Kigali * Nyungwe Forest National Park * Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
This short 7-night safari is a perfect introduction to some of the highlights of Rwanda: Kigali, the Nyungwe Forest and of Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park as the highlight at the end.
It uses both of One&Only's properties in Rwanda: Nyungwe House and Gorilla's Nest.
It combines some 2 & 3 night stays with two scenic road transfers so that, unlike some shorter Gorilla safaris, you really get to see the beautiful landscapes and people of Rwanda. This relaxed pace means that you can add in optional excursions and activities to suit your interests.
One Gorilla Trekking, one Chimpanzee Trekking permit and one Golden Monkey permit have been included. Note that these are at a lower price from November to May if we book them together.
Other optional tours or permits:
Use the scroll button to see the full itinerary.
On arrival in Kigali, you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Scenic road transfer to Nyungwe via Butare. Arriving around lunchtime.
Afternoon at leisure.
Two activities per person per day at One & Only Nyungwe House are included: archery, mountain biking, bird watching, guided nature walk, spear throwing and star gazing
Today you enjoy an early morning breakfast at the lodge followed by a hike in search of chimpanzee communities.Prepare to hear these excitable primates before you see them, as their hoots travel through the deep forest. During your hike you may also spot migratory birdlife including the Ross turaco, grey-cheeked hornbill, red-breasted sparrow hawk and the regal sunbird.
Scenic transfer by road to Volcanoes National Park via Lake Kivu (5hrs)
Your stay at Gorila’s Nest includes two activities per person per day: Choose form guided nature walks, gorilla talk at the Jack Hanna Cottage, coffee tasting, local community performances (organised weekly), mountain biking, running, drumming with the locals, exploring the chef’s garden, archery, open air yoga and meditation.
We recommend that you acclimatise by doing a Golden Monkey trekking (less strenuous) before your Gorilla trek. This is included at this stage ($100 per person) but you could opt to do TWO gorilla treks.
Golden Monkey trekking
There are two groups of golden monkeys in the Volcanoes National Park, each of about 50 to 60 in size. The overall experience from start to finish takes approx 3½ to 4 hours. It is wonderful to see the Golden Monkeys interacting with each other. They are very active, peeling the bamboo like a banana, to eat its insides, grooming each other and swinging from tree to tree. They’re also very pretty. Golden monkeys are also territorial and enjoy a different terrain to the mountain gorilla. The bamboo forest here is quite different to the terrain of the gorilla trekking.
In Volcanoes National Park, twelve gorilla groups are now habituated for tourism and offer one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural experiences. To be in the presence of these gentle giants at such close quarters is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
So today you’ll have the rare opportunity to observe the famous Rwandan mountain gorillas! Tracking the gorillas through the forested slopes of the Virungas is a magical experience. Return to the Lodge a late for lunch followed by leisure in the afternoon.
Depending on your flight time, there may be time to do an optional excursion in the morning. (See included activities above.)
Return to Kigali in time for your onward flight.
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