Experience with mountain gorillas and chimpanzees

You'll visit the Nyamirambo Women's Center cooperative, where you'll discover how women hone their skills and contribute to the local economy through their handicrafts.

You'll take part in a guided tour of the neighborhood, led by one of the center's women, to discover the colorful and culturally diverse Nyamirambo district. The tour includes explanations of local daily life and the history of this unique neighborhood. It concludes with a culinary experience and a delicious vegetarian lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn more about the 1994 genocide and progress towards peace. The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a place of memory and learning located at the final resting place of the 250,000 victims of the genocide. The Kigali Genocide Memorial aims to raise public awareness of peace and the prevention of future atrocities. During your visit, you can explore the educational center, the gardens and the genocide archives. After visiting the Memorial, you'll visit local art galleries such as Concept Arts Studio, Niyo and Inema Art Gallery to discover the creative expression of internationally renowned Rwandan artists. You'll also have the chance to stroll through the pedestrian zone of the city center to discover some of Kigali's modern artists' studios.

After breakfast, you'll drive about two hours to Volcanoes National Park. On arrival, you'll visit the newly built Ellen Degeneres campus of the Dian Fossey Fund, for an interactive and enriching experience about mountain gorillas and their environment. The campus is a state-of-the-art research and learning center, opening in 2022. Conservation and education are at the heart of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's first permanent site in Rwanda.

The exhibition features Dian Fossey's original research notes and handwritten letters. It's a great way to acclimatize to the environment before heading out to meet the gorillas the next day.

You can visit Handspun Hope in Musanze, where you can discover the community of women survivors of the genocide. These craftswomen also benefit from advice, training in financial education and other services to promote their independence and well-being. This tour includes the entire manufacturing process for their handmade, organically dyed wool products, including washing, carding, picking, spinning, natural dyeing, knitting and needle felting.

This day will be dedicated to the incredible experience of hiking with gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The hike takes you through lush forests to observe habituated gorilla families. It's a thrilling, immersive experience that provides a deeper understanding of these remarkable creatures.

Early breakfast and transfer to park headquarters for briefing and task allocation.

Continue the day roaming the lush forest to observe and interact with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Several gorilla families can usually be found within an hour or two's walk of the trailhead. Participants will be guided by a forest ranger and assisted by porters.

In the afternoon, participants will visit the cultural village of Iby'Iwacu to learn about Rwandan traditions and attend a traditional dance performance by Intore dancers. This "Dance of Heroes" is sure to delight, with its brightly-colored garments and flowing white wigs.

Weather permitting, participants can visit Handspun Hope in Musanze, or book a visit for the following morning.

Depart Volcanoes National Park and head south along Lake Kivu to Kibuye.

From Gisenyi, you'll take a speedboat to discover the villages lining the shores of Lake Kivu.

First stop: the Kinunu coffee station on the Congo-Nile trail. Learn more about coffee processing, including a tour of the plantation and drying facilities. Lunch at the nearby Rusizi Lodge, with its magnificent view of the lake.

After lunch, the cruise continues to Kibuye, with stops at Napoleon Island, Monkey Island and even an island known for its swimming cows. Kibuye is home to a variety of bird species, and birdwatchers will appreciate the lake environment for observing resident and migratory birds.

Overnight in a lodge on the peaceful shores of Lake Kivu.

Spend some time on Lake Kivu and discover the local way of life. Early in the morning and at sunset, you can watch the arrival and departure of the fishing boats. Life is quieter along the shores of Lake Kivu, and community ties are strong.

Kibuye is home to a variety of bird species, and birdwatchers will appreciate the lake environment for observing resident and migratory birds.

In the afternoon, you'll drive south along Lake Kivu to visit the Gisakura tea plantation and experience the entire production process: from picking the leaves in the fields to entering the factory to watch the sorting and roasting, while the leaves are prepared for sale. The tea plantation is nestled in the rolling green hills outside Nyungwe National Park, and is arguably the most beautiful in Rwanda.

In the evening, you can relax and prepare for your chimpanzee trek the following day.

Nyungwe, one of Africa's oldest rainforests, is rich in biodiversity and spectacular beauty. This mountainous region is teeming with wildlife, including a population of chimpanzees and 12 other primate species, including L'Hoest's cercopithecus, endemic to the Albertine Rift. A quarter of Africa's 13 primate species are found here, including the common chimpanzee.

There are 1,068 plant species and 140 orchids. Birdwatching is among the best in Africa, with 322 bird species, including the Red-collared Babbler and 29 other species endemic to the Albertine Rift. Butterflies are also common, with at least 120 species.

Today, you'll wake up early for a hike to the chimpanzees of Nyungwe National Park, between 5 and 6 am. The duration of the hike can vary by several hours, depending on the weather and the location of the chimpanzees. At 1:00/13:00 pm, you'll take a second guided hike along the Canopy Walk suspension bridge, from where you can admire the rainforest from above. Weather permitting, you'll enjoy a magnificent view of the park stretching across the hills.

The rest of the afternoon is free at the hotel.

Today, you'll travel from Nyungwe to Nyanza, the ancient heart of Rwanda, before spending the night in Kigali. The royal palace at Nyanza is a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence: a magnificent thatched dwelling in the shape of a beehive. The kingdom's capital was home to up to 2,000 inhabitants. The kingdom is also home to long-horned Inyambo cattle, descendants of the royal herd, whose guardians carefully care for them and sing to them, perpetuating a unique tradition. The herdsmen's singing is a highlight.

These elegant cows, of the Ankole breed, played an important role in ceremonies in honor of the king. Adorned with rich jewels, they learned to listen to a tamer's songs and follow his movements in a majestic parade.

Rwanda ceased to be a monarchy in 1962, when it gained independence. However, the breeding and grooming of the Inyambo is still carried out by the Rwandan Agricultural Council. Arrival in Kigali in the evening.