN1 through Rwanda's Southern Province — terraced hillsides, banana groves, and rolling tea estates. After approximately 2 hours, stop in Butare (Huye), Rwanda's former academic capital. Spend two hours at the National Museum of Rwanda — the country's finest ethnographic collection. Lunch in Butare. Continue south-west into the ancient Nyungwe hills (a further 2 hours), arriving at One&Only Nyungwe House in the mid-afternoon.
One&Only Nyungwe House (full board)
Day 3
Chimpanzees & the Canopy Walk
Morning chimpanzee trek into Nyungwe Forest with expert rangers. These are habituated chimps — your guide interprets their complex social behaviour in real time. Return to the lodge for lunch. Afternoon: the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway — a 90-metre suspension bridge 50 metres above the forest floor, with panoramic views across an unbroken ancient canopy. Sundowner on the terrace.
One&Only Nyungwe House
Day 4
The Great Lake Drive North to the Virungas
Allow an early 07:30 departure — today is one of the great drives of East Africa. The road climbs north through the Nyungwe highlands before descending toward Lake Kivu. After approximately 2.5 hours, arrive at Karongi (Kibuye) for a lakeside brunch with fresh Kivu tilapia. Continue north on the Congo-Nile ridge road through fishing villages and papyrus-lined bays. Brief stop in Rubavu, then east through the Pfunda Tea Estate to One&Only Gorilla's Nest. Total driving: approximately 6 hours with stops.
One&Only Gorilla's Nest (full board)
Day 5
Gorilla Encounter
07:00 depart for Volcanoes National Park. Trek with guide, trackers, and porters to spend a regulated hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family in the bamboo and Hagenia forest. Return to lodge for lunch. Afternoon: spa, guided forest walk, or optional Dian Fossey Fund Campus tour. Iby'iwacu Cultural Village optional this evening.
One&Only Gorilla's Nest
Day 6
Farewell & Return to Kigali
A gentle final morning at One&Only Gorilla's Nest — breakfast on the terrace with views to the volcanic peaks. Late morning departure for Kigali — a scenic 2.5-hour drive east through the tea-covered hills. Optional final stop at Caplaki Crafts Village. Direct escort to Kigali International Airport.
— 2026 Pricing · Per Person (USD)
| Configuration | Low Season Nov–Dec · Mar–May | High Season Jun–Oct | Festive Dec 22–Jan 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo traveller | $20,800 | $29,100 | $29,100 |
| 2 sharing (per person) | $14,000 | $19,400 | $19,400 |
| 3 guests (per person) | $14,500 | $20,900 | $20,900 |
| 4 guests (per person) | $12,600 | $18,100 | $18,100 |
All prices include permits, accommodation, transfers, fees, VAT, and bank charges. Gorilla permits (USD 1,500 each) are included.
— What's Included
- Airside meet-and-greet and farewell escort
- 1 night Kigali Serena Hotel — Junior Suite (B&B)
- 2 nights One&Only Nyungwe House (full board, beverages, 2 activities/day)
- 2 nights One&Only Gorilla's Nest (full board, beverages, 2 activities/day)
- 1 × RDB Mountain Gorilla permit (USD 1,500)
- 1 × Nyungwe chimpanzee tracking permit (USD 150)
- Nyungwe Canopy Walkway entry (USD 40/person — 2-person minimum)
- National Museum of Rwanda, Butare — guided visit en route
- Full-day scenic lake drive: Nyungwe → Karongi → Rubavu → Volcanoes NP
- Private Toyota Land Cruiser V8 throughout
- Senior English/French-speaking driver-guide
- Gorilla porter — 1 per guest
- Kigali Genocide Memorial — private historian guide
- All park entry fees
- Made-in-Rwanda welcome kit · 24/7 WhatsApp concierge
- VAT on transportation · bank handling charge · mineral water
— Not Included
- —International airfares
- —Rwanda visa (USD 50 single-entry or USD 100 East Africa Tourist Visa)
- —Travel insurance — mandatory
- —Gratuities for porters, driver-guide, and lodge staff
- —Personal expenses and alcohol outside lodge inclusions
Premium Add-Ons
- +Dian Fossey Fund Ellen DeGeneres Campus — private tour (max 5) — USD 800/group
- +Akagera Aviation helicopter transfer (up to 6 pax) — from USD 3,328 one way
- +In-suite couples spa half-day — USD 420/person
- +Photography concierge — USD 650/group
- +Iby'iwacu Cultural Village afternoon — USD 80/person
- +Nyungwe Zipline — USD 100/person
- +Nyungwe Zipline + Canopy Walkway package — USD 125/person
- +Nyungwe Night Walk with ranger — USD 80/person
— Bespoke Composition
Tailor your journey.
Tell us a little about how you travel. Gerry will personally reply within 24 hours with a draft itinerary composed for you alone.
Private expeditions are typically composed from USD $9,500 per guest, fully inclusive of gorilla permits, lodging, guiding and transfers.
Curated by Gerry
Have questions first? See our Journey Guide