Day 1
Karibu Rwanda
Airside welcome with Made-in-Rwanda kit. Transfer to Kigali Serena Hotel. Private Genocide Memorial visit with historian guide. Rooftop sundowners, dinner at your hotel.
Kigali Serena Hotel — Junior Suite (B&B)
05 / Kigali · Nyungwe · Volcanoes NP · Lake Kivu
The Complete Rwanda
2 Gorillas · Chimps · Lake Kivu Extended · Full Cultural Programme
— At a Glance
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Route
Kigali → Nyungwe Forest (via Butare) → Volcanoes NP → Lake Kivu (2n) → Kigali
Primate Treks
2 gorilla treks · 1 chimpanzee trek
Best For
Travellers wanting depth at each destination, not just ticking boxes
Lodges
Kigali Serena (1n) · One&Only Nyungwe House (2n) · One&Only Gorilla's Nest (2n) · Lake Kivu Serena (2n)
Vehicle
Private Toyota Land Cruiser V8
Culture & Experiences
Genocide Memorial · Coffee Farm · Butare Museum · Karongi · Iby'iwacu Village · Boat Cruise · Fishing Village Visit
— Day by Day
Day 2
Coffee, History & the Forest
Early 06:30 departure to coffee estate for bean-to-cup experience. South to Butare for the National Museum of Rwanda. Lunch in Butare. Continue to Nyungwe. Total: approximately 9–10 hours.
One&Only Nyungwe House (full board)
Day 3
Chimpanzees & the Canopy
Morning chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe — Africa's oldest montane rainforest. Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon Nyungwe Canopy Walkway. Optional forest walk to spot colobus monkeys.
One&Only Nyungwe House
Day 4
The Great Lake Drive North to the Virungas
One of the great drives of East Africa through Nyungwe highlands to Lake Kivu. Lakeside brunch at Karongi. Congo-Nile ridge road north. Through Pfunda Tea Estate to One&Only Gorilla's Nest. Iby'iwacu Cultural Village. Total: approximately 7–7.5 hours.
One&Only Gorilla's Nest (full board)
Day 5
First Gorilla Encounter
07:00 trek into Volcanoes National Park. A regulated hour with a habituated gorilla family. Long lunch at the lodge. Afternoon: spa, forest walk, or Dian Fossey Fund Campus tour.
One&Only Gorilla's Nest
Day 6
Second Encounter, Then West to Lake Kivu
Second morning gorilla trek with a different family. Farewell lunch. Drive west through Pfunda Tea Estate to Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (1.5 hours). Afternoon: private motorboat cruise with sundowners. Dinner at the hotel.
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel — Suite (half board)
Day 7
A Full Day on Lake Kivu
Morning kayaking or cycling along the lakeside road. Afternoon: visit to a lakeside fishing cooperative and the extraordinary methane gas extraction project. Late afternoon canoe sunset. Dinner at the hotel.
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel — Suite (half board)
Day 8
Lakeside Farewell & Departure
Final lakeside breakfast watching the morning light play across the water. 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 | $25,500 | $33,800 | $33,800 |
| 2 sharing (per person) | $17,300 | $22,800 | $22,800 |
| 3 guests (per person) | $17,700 | $24,100 | $24,100 |
| 4 guests (per person) | $15,600 | $21,000 | $21,000 |
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)
- 2 nights 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
- Lake Kivu private motorboat cruise with sundowners
- Fishing cooperative visit — methane energy story
- National Museum of Rwanda, Butare
- Private Toyota Land Cruiser V8 throughout
- Senior driver-guide · gorilla porters · historian guide
- Coffee farm bean-to-cup · Iby'iwacu Cultural Village
- All park entry fees · Made-in-Rwanda welcome kit · 24/7 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 — USD 80/person
- +Lake Kivu kayak half-day — USD 120/person
- +Private methane boat tour — USD 200/group
— 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