Black rhinos returning, lions thriving and chimpanzees just habituated are just a few of the highlights found in a new national park in Rwanda. With a gorilla population that is stronger than it has been for centuries, now is the time to visit Rwanda. Best of all, this is the time to explore while tourists remain relatively thin on the ground. Connecting Rwanda’s old favorites and new experiences too, this signature safari will also celebrate the remarkable story of a country that has exceeded...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Kigali – A City and a Country Transformed: 24 Years On
Rwanda’s progress is remarkable. The country is clean and green, where plastic bags are illegal, and nothing ever looks out of place on the streets. The vibrancy you associate with East Africa – colorful dresses, beaming smiles, a gregarious atmosphere on the streets – is enhanced by a modern touch, especially in capital city Kigali. In your first two hours, you will be nearly unable to imagine that this is a country ravaged so recently. Make a stop at Kimironko Market to absorb the smiles and smells, along with the shouts of traders that flutter past laden stalls. Enjoy lunch at one of the up and coming restaurants in the city, where the food is building on the nourishment of tradition.
Through the afternoon, you will visit three genocide memorials, each with a different angle on the story to give you a complete perspective. The National Genocide Centre provides context, detailing the events leading up to the tragedy, pulling no punches in its vehement criticism of the UN and the broader international community. Beneath the ground are the bodies of more than 250,000, just one insight into the scale. At Nyamata Church and Murambi, you will witness what took place as clothes hang from rafters, blood stains cover walls, bones are stacked in piles while survivors narrate the tales, and it will be difficult not to be moved to tears, standing in these haunting places untouched since 1994. There is also the heartwarming element as when you look at the past, you can appreciate just how far Rwanda has moved forward. The evening is free as you settle in from any jet lag, and your hotel has an excellent restaurant at your disposal.
What's Included:
Day 2
Akagera National Park – Beauty of the Savanna
Day 3
Akagera National Park – A Remarkable Homecoming: Meeting the Black Rhinos
Day 4
Volcanoes National Park – Flight Between the Game and the Gorillas
Day 5
Volcanoes National Park – The Eternal Wonder of Gorilla Trekking
Day 6
Gishwati-Mukura National Park – Discover Golden Monkeys
Day 7
Gishwati-Mukura National Park – Exclusive Chimpanzee Trekking
Day 8
Gishwati-Mukura National Park to Kigali – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Discover some of Africa’s most remarkable characters as you follow the heartwarming story of ten black rhinos that were reintroduced to Rwanda in 2017
- Explore Rwanda’s newest national park as a trek in Gishwati-Mukura brings an intimacy with golden monkeys and other amazing primates
- Celebrate the longstanding highlight of Rwanda with a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
- Enjoy Africa’s most exclusive chimpanzee trekking experience as you visit a newly habituated troop in the Gishwati Forest made even more special as the troop has seen very few sets of human eyes
- Take in the remarkable regeneration of Akagera National Park as it is becoming one of East Africa’s next little gems
- Feel intense admiration for the Rwandan people as 24 years on from the devastating genocide, you will share stories with survivors and be caught up in their hope and optimism
- Be impressed from the land and the air as The Land of a Thousand Hills will be seen on a guided drive to local villages and a sublime flight east to west across the country
Starting Price
$8,000 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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