After an early breakfast, our driver-guide will pick us from the hotel and drive to King’s palace museum which is approximately a 2 ½ hour drive from Kigali. The King’s Palace was the traditional seat of Rwanda’s kingdom. On our visit, we learn about the evolution of farming and building through the centuries, and then venture into the grounds to meet the long-horned cows, known as Inyambo. A guide from the museum will accompany us around the King’s Palace and then leave us to explore the main palace after which we will then drive to the Ethnographic Museum in Butare. This museum was built with help of the Belgian government, first opened in 1989 and it is a good source of information on the cultural history of the country and the region. Lunch in Butare E-Bis restaurant and drive to Nyungwe for canopy walk hike and then check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight FB.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel

Meals plan:  breakfast, lunch & dinner

Activities:  Kings Palace visit & Ethnographic Museum visit

Cyamudongo is a small forest fragment southwest of the mountain forests of the Nyungwe National Park in south western Rwanda, Cyamudongo has a population of about 30 chimpanzees that are relatively easy to track and find, since the forest is so small. We wake up as early as 4.00 AM; to be at the reception 4: 30AM and by 5 am, we drive to the starting point of the forest. The tracking can take 2 to 5 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees, where we are allowed to spend 1 hour with them. In the afternoon, we enjoy lunch at Nyungwe Top Hill View Restaurant, to be followed by a scenic drive to Kibuye.

Accommodation: Cormoran Lodge

Meals plan:  dinner and breakfast

Activities:  5 to 4-hour chimpanzee tracking

Today we embark on a scenic drive from Kibuye to Musanze arriving just in time for lunch for lunch. In the afternoon we visit Iby’iwacu Cultural Village where we will be entertained by an Intore dance performance; the “Intore” once the elite of the traditional Rwandan army were not only trained as military but also in high jump and dance They were also known for their remarkable technique, allowing them to jump over 2m40 (nearly 8 feet!). After the cultural experience we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Meals plan:  breakfast, lunch & dinner

Activities: Intore dancers, cultural village visit.

After breakfast at 7.00 am, we proceed to the visitor’s reception at Volcano National Park for a briefing and be separated into groups based on which Gorilla family we will be tracking. Then the guide and scouts will lead us through the gorilla paths in the thick Impenetrable rain forests looking for the gentle giants. The trek takes 2-5 hours depending on where we find the Mountain Gorillas and once we find them, we will spend an hour observing these beautiful primates, then head back to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, we shall go for a half day canoe adventure on River Mukungwa. The canoe ride offers an excellent way to tour the beautiful countryside, enjoying the magnificent views and drive back to Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Meals plan:  breakfast, lunch & dinner

Activities: Mountain Gorilla Tracking

Today we are doing another trekking but this time of the golden monkeys. We arrive at the Volcanoes National Park Headquarters for briefing at 7 a.m. These striking primates are a treat for the eyes with their bright orange fur contrasting the green rainforests of the Virunga Mountains. We have a good hike and spend moments with these beautiful creatures with the guidance of our park guide. After an amazing one hour with the golden monkeys we will return to the trail head drive back to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, we visit the Ellen De Generes Gorilla Campus which is dedicated to the conservation, protection and study of gorillas and their habitats in Africa.  We then return to Kigali and check in at Scheba Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Scheba Hotel

Meals plan:  dinner, breakfast

Activities: Golden Monkeys and Gorilla campus

Today we have time to explore Kigali city. The tour will include the Kigali Genocide memorial and the Inema arts gallery; Kimironko Market and other city’s best known landmarks.  Inema Arts Center spurs creativity for personal, social, and economic growth. Here, we will witness the use of creative expression to bring the community and country alive.

We can opt to have lunch at hotel de Milles Collines, then be transferred to the airport for departure marking the end of our safari.