Travel by road to The Retreat by Heaven
Accommodation
Heaven the Retreat features three Deluxe Rooms (35m²), six larger Superior Suites (60m²) and three Master King Suites (65m²) with pool view, all with en-suite bathrooms and a private atrium. The suites have an additional terrace and outdoor shower. Furthermore, there are eight Luxury Pool Villas (120m²) with private salt water solar heated plunge pools, private front and back gardens. The retreat is fully powered by salar electricity, making it the first eco resort in Kigali. Fitness centre and spa are also available.
The retreat's Fusion Restaurant offers culinary delights from around the world, especially Italy, Mauritius and Morocco, but prefers to use local fruits, spices and herbs, creating a unique taste experience. Perched beside The Retreat’s glorious saltwater pool, rock gardens and native plantings, Fusion offers some of the finest dining in Kigali.
The distance to the international airport is about 10km.
All residents have to clean the city every last Saturday of the month. The police are then controlling Kigali and anyone who is moving around without permit is stopped, handed over a broom and ordered to help cleaning the city. Kigali lies in a region of rolling hills, with a series of valleys and ridges joined by steep slopes, a challenge for both pedestrians and traffic. Kigali is clean, safe and most visitors spend the first night of their trip in Kigali.
Travel by road to Magashi Camp
Accommodation Magashi Camp is small and personal six-tented camp with access to some of the most scenic savannah in east Africa. It is situated in the north-eastern part of Akagera overlooking Lake Rwanyakazinga.
Akagera was founded in 1934. Sadly much of the park was re-allocated as farms to returning refugees following the Rwandan Civil War. As a result, in 1997 the park was reduced in size from more than 2,500km² (nearly 10% of the surface area of Rwanda) to its current extent of 1,122km².
The Akagera River feeds a whole series of larger and smaller lakes, which together form a jumble of open water areas, channels and flood plains. The western side of the park is dominated by a range of hills (highest point 2300m), the north by savannahs, home to impressive numbers of buffalo, giraffe, zebra and antelope.
The park was founded as early as 1934 and in its early days covered 2,500 km², or about 10% of the entire country. More than half of the park, especially the open savannahs in the west, that are well suited for agriculture, were allocated to returning refugees after the civil war in 1997.
The pressure of the population on the park was and is enormous. When the land was taken in 1997, all lions were poisoned by the farmers and all rhinos dissapeared as well.
Leopard, hyena, serval, jackal, giraffe, zebra, topi, impala, waterbuck, eland, roan, buffalo and about 100 elephants can be found on the remaining 1'122km². Hippo and crocodile live in the rivers and lakes. The number of birds species is quite impressive with more than 500 counted in the park. Of special interest are the rare Papyrus Gonolek and the Shoebill, which occur in the papyrus swamps of Akagera National Park.
Flight to Kwitonda Lodge
Accommodation
Singita Kwitonda Lodge is set on 72 hectares of private land on the edge of Volcanoes National Park. Singita sticks to its philosophy of treading lightly on the land and simultaneously offering its guests an exquisitely unique experience.
With magnificent views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes, Singita Kwitonda Lodge offers 7 suites, 1 family suite (1 x double and 1 x twin bedroom) and 1 four-bedroom villa, the Kataza House All suites come with indoor bath and shower, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, covered verandah, heated plunge pool and massage/treatment areas.
A central hub with beautiful indoor and outdoor living spaces serves as the heart of Singita Kwitonda. Here lounges, dining areas, an outdoor fire pit, boutique, an interactive kitchen, bar deli and wine cellar are for guests to enjoy and unwind. Contemporarily designed around local materials, the buildings have been crafted using volcanic rock, river stone, handmade ceramic tiles and oven-red clay bricks made by the surrounding communities, connecting the structure to the landscape and its culture. In the process, sustainability is at the core of the construction project. The goal of building Kwitonda is to embody the spirit of Rwanda and offer a tribute to the lodge’s namesake - Kwitonda - a great silverback gorilla whose legend lives on and was known for his humility and gentleness.
From Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, Kwitonda Lodge is approximately 2,5 hours by road.
The Virunga Volcano Region (VVR) is ecologically a single entity, but politically divided into three national parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Another gorilla population lives in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) in Uganda in an area of about 330km².
Five extinct volcanoes named Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhavura form an impressive backdrop and the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mikeno is also visible in the very far distance, a volcanoe that is located entirely in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) live in stable groups led by a dominant silverback. Unfortunately, the gorillas are threatened. Your visit of these magnificent animals helps generate urgently needed funds for the protection of the gorillas. Today, more than 1,000 mountain gorillas can still be found in these countries and the numbers are increasing again.
The trekking takes anything from two hours to seven hours, depending on the location of the gorilla group. Please note that the duration of stay with the gorillas is strictly limited to one hour. The gorillas are often very curious towards guests, especially the teenagers in the group like to investigate.
Travel by road to Kigali
Basic Information
Individual journey. The journey will be planned on your preferred dates.
Duration 7 nights. Min 2 guests. Weight limit of luggage 20 kg. Luggage in one soft bag only.
Includes all transfers from Kigali to the hotels/camps to Kigali
- The Retreat by Heaven: Superior Suite. Breakfast.
- Magashi Camp: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
- Kwitonda Lodge: Double Room. All meals, drinks (including wines from the cellar, only french champagne exlcluded), laundry service.
1 x Gorilla Trekking
1 x Golden Monkey Trekking
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