Rwanda, wild at heart Exceptional lodges, gorillas and chimpanzees

Day 1 Flight to Kigali

Day 2 Kigali

Welcome and assistance with the formalities. Meet your driver-guide. Transfer.
Already planned in your itinerary - Kigali in private. Estella, originally from Burundi, now lives in Kigali. She has worked as a TV host, reporter and written press editor. She now works at the media library of the French Institute in Rwanda. You have a meeting to spend a few hours together, taking a walk shaped by your interests, your wishes, and the personnalised recommandations of your companion for the day. This is a chance to share a slice of life and pick up a wealth of advice for the rest of the journey.
Stay overnight in central Kigali. The hotel is a wonderful introduction to modern Rwanda: eco-friendly, elegant and gastronomic. The restaurant - serving African fusion cuisine - was the first to join the adventure. The rooms, the fitness centre, the spa and the swimming pool followed suit. Today, the whole complex shows real hotel coherence. Things are not just good - they are beautiful too, so you are very well placed here. You feel instantly at home, especially as the setup creates many private spaces.

Day 3 Kigali - Nyanza - Nyungwe Forest

Drive to Nyungwe. Already planned in your itinerary - South of Kigali, in Nyanza, stop at the Mwami Palace Museum, the former residence of the Rwandan king. The large huts made of papyrus and thatch are where the monarch and their family lived. The herd of Watusi cattle kept on the estate was an expression of royal power. From 1931, the last Mwami lived in a nearby colonial building. Private tour with a guide.
Settle in for two nights on the edge of the park. The hotel is already under the sway of the forest. You see it, touch it, and feel it all around you - its depth calls and draws you in. The rooms are spacious, graphic, elegant and comfortable, in shades of grey, ochre yellow, beige and red. They open wide onto the countryside. The wellness area of the property is perfectly arranged. Rwanda delights you in the restaurant and the dining room looks out over a tea plantation. The bar is first-rate. Outside, there is a swimming pool and a boma - the traditional enclosure where people gather in the evening around a fire. The lodge offers canopy observation or stargazing.

Day 4 Nyungwe Forest

Already included in your itinerary - In the footsteps of the chimpanzees. The national park protects what is arguably the most pristine of Africa’s mountain rainforests. Lush, dense and varied. Green! And inhabited. Especially by primates. Among these are the Ruwenzori colobus, the blue vervet and Hamlyn’s guenon. However, the chimpanzee is the one that receives all the attention. We’ll visit the forest (where wild begonias and giant lobelias meet), but it is with this distant cousin in mind. And so, in a small group, we’ll set off in search of it, following in the footsteps of a ranger. Pan troglodytes is a social species, and seeing it in its natural habitat is a moving experience. There is much more at play here than just genetic proximity - an entire culture is involved. The excursion lasts between four and six hours, depending on whether the monkeys are settled nearby or further away.

Day 5 Nyungwe Forest - Kibuye

Drive to Kibuye. You’ll spend the night in accommodation located on Lake Kivu that is far from ordinary. Large bay windows let you take in views of the lake from your room, the lounge area and even the bathroom. The terrace also opens that way, of course. The sunset adds a vivid burst of colour to this peaceful landscape, like a beacon shining over the lake. The building is modern. The design is contemporary African. The standard of amenities is excellent. Comfort soon follows. The balconies are a pleasant feature. Meals are served in the dining room or on the terrace. They serve truly professional international cuisine, which pairs beautifully with African influences. It’s a farm-to-table approach. In the garden, there’s a swimming pool.
Already scheduled - Lake Kivu by boat. The Virunga volcanoes enabled the accumulation of Lake Kivu’s waters, which overflow into Lake Tanganyika via the Rusizi River. The boat glides along the scalloped banks, lined with tea gardens. You’ll come across boats belonging to people fishing for isambaza or tilapia. The cruise is picturesque and takes on romantic charm as soon as wisps of mist drift between the hills. An osprey circles overhead. Suddenly, splash! A kingfisher swoops in to attack. The white-breasted cormorants hold their wings out to the breeze.

Day 6 Kibuye - Volcanoes National Park

Drive to Volcanoes National Park. You’ll then spend two nights in a beautiful lodge. Large bay windows again, terraces - the overwater bungalows face the Virunga. They are superbly appointed. From a practical point of view first, they are comfortable, spacious and equipped to the highest standards. For the aesthetics, geometric variations of Imigongo art were of course used. And the results are remarkable. These variations are paired with handcrafted objects and elegant designer furniture. The colour palette features well-balanced shades of brown, red, bronze, grey and blue. At the restaurant, you’ll be served today’s African cuisine. It’s very professional. Aromatic herbs and vegetables from the kitchen garden. The lovely outdoor pool, spa and gym make up a quality wellness area.
Already scheduled - Aperitif at the Dian Fossey Foundation. You’ll take a private tour of the facilities, then talk to the biologists over refreshments. Meanwhile, the sun sets over the mountains. Magic.

Day 7 Volcanoes National Park

Already scheduled - Meet the gorillas of the national park. With an English-speaking ranger, you’ll be driven to the area; you’ll then set out on foot along the trail to track the gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). They don’t always wait for you in the same place. As they need a great deal of food, they move around frequently. And while they display strong family behaviour, they are not particularly territorial. But the rangers know their routines well and are skilled at spotting a magnificent silverback male surrounded by his group. The walk to the shady bamboo forests where they live includes some rather steep sections, but your efforts are more than rewarded by stunning scenery and, in the end, a moving encounter between members of the Hominoidea family.

Day 8 Volcanoes National Park - Kigali - Return flight

Drive to Kigali. There is still time to meet the women of the DuHope association, which aims to provide women engaged in prostitution and facing social hardship with the means to get out of this situation and regain their dignity. They do this through literacy and jewellery making, among other things. The driver will take you to the airport. You will receive assistance with formalities. Return flight.

Day 9