Best of Rwanda

Itinerary Highlights

Your journey to the “land of a thousand hills” begins in Kigali with a visit to the renowned Kigale Genocide Memorial. You’ll then fly to the sensational One & Only Nyungwe House, nestled in a lush forest filled with with breathtaking scenery. Enjoy the views from the property’s famed canopy walk before embarking on your first primate experience with a chimpanzee and Colobus monkey trek. From there you’ll fly to Magashi Camp in the heart of Akagera National Park. Here you’ll find Big Five African safari both on traditional game drives as well as bush walks and boat rides through the river. End your Rwandan adventure with an unforgettable VIP helicopter ride to the country’s crown jewel of Volcanoes National Park. Situated overlooking the park, Bisate Lodge is perhaps the country’s most recognizable and rewarded luxury property and the perfect base for mountain gorilla trekking.

Hotels and lodges described in the itinerary are recommended by Craft Travel but there are numerous options in each destination and we will customize your itinerary based upon your preferences. With your feedback, we will similarly customize suggested activities, time spent in each location and trip extensions to additional destinations of interest nearby.

See our “Expert Tips & Customization” section below.

Itinerary Details

Welcome to Rwanda! Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport you will be immediately greeted by your guide and transferred to the hotel to quickly rest and freshen up.

Later in the day, meet your guide for a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi. The memorial is the burial site for 250,000 Rwandan genocide victims and serves to educate about how the genocide against the Tutsi took shape, as well as a deeper look into all genocides of the twentieth century. The wall of names is dedicated to those who died and is a work still in progress. Many of the victims’ names have yet to be gathered and documented and many of the victims who rest in the graves are unknown. The memorial gardens provide a place for quiet contemplation about the history of the genocide against the Tutsi. The centre also provides support for survivors, in particular orphans and widows.

Overnight at Kigali Marriott (no meals included)

After breakfast you will fly to Nyungwe Forest (approximately a 45 minute flight). Nyungwe Forest National Park protects the largest single tract of Montagne forest remaining in Africa. It is a remarkably rich center of biodiversity, with 86 mammal species, 280 birds, and about 100 varieties of orchid. It is the most important birding site in Rwanda.

One & Only Nyungwe is situated within this rich center of biodiversity, boasting treetop-skimming, luxury suites and rooms secluded in wonderfully untamed surroundings. This boutique tea plantation property caters to the adventure seeker while paying homage to Rwanda’s beauty and heritage. Enjoy exceptional, locally-sourced dining included in your stay in addition to two curated experiences daily.

Perhaps the property’s most signature activity is its famed Canopy Walk, the only treetop walkway in East Africa. The awe-inspiring platforms are elevated between giant trees, appearing to float 60 meters above the forest floor. Here you’ll find an array of stunning bird species such as the Rwenzori turacco, Black and white casqued hornbill, and even some Colobus monkeys. For those looking to explore from the ground, the Karamba trail is a quartz trail beginning in the open-air site of a former gold mine. The more challenging Mount Bigugu trail covers the highest peak in the park with spectacular views of Lake Kivu. With moderate inclines, Umugote trail reveals exceptional views of rounded ridges, as far as the mountains of Kibira National Park in Burundi. On the Irebero trail, gaze all the way across the Rwandan border.

Overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House (Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner)

Today embark on your first primate experience with a chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe Forest. At the break of dawn, your expert guide will lead you into the heart of the jungle, on the trail of chimpanzees. A rustle of leaves, and then, through the branches, you’ll spot a chimpanzee gazing down from the fig trees. Or perhaps you’ll see a troop of tree-dwelling chimps catapulting off through the canopy. Every trek is different, and the jungle’s charismatic chimpanzees are full of surprises. In addition to chimpanzees, you’re also likely to encounter one of the National Park’s 12 other primate species, including the L’Hoest’s monkey and the playful Black and white colobus.

In the afternoon embark on more adventures around the lodge, including hiking, trekking or community visits. Or simply enjoy relaxation at the lodge, taking advantage of One & Only’s picturesque pool or its breathtaking spa.

Overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House (Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner)

This morning you’ll fly Nyungwe via Kigali to Akagera National Park. Upon arrival, meet your wilderness guide and hop aboard your game vehicle to Magashi Camp.

Magashi Camp is situated in the phenomenally diverse northeastern corner of the national park, overlooking scenic Lake Rwanyakazinga. Magashi Camp boasts six spacious luxury tents offering uninterrupted views over the lake. Like all Wilderness properties, Magashi Camp is renowned for its highly trained naturalist guides and its commitment to local communities.

Upon arrival to the camp enjoy a game drive or perhaps even a bush walk where you’ll experience the thrill of safari on foot.

Overnight at Magashi Camp (Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner)

Today embark on a sunrise game drive park where you’ll find the most familiar and impressive faces of African safari: buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, spotted hyena, zebra, topi, roan, eland and more.

After lunch, enjoy a unique boat cruise on Lake Ihema. This trip passes through high concentrations of hippos and more animals may be seen drinking at the water's edge. The boat cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 600 spotted and recorded species.

Overnight at Magashi Camp (Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner)

After breakfast, depart on the transfer of a lifetime over the land of a thousand hills via private helicopter. This 45-minute heli ride will surely be a highlight of your trip and provide unparalleled photographic opportunities.

Upon landing you’ll be transferred to nearby Bisate Lodge. Take the rest of the evening at leisure to enjoy this marvelous property and its amenities, including a guided nursery visit, indigenous tree planting and one complimentary in-room welcome massage.

Bisate Lodge, adjacent to Volcanoes National Park, combines the bucket-list gorilla trek with a pioneering vision of reforestation and community partnership. Bisate is located in the natural amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone, with dramatic views of the peaks of the Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes rearing up through Afro-alpine forests. Encountering one of the gorilla groups in the nearby Volcanoes National Park is a unique experience. Walks on Bisate’s property offer birding and participation in the reforestation programme. Bisate is Rwanda’s first genuinely luxurious and eco-sensitive safari camp, centered on Africa’s most immersive wild primate experience.

Overnight at Bisate Lodge (Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner)

Get ready for another early morning transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by the park staff. Loaded with your drinking water, packed lunch and walking stick, enter the forest in search of the famous Mountain Gorillas. The trail into the forest will abruptly immerse you in the mysterious intimacy of the thick rainforest. An exhilarating Gorilla trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virungas can be muddy and challenging but offers a truly unforgettable experience. Alive with the calls of the great apes, you will spend an hour watching them interact before sloping back to the base. As you slope through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks, which are among the highest in Africa, can be seen.

Return to the lodge later this afternoon and enjoy time to relax and reflect on all you have witnessed the past week.

*Golden Monkey tracking can also be added at an additional cost and ideally should be booked in advance as permits are limited.

Overnight at Bisate Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

This morning after breakfast and a final goodbye to Bisate Lodge, head to the international airport in Kigali for your international flight. Depending on your flight schedule, you may require a day room to freshen-up before your flight, which we can gladly arrange. International departing flights should be booked for 1pm or later.

(Breakfast)

• 7 nights accommodations as per program (based on double/twin sharing room)

• All meals (except lunch and dinner on Day 1) and non-premium brand drinks, wines and liquors

• Internal flights, including private helicopter experience from Akagera National Park to Volcanoes National Park

• English speaking naturalist guides on a shared basis with other lodge guests

• All entrance and national park fees as mentioned on tour

• Primate permits as per itinerary

• *Not included: gratuities, visas (if applicable), international flights, meals and drinks not described above, additional permits (e.g. Golden Monkey permit in Volcanoes National Park) items of a personal nature

For this particular itinerary, we strongly recommend the use of both One & Only Nyungwe House and Magashi Camp in Nyungwe Forest and Akagera National Park, respectively, as these are the best options and offer strong value. Bisate Lodge is truly remarkable but there has been an emergence of equally renowned properties in the Volcanoes National Park area, such as Singita Kwitonda Lodge and One & Only Gorilla’s Nest. We equally recommend any of these three properties and will help you choose the right one for you based on style, preference and availability, the last of which is often limited.

This itinerary pairs perfectly with a safari extension in either Kenya or Tanzania, as well as a beach extension to either Zanzibar or Seychelles. Additional nights can be added in Nyungwe Forest and/or Volcanoes National Park to accommodate additional days of primate trekking.