Remarkable Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali Airport, (arrive before 10 am), you will be met by our representative and your driver guide. Transfer to One Cup Coffee Cafe by 8 am for the tour briefing with the rest of the group. The briefing will go through introductions to your expert guide and driver, break the ice and learn about your companions for the tour, and provide a cultural orientation and basic language skills. Then we will go over the day's schedule and activities all over a wonderful high-grade Arabica coffee grown by women's coops in Rwanda, before beginning our first activity a Coffee Masterclass.

Rwanda has some of the world's best coffee with perfect growing conditions and bourbon Arabica coffee beans are grown all around the country. The Masterclass will provide a crop-to-cup experience providing you with extra knowledge about your favourite cup of coffee. Areas covered include the Coffee history of Rwanda, coffee growing, roasting, packing and tasting.

After this aromatic class, you will head to Hotel des Mille Collines for lunch before heading to the Kigali Genocide Memorial for a moving and education tour.

The 1993 genocide was a tragedy of unbelievable heartbreak. The Kigali Genocide Memorial is one of several key genocide memorials set up around the country to educate people and memorialise their deaths to never forget and never repeat this chapter of their history. The memorial is extremely educational and explains the conditions and history that led to the event. It is transparent, challenging, moving and ultimately inspiring as you see the incredible reconciliation and rebuilding that has gone on since. It's something you will never forget.

After the memorial, you will check in to The Retreat Boutique, an upscale hotel with a focus on luxury and relaxation.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel reception at 7:00 am for a morning briefing before you leave Kigali for the far east of the country which is where Akagera National Park is located. Akagera is Africa's 2nd oldest national park and has been regenerated back to a big 5 safari park post the 1993 genocide. It's around 2.5 drive going through local towns and villages. The east part of Rwanda is less hilly and opens to Savanna once you reach Akagera.

You will arrive at the park around mid-morning for registration and then proceed for the southern sector game drive. This circuit is particularly known for its Giraffes, Zebras, Baboons, Waterbuck, and Buffalo. After this morning session, you will return to the lodge for lunch and check in.

That afternoon, around 3.00pm, you continue a game drive of the southern sector before heading toward Lake Ihema for a special safari boat from 4.30pm (1 hr.).

The evening safari boat is an opportunity to get up close from a whole new perspective and see hippos, crocodiles, and many of the 423-bird species of Akagera, all whilst watching the sunset over this magical first day.

It's only 10 minutes from the boat safari launch to your accommodation at Ruzizi Tented Lodge. This lodge is owned by the park, so your contribution goes towards further conservation and regeneration of this wondrous region. The camp is right on Lake Ihema and the Hippos often visit in the morning. Don't worry, the tents are on raised platforms and Hippo's can't jump.

After breakfast, you will start your day with a nature walk around the park. The “Walk the Line Experience” is an immersive journey into the heart of nature at Akagera National Park. This unique adventure involves a 2-hour (7km – moderate difficulty) guided nature walk led by a community volunteer as you follow the park's perimeter fence. On this walk, you will see many of the park's remarkable wildlife up close. After the nature walk, you will be driven to Karenge Bush Camp for lunch and check-in.

Later In the afternoon, we will proceed onto an afternoon game drive in the northern circuit to search for animals you may have missed out on in the previous game drive. This afternoon you will visit the Savannah region of Akagera's northern sector, where you'll want to keep your eyes open for some of the park's top predators, as well as Giraffes and Elephants.

You will finish the day with dinner at Karenge Bush Camp in the evening.

After breakfast, you will embark on a full-day game drive, traversing from the southern reaches of Akagera National Park to its northern sector. Along the way, we will make a stop at Hippo's Beach viewpoint, where you can enjoy your packed lunch while observing hippos sunbathing on the beach.

In the afternoon we will continue our journey to the northern sector of the park. Here, the landscape opens into expansive savannahs, keep an eye out for big game here like lions and rhinoceros. Lions were introduced to the park about seven years ago, and their population is thriving. Additionally, the park recently welcomed rhinos recently, making it an exciting opportunity to spot these magnificent creatures.

The vast savannah terrain is punctuated by numerous lakes, providing additional opportunities to observe a variety of bird species and the presence of hippos. As the day ends, we make our way back to our camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, we will head to a new area in the northeastern area of Akagera National Park. During this 2–3-hour drive, you'll be treated to breathtaking vistas of rural Rwandan landscapes, where you can immerse yourself in the authentic local life and picturesque farmlands of the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.' This route is relatively untouched by tourism, offering a unique and unspoiled experience. You will have a stopover for lunch at Sooko which is an initiative by local driver guides. They pooled their money together to open this conveniently located stop over with meals, rest rooms, and even showers.

After lunch at Sooko, transfer a further hour ascending the mountains before arriving in the township of Musanze at the foothills of the Volcanoes National Park. On arrival, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Fund.

This new campus serves as an initiative to foster a lasting connection between a passion for Wildlife Conservation and the revered legacy of Dian Fossey. This state-of-the-art centre has provided a permanent home for the Dian Fossey Fund, facilitating the expansion of education and research in Mountain Gorilla Conservation. Its impact promises to be enduring, benefiting both the communities of Volcanoes National Park and the future of Mountain Gorillas.

After your visit, head to your nearby lodge to check in. At 5:30pm, we arranged at the lodge for a special presentation by the Gorilla Doctors. This offers valuable insight into the dedicated work of veterinarians and their assistants responsible for the health of Mountain Gorillas, especially considering their small population. Their relentless efforts have been instrumental in the remarkable growth of gorilla numbers since 1986.

Today, you have a unique and privileged experience of tracking and hopefully meeting the rare Mountain Gorilla. There are only around 880 of these magnificent creatures left in the world, with around a third of those in the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

After an early breakfast, you leave the lodge at 06:30 hrs and drive 30 minutes to the Volcanoes National Park Headquarters. At the park headquarters, there will be a cup of tea or coffee available and traditional dancers to welcome you. The park rangers will organise trekkers into groups based on fitness level and assign you a trek leader. The leader will brief you on the day's trek and gorilla behaviour before a short drive to the trek starting point in the farmlands at the foothills of the volcanoes.

The gorilla trek ventures up the mountain and through thick forest. It can last anywhere between 2 and 6 hours, depending on which gorilla group you are assigned and how nomadic that group is. If you wish, there is the option to hire a porter to help you carry your backpack or bag and can give you a hand while hiking.

Once you happen upon your gorilla group all tiredness will melt away as you get to spend a full hour with a troop of these extraordinary creatures. You will marvel at their interactions, displays, playing, eating and sleeping. There is so much to recognise in our own human behaviour. The encounter is considered one of the greatest wildlife encounters on the planet.

After that, it's time to leave the mountain gorillas to live their life and head back down the descent, taking in the stunning views on the way down. Your driver and guide will be waiting to hear all about your adventure before driving you. The duration of the trip is around 2-3 hours.

After a big day of activities, it's time to come back to the lodge for dinner and have a good night's sleep.

After breakfast, head 30 minutes to the start of your Mukungwa River Canoe Experience. Mukungwa River gently meanders through the farms and villages at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park. It is also well known for its birdlife and majestic views.

After the Mukungwa Experience, we will drive a further 1 hour to Sooko, where you can freshen up and take lunch. After lunch we depart for the Muhanga district (101 km | 2 hrs) to experience the lives of a typical rural Rwandan farmer and then stay overnight in a mud hut to get a real sense of living as a local. Whilst Rwanda is a small country, it is densely populated, and most of its citizens earn a living from owning and working small plots of land.

On arrival, you will partake in your authentic rural activity of choice (chosen on Day 1 during the briefing):

• A Day in the Life of an Artisan
• Become part of a weaving cooperative for the day
• Imigongo (cow dung art) Experience
• Traditional Construction
• Banana Juice Making
• Traditional Cooking Day
• Azizi Life Pathways
• Crafting Workshop Experiences
• Candle Dipping and Hive Making

In the afternoon, your Azizi Life Musical Adventure kicks off with a captivating performance by a talented troupe of traditional artists and storytellers as the sun sets. Whether you're naturally rhythmic or not, our experienced instructors ensure that everyone can relish the experience of mastering the art of traditional drumming and dancing.

Following that, it's your moment to shine as you don a traditional costume and delve into the world of Rwandan dance. You're in for a joyful time as the dancers guide you through the fundamental dance steps while sharing intriguing insights into the history of Rwandan dance.

Accommodation will be a local homestay. Homestay hostesses live in homes made of mud brick, which usually have one larger front room for receiving visitors and a few smaller bedrooms for the family. In the enclosed area behind the house, there is an outdoor kitchen, an enclosed pit latrine and bathing outhouse, animal stalls, and a family workspace. Most host families have about four children at home. In Rwandan culture, guests are considered a blessing.

As the new day dawns, you will share a wonderful breakfast with your host family and say farewell before heading to our next destination for lunch and spending a relaxing afternoon at Kivu Lodge (108 km | 2 hrs). This idyllic lakeside haven is a simple but comfortable boutique hotel that takes in the beautiful views of lake life. Whether you're savouring delicious Rwandan cuisine, taking a refreshing dip in the inviting pool, or simply relaxing on the terrace while gazing at the serene waters of Lake Kivu, every moment at Kivu Lodge is designed to provide a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. Surrounded by the region's rolling hills and the majestic Virunga Mountains, this lodge offers a peaceful escape from everyday life.

Lake Kivu shares a border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It stretches 89 kilometres in length, 48 kilometres in width, and reaches a depth of 240 metres. Along its shores, you'll find charming small towns and bustling cities, all set against the backdrop of the region's iconic rolling hills and towering volcanoes.

The real magic begins at the end of the day, where you will partake in a Singing Fisherman Experience. Each evening, a mesmerising Rwandan tradition unfolds along the picturesque shores of Lake Kivu. As the sun gracefully dips below the horizon, local fishermen fill the air with songs and whistles, embarking on their journey to the heart of the lake. This captivating experience provides a unique opportunity to witness the age-old fishing techniques of Lake Kivu, as skilled fishermen navigate the waters in their traditional boats equipped with hooks and nets (2 hrs). Adventurous participants can even try their hand at this authentic fishing method, immersing themselves in the local way of life.

After the Singing Fishermen Experience, you will return to the lodge for dinner.

After a relaxing breakfast, you will have a lazy start to the day with a 10 am checkout. We will then depart along the bumpy but scenic road from Lake Kivu to Nyungwe Forest National Park (93 km, 2 hrs. 12 mins), Africa's largest temperate Rainforest. Along the way, you'll be treated to views of terraced farmlands, vibrant green tea plantations, and dense forests that carpet the hillsides. Keep your eyes open as there are often cheeky monkeys sitting on the side of the road along the way.

Upon reaching Nyungwe National Park, you'll have a packed lunch before exploring the renowned Canopy Walkway, a suspended bridge that takes you on an exhilarating journey high above the forest floor. The 160-meter-long walkway offers an up-close encounter with the forest's treetop canopy, providing stunning vistas and potential wildlife sightings. You will then continue on to your hotel (5km, 15 min) where you will have dinner and the evening at leisure.

This morning will be an early start, waking up at 5.00 am and eating our packed breakfast on the way to the starting point of your Chimpanzee Trek (22 km, 1 hr). On arrival, the park rangers will give you a briefing on the trek rules and Chimpanzee behaviours, then you head off with walking sticks in hand into the jungle. With approximately 500 chimpanzees in this Rwandan region, it plays a crucial role in conserving this rapidly declining species. Depending on the trackers' information, you may encounter larger troops of around 60 or more intimate groups of 20-30. Regardless, chimpanzees are typically more active than mountain gorillas, showcasing their remarkable intelligence, confidence, and characteristics, thanks to their 98.7% genetic similarity to humans.

After the experience, return to your accommodation for lunch and a freshen-up. This afternoon, we will proceed to the nearby lake shores for the Nkombo Island Boat tour excursion (3 hrs.). Nkombo Island is nestled on Lake Kivu, between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. It stands as one of Rwanda's well-kept secrets, with an expansive area of 22 square kilometres, it is the largest island in Rwanda and home to nearly 20,000 inhabitants and serves as a natural bird sanctuary, enveloped by Ishwa and Bweramata Islands on the Rwandan side of Lake Kivu.

Once we arrive at the island, you'll do a steep climb to a community that speaks a mix of Rwandan and Congolese languages. You're sure to receive a warm welcome with traditional dances and an opportunity to admire their traditional crafted baskets.

Afterwards, you'll return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

It's the final day of the tour and after checking out we will make our way to Gitarama, the Kings Palace Museum (146 km, 3.5 hrs.). Located in Nyanza, south of Kigali City, King's Palace Museum Rwanda was the original residence of King Mutara III Rudahigwa.

Arriving around lunch, you will eat at the café before exploring the museum, which has been restored to its 19th-century state and offers insight into Rwandan traditions. After a recent reintroduction, the property is now home to long-horned traditional cows, which are an integral part of the Rwandan culture. On the neighbouring hill of Mwima, you can visit the burial grounds of King Mutara III and his wife, Queen Rosalie Gicanda.

After the Palace, we will head back to Kigali (100 km, 2.5 hrs.) to have dinner at Kigali's Repub Lounge and from there we transfer you to Kigali Airport (or your overnight accommodation) and wish you a safe onward journey with memories that move you long after you return home.