20 Days Best Of Rwanda , Hike , Trek and More

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  1. Day 1
    Arrival in Kigali - Transfer to the hotel
  2. Day 2
    Nyamirambo Walking Tour & Kigali Genocide Memorial visit
  3. Day 3
    Mountain Biking in Kigali & Visit Umusambi Village
  4. Day 4
    Spend a day in a life of an Artisan - Traditional construction
  5. Day 5
    Nyungwe National Park enroute visit the King’s palace & Ethnographic Museum
  6. Day 6
    Waterfall hike in the park & Traditional tea tour
  7. Day 7
    Colobus monkey Trekking & Canopy walkway
  8. Day 8
    Lake Kivu - Mountain biking
  9. Day 9
    Congo Nile Trail - Hike from Kibuye to Bumba
  10. Day 10
    Hiking from Bumba to Kinunu
  11. Day 11
    Kayak on Lake Kivu & Coffee tour
  12. Day 12
    Morning by the Lake at the Beach & Boat Transfer
  13. Day 13
    Hike Muhungwe Mountain & Transfer to Volcanoes
  14. Day 14
    Golden monkey Trekking & Canoeing on River Mukungwa
  15. Day 15
    Bisoke Mount Hike or Nature Walk To The Dian Fossey Tomb And Gorilla Graves
  16. Day 16
    Visit community projects - Kigali
  17. Day 17
    Akagera National park - Game drive and Boat Ride
  18. Day 18
    Full Day Game drive in the Park
  19. Day 19
    Imigongo Art Tour - Cultural experience
  20. Day 20
    Departure
  1. Day 1
    Arrival in Kigali - Transfer to the hotel

    Arrival in Kigali, meet our team at the arrival point, transfer to the hotel for check in and refreshment. Dinner and overnight at Heaven Boutique

  2. Day 2
    Nyamirambo Walking Tour & Kigali Genocide Memorial visit

    Breakfast followed by a transfer to Nyamirambo where you will do a short walking tour learning more about Kigali and the history of Nyamirambo, local lifestyles, etc.

    This walking tour begins at a women’s cooperative, where after a quick Kinyarwanda language lesson, it weaves through Nyamirambo, one of Kigali’s oldest neighbourhoods. Along the way guides lead participants into a women’s hairdressing salon where the adventurous type can get a free braid; into a family compound to pound cassava leaves; by two mosques and a lookout view over Kigali; and into a tailor shop to feel the fabrics you’ll otherwise see styled on the streets.

    The tour concludes with a locally made lunch.

    Afternoon transfer to Kigali Genocide Memorial where you will do a guided tour of the memorial site.

    Return to the hotel in the evening and spend the evening at leisure waiting for a welcome dinner. Overnight at Heaven Boutique

  3. Day 3
    Mountain Biking in Kigali & Visit Umusambi Village

    After breakfast, your guide will be ready to take you to Umusambi village for a biking experience through beautiful scenery and exploring local villages around Kabuga hill. Starting and finishing at Umusambi Village this 22km trail is an exhilarating experience of fun and adventure through local villages with spectacular mountain views. The biking and BBQ package offers you the chance to experience the incredible freedom that two wheels can offer.

    On your return, we’ll have a celebration lunch with barbecue which consists of different roasted meats and soft drinks.

    After lunch, we’d do a guided nature walk at Umusambi Village, a beautifully restored wetland area, providing a sanctuary for over 50 endangered Grey Crowned Cranes saved from the illegal pet trade. These majestic birds have been disabled as a result of captivity and are unable to be returned to the wild. Their new permanent home provides an enriching environment for them to enjoy nature again.

    Return to the hotel in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Heaven Boutique

  4. Day 4
    Spend a day in a life of an Artisan - Traditional construction

    On this day you will transfer from Kigali to Muhanga in the South. Set in the rural villages and countryside close to Muhanga (formally Gitarama), about 1.5 hours drive from Kigali, these authentic activities have been developed by the welcoming local communities who host them. Your English-speaking local guide will be there to help you to make the most of the time with your hosts, who are eager for you to ask them about their lives in rural Rwanda, their culture and much more.

    This is a truly unique opportunity to spend time at the heart of a local community with your translator alongside, you will love sharing life, work, conversation and laughter with the artisans and their families.

    On arrival in Muhanga you will drive to a nearby village, where you and your lead guides will be welcomed by your rural community hosts.

    After meeting your host family you will also visit your house and room. After making yourselves familiar with the place we’ll start our activity of the day which will be traditional construction, your chance to learn something about traditional building techniques, some of them used since the times of the King. In the morning you will collect water and soil, which you will then be taught how to make into mud bricks. After making your own bricks, you will dig the foundations and learn how to lay the bricks so as to ensure the building will be strong.

    If time allows, you go and collect banana leaves, which you will be taught how to make into a strong rope that can then be used to lash wood together to make a roof, and just like that you will have all the knowledge needed to build your very own mud brick house.

    Other activities on this day may include collecting water from the valley spring, cutting grass for the farm animals and feeding livestocks, and getting out in the fields for a seasonal agricultural activity.

    By this point, you will have built up a bit of an appetite and so everyone will stop work and share a simple home-cooked lunch with your host family.

    You will take a break time to digest and, in the afternoon, you will start helping with preparations for the evening. You might help out in the kitchen or collect wood for the  cooking.

    You will help in lighting the fire as you hear some traditional tales from your host. Then you’ll share a simple local meal with your host family, with plenty of time to chat and learn about each other’s lives.

    Overnight at Splendid Hotel

    Optional – Homestay

    An overnight Experience is a unique opportunity to participate in the life of a rural artisan and her family. Home – Stay hostesses live in homes made of mud brick, which usually have one larger front room for receiving visitors and a few smaller bedrooms for the family. In the enclosed area behind the house, there is an outdoor kitchen, enclosed pit latrine and bathing outhouse, animal stalls and family workspace. Most host families have about four children at home. In Rwandan culture, guests are considered a blessing!

     

  5. Day 5
    Nyungwe National Park enroute visit the King’s palace & Ethnographic Museum

    After your breakfast you will depart towards the south west in Nyungwe National Park.

    Enroute, you will do a cultural and historical exploration of Nyanza and Nyanza where you will visit the King’s palace, a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence, the King’s Palace is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive.

    In olden times, Nyanza was the heart of Rwanda. According to oral tradition, it was the site of battles and power struggles. For a long time, the monarchy was mobile, moving the court between various locations. When it eventually settled in one place, Nyanza was the obvious choice. The capital of the kingdom had as many as 2,000 inhabitants, and huts built with the same methods as seen here.

    At the back live a few long-horned Inyambo cattle, descended from the king’s herd, whose keepers carefully tend and sing to them, keeping alive a unique tradition.

    The elegant cows, derived from the wider Ankole breed, played an important role during ceremonies in honour of the king. They were decorated with rich jewellery and were taught to listen to a trainer’s songs and follow his movements in a stately parade.

    Rwanda ceased to be a monarchy in 1962, when it gained independence from colonial rule. However, the breeding and grooming of Inyambo is still carried out and a fascinating insight into Rwanda’s history.

    Proceed to Butare where you will visit the ethnographic museum, a gift from Belgium’s King Badouin in the late 1980s, the Ethnographic Museum now houses one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections.

    Seven galleries display historical, ethnographic, artistic and archaeological artefacts accompanied by visual aides, giving visitors a rich insight into Rwandan culture. The exhibits open with geographical and geological displays, moving on to items used in hunting, agriculture, animal husbandry, pottery, weaving and woodwork. Traditional clothing and architectural methods are also illustrated, as well as the social importance of cattle.

    Lunch at E-Bis then proceed to Nyungwe forest. Dinner and overnight at Kivu Marina Bay

     

  6. Day 6
    Waterfall hike in the park & Traditional tea tour

    Head to the park this morning for a nature walk to the waterfalls in the park. This 2.3 km trail descends into one of the most densely vegetated and steepest rainforest ravines on any trail at Nyungwe. Cool misty air and the murmur of a river rise from below, mingled with calls of birds, tree frogs and insects. Ferns, mosses, lichens and flowers are exceptionally abundant in the high humidity.

    Several species of primates are commonly found here, as well as many birds.

    You may enjoy the sighting of the waterfall from two main vantage points depending upon how wet you want to get. The first is at the end of a short spur, which leads to a picnic bench overlooking the fall at 50 meters distance. Small trees partially obscure the view. The falls can be reached by descending to the wild river below and then clambering over wet rocks to a large boulder in the middle of the Amphitheatre. From here, you’ll be close to the bottom of the falls, where it thunders down.

    After lunch, you will do the tea tour in Gisakura to learn how tea is grown, harvested, dried and processed until the final tea, ready to drink.

     

  7. Day 7
    Colobus monkey Trekking & Canopy walkway

    This morning, you will have the opportunity to track the black-and-white colobus in Nyungwe Forest National Park. These small primates are easily recognizable by their entirely black body with stark white whiskers, shoulders and tip of the tail. A troop of nearly 400 of these monkeys call Nyungwe National Park home, meaning that although sighting wild animals is never guaranteed, you stand a good chance of finding them within an hour or less into the trek.

    Social in nature, you will almost certainly experience playful interaction with these curious primates. Doing this trek will give you the opportunity to interact with the largest group of primates on the entire continent of Africa, a truly special experience.

    Lunch at the cafe in the park, then check in at the park reception again for another activity.

    Meet you forest Ranger and guide will lead your walk to the forest’s canopy with an eye for some of the 310 bird species, butterflies, orchids, centuries-old trees and 75 mammals including 13 primates that live here this walk is a spectacular journey in the largest surviving example of an Afro Montane ecosystem and one of the oldest continuously forested locations on Earth.

    The walk includes a 200m long canopy walkway that takes you high above the forest floor providing a unique platform for observing the forest.

    Return to the park for dinner and overnight.

     

  8. Day 8
    Lake Kivu - Mountain biking

    Drive to Kibuye, on arrival you will meet your biking guide who will have your Mountain bikes and helmets to take you on an adventurous cycling trip in Kibuye. Evening at leisure at the hotel.

    Dinner and overnight at Cormoran Lodge

  9. Day 9
    Congo Nile Trail - Hike from Kibuye to Bumba

    Arrive to the starting point of the Congo Nile Trail hike, get off your buses to start the hike. After making yourself ready with your backpacks, we will leave our bus with big luggage then start our hike of the day. We are expected to hike for about 5 to 8 km before reaching Bumba base camp. Bumba is a simple but clean base camp with few rooms for the staff and a spacious campsite for the pupils, this camp is at the hill of Bumba hence giving you a chance to view Lake Kivu’s beautiful sunset from the top of the hill and neighboring villages.

    The Congo Nile Trail traverses a series of interconnected single paths, dirt roads and hiking tracks through the tropical Kivu Belt Region on the shores of Lake Kivu. As it stretches along the scenic shores of Lake Kivu, hikers on the Congo Nile Trail trek by some of Africa’s few remaining tropical rainforests, vast coffee plantations and hidden beaches.

    This trail is scattered with unexplored experiences, often hosted by locals along the trail. For those looking for a genuine, yet safe hiking or biking experience in Africa away from the beaten path, Rwanda’s Congo Nile Trail is a hiking trail waiting for you to challenge her on foot, by bike or by kayak and is one of the most iconic and best hiking trails in Africa.

    On this day you will camp at Bumba base Camp.

  10. Day 10
    Hiking from Bumba to Kinunu

     In the morning we’ll walk down from the hill to the base where we will start our today’s journey. On this day we’ll hike about 12 km approaching the Lake, so it will be a big day compared to the previous one. As you start your walk you will be passing through maize plantations then head to Musasa, on arrival meet our guides for the motorboats at the shores of Lake Kivu then go a short ride to a private island where you will have your picnic lunch admiring the views of Lake Kivu. After lunch you will walk down to meet your boats again for the ride to Kinunu.

    On arrival in Kinunu you will be entertained by the community’s traditional dancers, get to learn traditional dances with locals, before you start setting up your tents for the night.

    The people in Rwanda are very friendly and are known to be a bit more calm and timid compared to other parts of Africa. As a visitor to rural Rwanda you will stand out. For many people, seeing a foreigner is something exciting, so be prepared for many people to be curious about you, want to talk to you and greet you.

    You will never be treated in a bad way, but in some places where you stop you might have a crowd nearby who are curious about what you are doing. The language barrier in rural Rwanda is quite strong and most people except for staff at hotels speak only Kinyarwanda and a few words of English, French or Swahili. Despite the language barrier, people will often go out of their way to help you in case you are lost or if there is a problem.

    Many African Lakes are dangerous since there are often hippos and crocodiles living in them. However, when you arrive at Lake Kivu, there are no dangerous animals so you can feel free to walk along the beach after your day hiking the trail.

    Dinner and overnight at Rushel Resort

     

  11. Day 11
    Kayak on Lake Kivu & Coffee tour

    After breakfast you will begin your journey of discovery, by kayaking on Lake Kivu exploring different islands.

    In the afternoon, you will do a coffee tour. We’ll visit the island’s small coffee washing station, around which local people will give you a tour to show you how they grow and prepare the worlds’ best coffee from crop to cup. You will learn how coffee is grown, how the beans are selected, washed, dried and finally roasted.

    Dinner and overnight at Rushel Resort

  12. Day 12
    Morning by the Lake at the Beach & Boat Transfer

    After our breakfast, we’ll spend the morning by the Lake enjoying the sand and beautiful colorful views of the Lake from your rooms or lay by the beach.

    Lunch followed by a transfer to Gisenyi with a motorboat or drive to Gisenyi. Arrive in Gisenyi and spend the rest of the day at the beach. Dinner and overnight stay at Kivu Paradise

  13. Day 13
    Hike Muhungwe Mountain & Transfer to Volcanoes

    On this day you will hike Mt Muhungwe, the highest non-volcanic mountain in Rwanda. From the top you can see beautiful views of Virunga mountains and surrounding villages.

    After the hike, we’ll transfer to Volcanoes in Musanze where we’ll spend the night.

    Dinner and overnight at Amarembo Gorilla Village

     

  14. Day 14
    Golden monkey Trekking & Canoeing on River Mukungwa

    Early transfer to the park for briefing and group later head out to the forest to track an endangered species of monkey known as the Golden Monkey. Spend 1 hour watching the monkey families play in the forest! This is a wonderful wildlife encounter as the proceeds from tourists visiting goes towards the research into the protection of this species and how to preserve their environment so that they do not become extinct. And if you’re into birds then make sure to ask your guides to point out the species that you may find on the trails, which if you’re really lucky may include the rather impressive Blue Turaco!

    Return to the base, head to the hotel for lunch and refreshment before you transfer to Mukungwa River for a canoeing experience.

    The start is a 15 minute transfer from central Musanze (add about 15 minutes from Kinigi). Here your activity leader will give you a briefing on the riverside before you get on the water. The first section is a flat and easy opportunity to learn how to steer your canoe as you float gently downstream. After about 20-30 minutes you will pull over for a short additional briefing about the small rapid, where helmets must be worn. Then as you continue deep into the countryside, you are surrounded by the sights and sounds of rural Rwanda. You’ll be given an additional briefing about the approximately 200m section where the water speeds up as it goes around a few corners. After about 2.5-3 hours on the water the end of the trip is just after a road bridge. It takes about 20 minutes to drive back to Musanze and a further 15 minutes to Kinigi.

    Dinner and overnight at Amarembo Gorilla Village

  15. Day 15
    Bisoke Mount Hike or Nature Walk To The Dian Fossey Tomb And Gorilla Graves

    Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and grouping later start the hike to the Mount Bisoke which has a crater lake at its top. Get to see beautiful fauna and flora and may get chance to spot some animals such as; forest elephant.

    Alternatively, this day you’d opt to do a nature walk to visit Dain Fossey tomb and gorilla graves including her favorite gorilla Digit. This is an educational hike as you learn a lot about Dian Fossey a primatologist who arrived in Volcanoes for research and fell in love with gorillas and dedicated her to the protection of mountain gorillas which led herself to losing her life by poachers who were not happy with her work.

    Be back at the base and drive to the hotel. Lunch and rest,

     

  16. Day 16
    Visit community projects - Kigali

    After breakfast, you will be transferred to Handspun community where you will meet the shepherds and members of the cooperative to see a successful, practical and viable project that is transforming an entire community. The real jobs created by Handspun Hope mean that the (mostly) women they employ have a work-based solution to poverty that is restoring dignity to formally impoverished people. It is helping them to move into economic self-sufficiency so that they can become leaders of change in their families and surrounding communities.

    It’s a wonderful way to interact with and connect with a group of friendly people, to learn about their lives, laugh with them and appreciate how each garment is made with both pride and hope for a better future, is unique and takes around eight months from wool growth to a finished product.

    Lunch at the hotel followed by a transfer back to Kigali. Dinner and overnight at Heaven Boutique

     

  17. Day 17
    Akagera National park - Game drive and Boat Ride

    Drive to Akagera National Park reception, check in and briefing later start the game drive in search for the wildlife. Akagera NP is one of Africa’s most remarkable success stories. Now home to lions, rhinoceros the Big-Five and so much more there are over 13,000 large animals including a rapidly growing number of apex predators, it is one of the best places for game viewing in Africa.

    After the game drive you will head to your hotel for lunch and refreshment.
    Afternoon drive to Lake Ihema for the boat cruise to see different wildlife including giant Nile crocodiles, schools of hippos, different species of water birds and many more.

    Dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge

     

  18. Day 18
    Full Day Game drive in the Park

    Set off early to find the best wildlife and explore the low-lying plains, savannah, woodlands, wetlands and some of the dozen lakes that comprise this special place. You will have your breakfast in the vehicle or stop at a picnic area in the park around 9am.

    With common sightings of zebra, giraffe, buffalo, topi, and lots of impala, you’ll also be keeping a lookout for elephants, rhinoceros, defassa waterbuck, roan antelope, eland, duiker, oribi, bohor reedbuck, klipspringer and bushbuck.

    On the plains, you’ll probably find spotted hyaenas and may see lions. Leopards are usually seen in the scrub and woodlands, whilst serval – a wild cat, side-striped jackal and several species of mongoose may also be spotted – if you’re lucky.

    The best loop drive is to take the Rwisirabo, Kitabili & Kajumbura circuit during which you can also visit the Kageyo Peninsular and Nyampiki Peninsular, which often have good wildlife viewing. It is also possible to drive as far as the Mohana Plain, where groups of herbivores can be seen in the open, however, take care to leave enough time for your return journey.

    Often the best wildlife is seen when waiting patiently.

    Dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge

     

  19. Day 19
    Imigongo Art Tour - Cultural experience

    Drive out of the park after breakfast, to Kayonza where you will do farming experiences, learn about cows and their importance in Rwandan culture and daily lives of Rwandans, learn how to milk a cow, how to make ghee, how to feed them and taste different milk products such as whole milk, fermented milk, ghee, etc.

    In the afternoon, you will visit a local cooperative that makes Imigongo art from cow dung and other organic paints.

    Drive back to Kigali. Dinner and overnight at Heaven Boutique

  20. Day 20
    Departure

    In accordance with our departure time will drop you off at the airport in time for check in. Farewell, End!

All about the 20 Days Best Of Rwanda , Hike , Trek and More.

In case of non-availability, we may have to re-route and provide alternative accommodation of similar category.
All the passengers must have Identification Card/valid Passport with them throughout their travel.

RULES & REGULATIONS IN THE PARKS
• Never walk alone in the park, always take a guide and listen to him/her
• Keep your voice low so that you don’t frighten the wildlife
• When you are with Gorillas/Chimpanzees keep your distance (7m minimum/23ft), no smoking, eating or drinking, no cell phones, if you must sneeze or cough always cover your face and turn away from gorillas. Visits are limited to 1 Hour per gorilla group per day.
• If you’re to take pictures don’t put the flash ON.
• Don’t drop litter, take it home or in your car (or carry them till you reach the reception where there is bins)
• It is prohibited to pick or remove any plans or other wildlife in the park

NOTE: Before setting out; coughs and sneezes spread diseases and can kill gorillas. If you have a cold or flu or other infectious illness, do not visit Gorillas! Get a doctor’s note and your permit fee will be refunded or you trek when you’re fine.

Rwanda is strictly a polythene free country. For environmental reasons, plastic bags are not allowed!
Thank you for choosing us!

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
  • Private airport and inter-hotel transfers
  • Private ensuite accommodation at the selected hotels, lodges or camps
  • Services of a professional, experienced English-speaking driver
  • Lunch, dinner and breakfast with soft drinks (BB on arrival and FB the rest of the days)
  • Drinking water in the vehicle during the tour
  • All activities/tours as per itinerary
  • All park permits and entry fees as per the itinerary
  • Our 24hours/day office assistance
  • Taxes and administrative costs
  • Emergency Helicopter Evacuation Insurance
What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
  • Visas and flights
  • Covid tests where needed
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Optional activities
  • Personal expenses such as telephone calls, mini bar, porter-age, travel insurance, etc.

We offer a wide range of tours and activities including cultural tours, adventure tours, wildlife safaris, beach holidays, and more.

Our tour packages include accommodation, meals, transportation, and activities as per the itinerary. However, some packages may have additional inclusions or exclusions, which will be clearly stated.

Yes, we offer customized tour packages based on your preferences and requirements. Simply let us know what you are looking for, and we will tailor a package that suits you.

Our cancellation policy varies based on the package and the time of cancellation. We encourage you to read our terms and conditions carefully before booking a tour.

You can make a booking by contacting us via phone, email, or through our website. Our team will assist you with the booking process and provide you with all the necessary information

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