Day 1
Karibu Rwanda
Airside welcome, transfer to Kigali Serena Hotel. Private Genocide Memorial visit with historian guide. Dinner at your hotel.
Kigali Serena Hotel — Junior Suite (B&B)
04 / Kigali · Nyungwe · Volcanoes NP · Lake Kivu
Rwanda's Wild Heart
2 Gorilla Treks · Chimpanzees · Lake Kivu · Canopy Walk · Kigali Culture
— At a Glance
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Route
Kigali → Nyungwe Forest (via Butare) → Volcanoes NP → Lake Kivu → Kigali
Primate Treks
2 gorilla treks (different families) · 1 chimpanzee trek
Best For
First-time visitors wanting the full Rwanda experience in one week
Lodges
Kigali Serena (1n) · One&Only Nyungwe House (2n) · One&Only Gorilla's Nest (2n) · Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (1n)
Vehicle
Private Toyota Land Cruiser V8
Culture & Experiences
Genocide Memorial · Coffee Farm · Butare National Museum · Karongi · Iby'iwacu Village · Lake Kivu Boat Cruise
— Day by Day
Day 2
Coffee, History & the Forest
An early 06:30 departure to a hillside coffee estate for a two-hour bean-to-cup experience. Back on the road by 09:00 south to Butare. Two hours at the National Museum of Rwanda. Lunch in Butare. Continue to Nyungwe, arriving late afternoon. Total door-to-door: approximately 9–10 hours.
One&Only Nyungwe House (full board)
Day 3
Chimpanzees & the Canopy Walk
A full day in one of Africa's last great intact rainforests. Morning chimpanzee trek. Lunch back at the lodge. Afternoon: Nyungwe Canopy Walk — 90-metre suspension bridge 50 metres above the forest floor. Sundowners on the terrace.
One&Only Nyungwe House
Day 4
The Great Lake Drive North to the Virungas
One of the great drives of East Africa. North through Nyungwe highlands, descending toward Lake Kivu. Lakeside brunch at Karongi. Continue on the Congo-Nile ridge road through fishing villages. Through the Pfunda Tea Estate to One&Only Gorilla's Nest. Optional: Iby'iwacu Cultural Village. Total: approximately 7–7.5 hours with stops.
One&Only Gorilla's Nest (full board)
Day 5
First Gorilla Encounter
07:00 Volcanoes NP trek. A regulated hour with a habituated gorilla family in the Hagenia forest. Afternoon at leisure — spa, guided forest walk, or Dian Fossey Fund Campus option.
One&Only Gorilla's Nest
Day 6
Second Encounter, Then West to Lake Kivu
Second gorilla trek with a different habituated family. Return by midday, farewell lunch. Drive west through the Pfunda Tea Estate to Rubavu on Lake Kivu (approx. 1.5 hours). Check in at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. Afternoon: private motorboat sundowner cruise, island-hopping past local fishermen in pirogues.
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel — Suite (half board)
Day 7
Lakeside Morning & Departure
Final breakfast on the lakeshore terrace with the Congo volcanoes emerging from morning mist. Scenic 2.5-hour drive east to Kigali. Optional Caplaki stop. Transfer 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 | $24,100 | $32,400 | $32,400 |
| 2 sharing (per person) | $16,600 | $22,100 | $22,100 |
| 3 guests (per person) | $17,000 | $23,400 | $23,400 |
| 4 guests (per person) | $15,000 | $20,500 | $20,500 |
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 night Lake Kivu Serena Hotel — Suite (half board)
- 2 × RDB Mountain Gorilla permits (USD 1,500/person each)
- 1 × Chimpanzee tracking permit (USD 150/person)
- Nyungwe Canopy Walkway entry
- Lake Kivu private motorboat sundowner cruise
- National Museum of Rwanda, Butare — guided stop
- Scenic transit Nyungwe → Karongi → Rubavu → Volcanoes NP
- Private Toyota Land Cruiser V8 throughout
- Senior English/French-speaking driver-guide
- Gorilla porters (2 treks)
- Genocide Memorial private historian guide
- Coffee farm bean-to-cup experience
- Iby'iwacu Cultural Village afternoon
- 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 (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
- +Nyungwe Zipline — USD 100/person
- +Nyungwe Night Walk with ranger — USD 80/person
- +Lake Kivu kayak half-day with guide — USD 120/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