8 Days Best of Rwanda Tour | Haven Africa Journeys

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & Hotel Transfer

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly met by your professional driver-guide. Following airport customs and immigration formalities, transfer to your hotel in Kigali for a comprehensive safari briefing and an evening at leisure to relax after your flight.

Accommodation Options (Night 1):

Luxury: Hemingways Retreat Kigali – An intimate, high-end boutique retreat offering private sanctuary and personalized service.

Mid-Range / Upscale: Kigali Serena Hotel – A landmark hotel featuring colorful rooms, manicured gardens, an outdoor pool, and fine dining.

Day 2: Scenic Transfer to Nyungwe Forest & Guided Canopy Walk

Enjoy an early breakfast before departing Kigali for Nyungwe National Park, one of Africa’s oldest and largest montane rainforests. You can choose between a scenic overland drive through rolling countryside or a short domestic flight. Upon arrival, check in and head to the park headquarters for the famous Canopy Walkway experience - a suspended bridge 70 meters above the forest floor offering panoramic views of the canopy, troops of colobus monkeys, and endemic bird species like the Rwenzori turaco.

Accommodation Options (Night 2):

Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House – An exclusive luxury lodge nestled within a working tea plantation on the edge of the ancient rainforest.

Mid-Range / Upscale: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel – Perched atop a high hill, offering breathtaking 360-degree views across the rainforest canopy and tea fields.

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking & Forest Waterfalls Walk

Set out early for an thrilling morning of chimpanzee tracking deep in the rainforest. Guided by expert park rangers, listen for the calls of wild chimpanzees as you hike through lush foliage to spend an unforgettable hour observing man's close relative in their natural habitat. In the afternoon, embark on a guided Waterfalls Walk along the Isumo or Kamiranzovu trail, trekking past giant ferns, orchids, and misty forest cascades.

Accommodation Options (Night 3):

Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House – Relax with forest-view spa treatments and upscale dining after your forest treks.
Mid-Range / Upscale: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel – Enjoy quiet, comfortable chalets and traditional evening hospitality.

Day 4: Transfer to Akagera National Park & Afternoon Game Drive

Following breakfast, journey east toward Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s premier savannah conservation area home to the Big Five. Choose between a road transfer across changing landscapes or a private domestic flight. After arriving and settling in, take an afternoon game drive across rolling plains, broad-leafed woodlands, and acacia thickets to spot giraffes, elephants, buffalos, zebras, and impalas.

Accommodation Options (Night 4):

Luxury: Wilderness Magashi Camp – An ultra-exclusive luxury camp situated in a private concession in northern Akagera with panoramic lake views.

Mid-Range / Upscale: Ruzizi Tented Lodge – An eco-friendly boardwalk lodge tucked into the riverine forest along the shores of Lake Ihema.

Day 5: Morning Game Drive & Sunset Boat Safari on Lake Ihema

Depart at dawn for a morning game drive when wildlife and predators are most active. Search for lions, leopards, hyenas, and plains game across the park’s diverse ecosystems. In the afternoon, board a boat safari on Lake Ihema to cruise past large pods of hippos, sunbathing Nile crocodiles, and diverse waterbirds including fish eagles, kingfishers, and rare shoebill storks.

Accommodation Options (Night 5):

Luxury: Wilderness Magashi Camp – Enjoy private night game drives and lakeside dining on the wooden deck.
Mid-Range / Upscale: Ruzizi Tented Lodge – Unwind by the central fire pit overlooking the calm waters of the lake.

Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park & Cultural Exploration

After breakfast, leave Akagera and drive northwest toward Volcanoes National Park, winding through Rwanda's famed terraced hillsides toward the dramatic Virunga mountain range. Arrive in the foothill town of Musanze in the afternoon. You can spend the rest of the day at leisure resting before your gorilla trek, exploring the local market, or visiting a nearby cultural village.

Accommodation Options (Night 6):

Luxury: Wilderness Bisate – World-renowned, eco-sublime spherical thatched villas set inside an eroded volcanic cone with direct views of Bisoke peak.

Mid-Range / Upscale: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge – Spacious stone chalets located near the park headquarters, ideal for easy morning access.

Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Optional Afternoon Activities

Wake up early for breakfast and head to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing by park authorities. Joined by experienced rangers and trackers, trek through the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park to locate one of the habituated mountain gorilla families. Spend a transformative hour watching them feed, play, and interact.

In the afternoon, choose from optional activities:

* A guided hike toward the crater lake of Mount Bisoke.
* Tracking golden monkeys in the lower bamboo forests.
* Visiting the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund research center and grave site.
* Strolling through Musanze town and craft market.

Accommodation Options (Night 7):

Luxury: Wilderness Bisate – Celebrate your gorilla trek with farm-to-table dining and private fireside relaxation.
Mid-Range / Upscale: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge – Gather around the lodge fireplace and enjoy traditional cultural performances.

Day 8: Return Transfer to Kigali, City Tour & Departure

Enjoy breakfast before driving back to Kigali. Upon arrival, take a guided city tour featuring a visit to the poignant Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute and learn about Rwanda’s journey of recovery and unity. Time permitting, browse local artisan markets for handcrafted souvenirs before transferring to Kigali International Airport for your evening flight home.

7 nights in accommodations mentioned

Ground Transportation: Private 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for optimal game viewing, fuel, and all vehicle expenses.

Full Board basis (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner starting with dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 8).