FAQ

Day 1 — Arrival in Kigali

Accommodation: Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, Kigali

Fly into Kigali International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the leafy Nyarutarama neighbourhood. Heaven Boutique Hotel is a beloved mid-range staple — comfortable, well-located, and locally owned with excellent food.

After settling in, spend the afternoon visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, one of the most moving and important sites in Africa. In the evening, stroll the tree-lined streets of Kigali — one of Africa’s cleanest and safest capitals — and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant, which champions Rwandan cuisine and local ingredients.

What to pack: Sturdy hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts, waterproofs, and garden gloves for the gorilla trek.

Day 2 — Kigali to Volcanoes National Park (Musanze)

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Musanze ⭐ 4.3

After an early breakfast, drive northwest to Musanze (about 2.5 hours through rolling green hills). Check in at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, a well-regarded mid-range property with comfortable cottages, warm fireplaces in the rooms, and views toward the Virunga volcanoes — the most dramatic skyline in Rwanda.

In the afternoon, visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Musanze — an inspiring conservation centre dedicated to the woman who gave her life protecting mountain gorillas. You can also visit a nearby Iby’iwacu Cultural Village to meet local communities and learn traditional Rwandan music, dance, and crafts.

In the evening, attend your gorilla trek briefing at the park headquarters — mandatory for all trekkers departing the next morning.

Day 3 — Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park 🌋

Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Kinigi ⭐ 4.6

Rise before dawn for a 6:00 AM start. After a short drive to the trailhead, rangers assign your group to one of the 12 habituated gorilla families. Depending on the family’s location that day, the trek takes anywhere from 1 to 6 hours through thick bamboo forest and volcanic terrain.

When you find the gorillas, you’ll have exactly one precious hour in their company — watching silverbacks lounge, juveniles play, and mothers nurse their infants just metres away. It is, by almost universal agreement, one of the greatest wildlife encounters on Earth.

After the trek, return to Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge for a well-earned foot massage (the lodge is famous for this touch), warm tea, and a hearty lunch by the fireplace. Spend the afternoon resting or exploring the nearby trails.

Gorilla Permit: USD $1,500 per person (book months in advance through Rwanda Development Board). The fee directly funds conservation.

Day 4 — Drive to Lake Kivu — Karongi (Kibuye)

Accommodation: Inn on the Lake, Kibuye ⭐ 4.8

Depart Musanze after breakfast for the scenic 3-hour drive south along the Congo Nile Divide — arguably the most beautiful road in Rwanda, with panoramic views of terraced hills and distant peaks.

Arrive in Karongi (Kibuye) on the eastern shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes and part of the Albertine Rift. Check in at the Inn on the Lake, a charming mid-range gem perched right on the water with spacious lake-view rooms and a gorgeous garden terrace.

In the late afternoon, take a motorboat trip to nearby islands — paddle around Napoleon Island (home to thousands of fruit bats that erupt into the sky at dusk) and Monkey Island, where chimpanzees and colobus monkeys were once released. Watch the sun sink behind the Congo hills, turning the lake to gold.

Dinner at the lodge with fresh Kivu tilapia — a local specialty you must try.

Day 5 — Lake Kivu Leisure Day

Accommodation: Umutuzo Lodge, Lake Kivu ⭐ 4.7

Today belongs entirely to Lake Kivu. Move along the lake to Umutuzo Lodge, one of the most praised mid-range properties on the lake — perched on a hillside with panoramic water views, a pool, and farm-to-table dining.

Choose from a full menu of activities: kayaking across crystal-clear water, cycling the Congo Nile Trail (one of Africa’s great cycling routes), or a boat trip to a nearby coffee washing station to learn how Rwanda’s celebrated single-origin coffee goes from cherry to cup. In the afternoon, take a dip in the pool, read on your lake-view balcony, or simply watch the fishing pirogues drift by.

This is Rwanda’s answer to the Mediterranean — don’t rush it.

Day 6 — Drive to Nyungwe Forest — Chimp Tracking & Canopy Walk 🌿

Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge ⭐ 4.4

Drive south (~2.5 hours) from Lake Kivu to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests, home to 13 primate species, 300 bird species, and over 1,000 plant species.

Check in at the Nyungwe Forest Lodge — a mid-range standout set dramatically between a working tea plantation and the ancient forest edge, with sweeping valley views and frequent visits from colobus monkeys to the balconies.

In the afternoon, head into the forest for Chimpanzee Tracking with a ranger guide. Nyungwe’s chimps live in large communities and your encounter can last several hours. Unlike gorilla trekking, chimp tracking is faster-paced and more unpredictable — the chimps move fast and the forest echoes with their wild hooting.

Follow the trek with the Canopy Walk — a 160-metre suspension bridge system strung 70 metres above the forest floor, offering a rare bird’s-eye view of the ancient canopy. It’s mildly terrifying and absolutely unforgettable.

Chimp Tracking Permit: ~USD $150 per person. Canopy Walk: ~USD $60.

Day 7 — Nyungwe Morning Activities & Return to Kigali

Accommodation: Depart for Kigali

Rise early for one final immersion in Nyungwe. Options include a guided colobus monkey walk (troops of 400+ black-and-white colobus are regularly encountered), a hike to the Isumo Waterfall, or quiet birdwatching along the park’s well-maintained trail network — where species like the Rwenzori turaco and red-collared babbler reward patient observers.

After lunch, begin the 4–5 hour scenic drive back to Kigali, crossing through the tea highlands of southern Rwanda. Arrive in time for an evening flight, or spend a final night in Kigali if your schedule allows.

📋 Quick Reference — Mid-Range Lodges

🧭 Essential Tips

Best time to visit: June–September (dry season) is easiest for trekking, but Rwanda’s gorillas and chimps can be tracked year-round. The short rains (Oct–Nov) bring lush green landscapes with fewer crowds.

Book gorilla permits early — they sell out 6–12 months in advance, especially for peak season. Book directly through the Rwanda Development Board (rdb.rw).

Getting around: Hire a private driver-guide for the full 7 days (~$70–100/day including fuel). Rwanda’s roads are excellent and the distances are manageable.

Visas: Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or apply online at irembo.gov.rw. East Africans need no visa at all.

Health: Yellow fever vaccination required. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the western lake and forest areas.