Remarkable Rwanda Group Tour 2024
The Ultimate Rwanda Holiday
September 1-13, 2024
Embark on a 13 day adventure where you can hike among gorillas and chimpanzees, explore one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, visit with locals along the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu, and spot Africa’s Big 5 on safari. You will experience Rwanda’s pristine national parks, its vibrant capital city, and the local traditions of Rwanda’s rich culture.
This tour is designed for individuals, couples, friends, and families. We want to ensure everyone feels included and connected so we invite you to join with the mindset of getting to know the others in the group.
Group Tour Limited to 15 People.
Minimum age to participate is 16.
Spots are available until the tour fills up or gorilla permits sell out.
September 1-13, 2024
13 Days / 13 Nights
- Hike to rare mountain gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park
- Trek chimpanzees in one of Africa’s oldest rainforests
- Experience local culture along Lake Kivu and in Kinigi
- Visit Rwanda’s beautiful tea and coffee plantations
- Safari game drives in Akagera National Park
Majestic gorillas, African Big 5 Safari, idyllic village life, and chimpanzees in Nyungwe rainforest
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival Day
Welcome to Rwanda!
Day 2
Kigali City Tour
First on the itinerary is the Nyamirambo Womens Center, which is a Rwandan NGO founded by 18 Rwandan women in 2007. They have a vibrant textile facility in the colorful neighborhood of Nyamirambo which you will experience like a local.
In the afternoon you will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial where you can learn about Rwanda’s genocide as well as how to prevent future atrocities.
Day 3
Kigali to Volcanoes national park
Embark on a 2-3 hour drive to Volcanoes National Park where mountain gorillas and Golden Monkey inhabit the mountains.
During the afternoon you will visit the newly built Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund where you can learn more about endangered mountain gorillas and their habitats, walk interpretive trails, and even read Dian Fossey’s original letters written in her research station.
You will overnight in a beautiful lodge just outside park headquarters in Kinigi.
Day 4
Mountain Gorilla Trek
After a hearty breakfast and fresh cup of Rwandan coffee, you will go to Volcanoes National Park headquarters where you will be briefed by park rangers before setting out on your hike to a gorilla family. Rangers make a best effort to match you with a gorilla family that suits your level of fitness and preference. Several gorilla families are typically within 45 minutes walking from the trailhead.
Once you reach the gorilla family, you will have an hour to observe them in their natural habitat. The gorilla experience is nearly unimaginable as you walk among these majestic animals.
After your trek to the gorillas you will visit a cultural village in Kinigi and attend a traditional dance performance by Intore dancers. This “Dance of Heroes” is certain to delight with their brightly colored clothes and flowing white hairpieces.
You will overnight again at the same lodge in Kinigi.
Day 5
Kinigi to Kibuye
In the morning, you have the opportunity to visit another endangered animal in Volcanoes National Park – the Golden Monkeys. This trek is typically 60 minutes from the start of the trailhead which takes you to bamboo forests where you can see the Golden Monkeys as they swing from branches and run right past you.
After lunch your guide will drive you along beautiful Lake Kivu to Kibuye where you will overnight with fantastic lake views.
Day 6
Relaxation at Lake Kivu
Today is for enjoying a slower pace at Lake Kivu. After breakfast you can take a boat tour of the nearby islands, including Monkey Island, Napoleon, and to a herder’s island who is well known for his swimming cows.
In the afternoon you can rent kayaks, go for a hike, or lounge by the lake.
You will overnight again at the same hotel in Kibuye.
Day 7
Tea Estate and south Kivu
Today is for enjoying a slower pace at Lake Kivu. After breakfast you can take a boat tour of the nearby islands, including Monkey Island, Napoleon, and to a herder’s island who is well known for his swimming cows.
In the afternoon you can rent kayaks, go for a hike, or lounge by the lake.
You will overnight again at the same hotel in Kibuye.
Day 8
Nyungwe National park
Today you will visit the Gisakura Tea Plantation to see the entire process – from picking leaves in the fields to going inside the factory to view the sorting and roasting process. The plantation is in a gorgeous setting at the base of Nyungwe’s mountains.
Your overnight will be in a hotel just outside Nyungwe National Park.
Day 9
Chimpanzee trek
You will rise before the sun today for an early start to hike to the chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park. These hikes are exhilarating as you trek through the rainforest and take in the many bird species and varied flora along your way.
Day 10
The King’s Palace
Today you will make the journey to Kigali which takes approximately 7 hours traveling through towns and beautiful rolling landscapes. Along the way you will stop in Nyanza, the former heart of Rwanda. The King’s Palace in Nyanza is a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence – a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive. At the back live a few long-horned Inyambo cattle, descended from the king’s herd, whose keepers carefully tend and sing to them, keeping alive a unique tradition. The cattle keeper’s singing is a special highlight.
Overnight in Kigali
Day 11
Akagera National Park