10 nights
Round Trip
Rwanda Primates & Safaris Classic
Kigali, Nyungwe Forest, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park
Your onward journey
Travel by road to Kigali Serena Hotel
Kigali Serena Hotel Kigali Rwanda
1 night
Accommodation
Taken over by the Serena group in 2007, Kigali Serena Hotel is now a modern, contemporary hotel providing a good accommodation option in Kigali.
From standard room to presidential suite, this 150-room hotel offers various categories of accommodation. All rooms come with 24 hr service, air conditioning, WiFi, telephone, minibar, safe, hairdryer and coffee station.
The hotel boasts several in-house restaurants, a large swimming pool, fitness studio and spa.
Location
Situated just 10 km from the international airport, Kigali Serena is the perfect option for early leavers or late arrivers.
Kigali
Kigali
Kigali is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated in the centre of the country at an average elevation of 1433m to 1645m. Due to its location just south of the equator, the climate is mild and pleasant throughout the year.
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.
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.
Your private Rwanda guide expects you!
Private Guide Rwanda
Our Rwanda Guide is already waiting for you and welcomes you warmly. You have a private vehicle at your disposal which is equipped with all that is required to work under difficult road conditions. Our guides are among the best in Rwanda and can tell you a lot about the country and its people. Of course, they are also very good scouts and will show you animals in the parks that others simply pass by. Your guide is your faithful friend & helper for the next days.Your onward journey
Travel by road to Nyungwe House
The journey to Nyungwe Forest takes about 6 hours. Your guide will stop for lunch in the village Butare/Huye. The road then crosses the Nyungwe Forest from east to west. Expect arrival at your accommodation in the course of the afternoon.
Nyungwe House Nyungwe Forest Rwanda
3 nights
Accommodation
Nyungwe House is refreshingly modern and the best choice for visiting Nyungwe Forest. The lodge is surrounded by tea fields and during the week the workers pick the delicate top tea leaves and carry the harvest to the factory.
The main house is centrally located and elevated on the hill and is surrounded in a semicircle by the individual rooms. The lodge offers a good restaurant, a tea lounge, a bar and a beautiful terrace. Here you can have a wonderful breakfast in the morning when the sun rises behind the forest and the first rays of sun fall on the lush green meadows.
The rooms are in single houses, four rooms per house. In addition there are three suites featuring two bedrooms each. All rooms have a fireplace, air conditioning, safe, tea/coffee station, hairdryer, telephone and WiFi. From your balcony you can see the green of the Nyungwe Forest and sometimes some curious monkeys appear.
There is also a separate heated swimming pool and spa with fitness room.
Location
Established as a national park in 2004, Nyungwe Forest is Africa’s largest mountainous rain forest (970 km²). It is located on the western foothills of East Africa’s Albertine Rift, to which belongs the adjacently situated Mount Huye. The flanks of the Albertine Rift rise up to 3000 metres, traversing Rwanda from north to south.
With an annual rainfall of over 2000 mm, the evergreen Nyungwe Forest is a so-called cloud or fog forest. Nyungwe House is located close to Gisakura on the forest’s western edge.
The lodge can be reached by car from Kigali in approximately 6 hours. You actually cross Nyungwe Forest from East to West before reaching the lodge.
With an annual rainfall of over 2000 mm, the evergreen Nyungwe Forest is a so-called cloud or fog forest. Nyungwe House is located close to Gisakura on the forest’s western edge.
The lodge can be reached by car from Kigali in approximately 6 hours. You actually cross Nyungwe Forest from East to West before reaching the lodge.
Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest is Africa's largest mountain rainforest (970 km²) and was only declared a national park in 2004. The biodiversity in Nyungwe Forest is remarkable with 75 mammals and hundreds of species of birds and plants, some of which are endemic. Mammals include chimpanzees and Riwenzori colobus monkeys, which can be visited on an adventurous hike.
Nyungwe Forest is located on the western foothills of the East African Rift Valley (Albertine Rift), whose rift flanks, up to 3000 meters high, cross the country from north to south. The Nyungwe Forest is a so-called cloud forest with over 2000 mm of rain per year, therefore always green and a proper jungle.
The visits of the chimpanzees, the Colobus Monkeys and the hikes inside the park are always guided by a ranger and a permit is required. Guests who really want to dive deep into the forest can do treks of several days. Please be aware that rain is very common and paths easily become slippery and boggy.
Tea plantations are found along the edges of the forest. Tea is one of the most important export articles of Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest Lodge can organize a visit to a tea plantation if you are interested.
Nyungwe Forest is located on the western foothills of the East African Rift Valley (Albertine Rift), whose rift flanks, up to 3000 meters high, cross the country from north to south. The Nyungwe Forest is a so-called cloud forest with over 2000 mm of rain per year, therefore always green and a proper jungle.
The visits of the chimpanzees, the Colobus Monkeys and the hikes inside the park are always guided by a ranger and a permit is required. Guests who really want to dive deep into the forest can do treks of several days. Please be aware that rain is very common and paths easily become slippery and boggy.
Tea plantations are found along the edges of the forest. Tea is one of the most important export articles of Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest Lodge can organize a visit to a tea plantation if you are interested.
Visit the Colobus Monkeys in the morning
Colobus Trekking Nyungwe Forest
After an leisurely breakfast you will visit the Colobus monkeys. The Colobus monkeys are often found in an area called Gisakura Forest which has been added to the park in 2005. It is an easy walk from the Reception Center along some tea plantations and takes about 20 minutes. There are other places to find the Colobus monkeys, your guide and the ranger will advise accordingly.Activities at Nyungwe House
Activities Nyungwe House
Nyungwe House offers diverse activities that can be booked through the lodge. You may want to visit the Isumo waterfall (5.3km, 2h each way) or visit the Tea Ceremony at Gisakura Tea Estates, which is located close to the lodge. Please report at the reception the evening before and talk to the lodge staff to plan your day accordingly. You may also decide to do nothing at all and just read a book or visit the spa?Early morning visit of the chimpanzees
Chimp Trekking Nyungwe Forest
You need to get up early this morning! Your guide will drive you to the starting point of the Chimpanzee trekking.There are two habituated chimp groups in Nyungwe Forest. One of them stays around Uwinka deep in the forest, the second one lives in a forest on the outskirts of Nyungwe, called Cyamudongo (say: Cha-mu-dongo). It is about a one hour-drive from Gisakura Reception Center. Chimp trekking at Cyamudongo offers the best chance to see the chimpanzees.
Activities at Nyungwe House
Activities Nyungwe House
Nyungwe House offers diverse activities that can be booked through the lodge. You may want to visit the Isumo waterfall (5.3km, 2h each way) or visit the Tea Ceremony at Gisakura Tea Estates, which is located close to the lodge. Please report at the reception the evening before and talk to the lodge staff to plan your day accordingly. You may also decide to do nothing at all and just read a book or visit the spa?Your onward journey
Travel by road to Virunga Lodge
Today's trip with your guide takes you along Lake Kivu to Ruhengeri / Musanze. The journey takes about 4.5 hours.
Virunga Lodge Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
3 nights
Accommodation
Virunga Safari Lodge is built on a 2'300 m high mountain with a terrace that offers breathtaking views of the Virunga volcanoes and the Ruhondo and Bulera lakes. The lodge comprises eight large standard bandas with stylishly furnished rooms and two deluxe bandas with with stone fireplaces, open living room and private terrace.
The central lounge is the lodge's social hub, where guests meet for dinner and exchange stories by the crackling fireside; further entertainment is provided by a local dance troupe. This eco-lodge has been built with local natural materials and runs on solar electricity.
Location
Volcanoes National Park is covered by approximately 160 km² of cloud forest, and home to the Rwandan Mountain Gorilla. Six inactive volcanoes, Muhavura, Mt Gahinga, Karisimbi, Visoke, Mikeno and Sabyinyo, create an incredible backdrop. Volcanoes National Park is known for the scientific studies carried out here by Dian Fossey, who was the first scientist to make detailed studies of the Mountain Gorilla.
Virunga Safari Lodge is situated on a spectacular slope overlooking the Ruhondo and Bulera lakes. The drive to the national park's headquarters takes about an hour; Kigali is located about 3,5 hours drive away.
Volcanoes
Volcanoes National Park covers approximately 125 km² of rainforests and is home to the Rwandan mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park (PNV) became famous through the scientific studies of Dian Fossey, who was the first scientist to meticulously research the behavior of mountain gorillas.
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 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.
Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park
Early next morning, our guide will take you to the headquarters of the park. All guests are assigned to a ranger and a gorilla family. Our guide will drive you to the starting point of the hike where you start trekking with your ranger. Porters are available to carry your backpack.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.
Golden Monkey Trekking Volcanoes National Park
Golden Monkey Trekking Volcanoes National Park
Today you visit the Golden Monkeys, which is an easy walk in a beautiful bamboo forest and well worth it. You are back around noon.Magashi Camp Akagera National Park Rwanda
3 nights
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.
Location
Akagera National Park sits on the north-eastern edge of Rwanda. It is the largest National Park in Rwanda and covers an area of 1'122km². It borders Tanzania and incorporates the Kagera River which feeds a myriad of smaller and larger lakes, channels and flood planes. The western side of the park is dominated by a mountain rage (highest point 2300m), wheras the northern part is rather flat with a good number of buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and antelopes roaming the savannah.
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.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is located in the northeast of Rwanda and forms the border with Tanzania. Akagera consists of savannahs, lakes and swamps and is the only area in Rwanda where we can offer safaris. African Parks, the organisation that operates Akagera, introduced lions to the park in 2015, and black rhinos as well, making the Akagera a Big 5 park again.
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.
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.
Your onward journey
Travel by road to Kigali
Kigali
Details & Prices
Basic Information
Individual journey. The journey will be planned on your preferred dates.
Duration 10 nights. Min 2 guests. Weight limit of luggage 20 kg. Luggage in one soft bag only.
Your travel in your private vehicle with your personal driver / guide. At Akagera, the Magashi team will take over and you will enjoy shared activities with one of the camp guides, usually together with other guests.
Inclusive / Exclusive
Includes all transfers from Kigali to the hotels/camps to Kigali
Includes all transfers from Kigali to the hotels/camps to Kigali
- Kigali Serena Hotel: Superior Room. Breakfast.
- Nyungwe House: Canopy Treehouse. All meals, drinks (except premier brands).
- Virunga Lodge: Standard Banda. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service.
- Magashi Camp: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
Included Permits Nyungwe:
1 x Chimpanzee Trekking
1 x Colobus Monkey Trekking
Included Permits Volcanoes:
1 x Gorilla Trekking
1 x Golden Monkey Trekking
1 x Chimpanzee Trekking
1 x Colobus Monkey Trekking
Included Permits Volcanoes:
1 x Gorilla Trekking
1 x Golden Monkey Trekking
Not included are international flights, gratuities, compulsary comprehensive travel insurance, visa fees, local airport fees, personal purchases.
Learn more about these areas
Kigali
Akagera National Park
Nyungwe Forest
Volcanoes
