Uncover the Secrets of Rwanda
UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF RWA N DA 8 DAYS & 7 NIGHTS ITINERARY OVERVIEW
Experience the remarkable Rwanda
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest One&Only Nyungwe House
DAY 1 DAY 5 • Welcome to Kigali • Check out from One&Only Gorilla’s Nest • Dinner and overnight stay at • Scenic helicopter flight to Nyungwe Kigali Marriott Hotel National Park • Transfer to One&Only Nyungwe House DAY 2 • Lunch at the resort • Afternoon at your leisure with optional • Kigali city tour that includes: Kigali Genocide complimentary activities Memorial Centre and the Inema Arts Centre • Dinner and overnight stay at • Lunch at Pili Pili restaurant One&Only Nyungwe House • Transfer to Kigali International Airport for a scenic helicopter flight to Musanze and Volcanoes National Park DAY 6 • Land and check-in at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest • Breakfast to go and morning chimpanzee trek • Evening at your leisure • Lunch back at the resort • Dinner and overnight stay • Afternoon at your leisure with optional complimentary activities • Dinner and overnight stay at DAY 3 One&Only Nyungwe House • Morning Golden Monkey trek • Lunch back at the resort • Visit to the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village DAY 7 • Morning canopy walk • Outdoor barbecue dinner and overnight stay at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest • Lunch back at the resort • Afternoon at your leisure with optional complimentary activities DAY 4 • Dinner and overnight stay at • Morning gorilla trek One&Only Nyungwe House • Lunch back at the resort • Afternoon at your leisure with optional complimentary activities DAY 8 • Morning at your leisure • Dinner and overnight stay at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest • Check out at 12pm followed by lunch • Afternoon at your leisure • Scenic helicopter flight back to Kigali International Airport
DAY 1: WELCOME TO KIGALI AND THE START OF YOUR ADVENTURE
Arrive in Kigali and you will be warmly welcomed by our One&Only Nyungwe House representative outside the customs and immigration hall. A transfer will take you to your city accommodation, Kigali Marriott Hotel, where you can enjoy an insightful tour briefing. An assisted check-in assures a smooth experience, followed by dinner and an overnight stay with breakfast. DAY 2: KIGALI CITY TOUR AND HELICOPTER FLIGHT TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will check-out. Then begins an illuminating city tour with highlights including the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Inema Arts Gallery.
Genocide Memorial Centre: The Genocide Memorial is a must-see. Rwanda’s painful past has haunted the country for years, yet their impressive recovery story has turned them into an inspiration. The Genocide Memorial acts as a humbling reminder to those present and honours those who have been lost. Audio visual equipment will be provided in Dutch, English, and other languages.
Inema Art Centre: Founded by brothers in 2012, Inema Arts Centre is a vibrant, colourful hub that spurs creative expression for personal, social, and economic growth in Rwanda, bringing the community and country alive.
Lunch will be served at the Pili Pili restaurant where you can experience Rwandan barbecue cuisine or European alternatives, with a selection of produce grown in their gardens.
After lunch, you’ll be transferred to Kigali International Airport for a breathtaking helicopter flight to Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda is also known as the Land of a Thousand Hills because of the undulating grassy landscape. The Karisimbi Volcano (4,519m high) in the Virunga Mountains is the highest point in Rwanda, and on a clear day, you will be able to see it as you near your destination.
Your exciting journey culminates at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest resort helipad, where you will be warmly welcomed into the resort. Your evening in the jungle is at leisure, and includes a delicious dinner and overnight stay. WELCOME TO ONE&ONLY GORILLA’S NEST
Cushioned in the foothills of the breathtaking Virunga Volcano Range, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest makes the magical possible as you enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime, personal encounter with the rare and majestic mountain gorilla, roaming free in its own natural habitat. DAY 3: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK – GOLDEN MONKEY TREK AND CULTURE EXPERIENCE
An early breakfast sets you up for a full day of discovery. You’ll journey to the park headquarters for the Golden Monkey trek briefing at 7am, before being taken to the head of the trail, ready for your guided walk at 8am. The amazing trekking process usually takes around 4 hours, and once you come to the habituated monkey families, you’ll spend a fascinating hour with them as they go about their daily life. Trekking to see the Golden Monkeys is an absolute highlight of Volcanoes National Park. The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti) is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the ‘Blue Monkey’ and is endemic to the high altitude forests. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive and often spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor. There are two habituated groups of Golden Monkey, one group comprises around 80 - 100 members, with its home at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo. On the conclusion of your trek, you’ll return to the resort for a well-earned lunch and rest. In the afternoon at 2.30pm a visit to the inspiring Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest awaits. Iby’Iwacu is changing the traditional perception of tourism by sharing various aspects of their rural culture and livelihoods, creating income-generating activities for people that have reformed from living on poaching for generations. Returning to the resort in the evening, you’ll be treated to a special outdoor barbecue dinner with an atmospheric bonfire. You will enjoy a luxurious overnight stay. DAY 4: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK – GORILLA TREK
Another beautiful early breakfast precedes the day, before heading to the park headquarters for the gorilla trek briefing at 7am. We will then transfer you to the starting point of your guided walk, ready to begin this amazing adventure at 8am. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is often described as “life changing” and with good reason. With only an estimated 880 Gorillas left in the world, to see these gentle creatures in their natural habitat are a truly unique moment. Hikes in the mountains can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours+ depending on the family allocated to your group and their location. The journey back can take just as long, but you are often carried along by the euphoria you feel after seeing the gorillas, The largest gorilla group ever studied is in Rwanda and was led by Cantsbee. He was the oldest known mountain gorilla in the world. A gorilla family is led by a Silverback and include several younger males, adult and juvenile females, and infants. In addition to providing protection to group members, Silverbacks maintain order and decide all activities within their troop. They schedule feeding trips, resting time, and travel. They also father the majority of young in the group. After a most memorable experience encountering these creatures, you will return to the resort for lunch. The afternoon is at your leisure, with an array of captivating activities on offer, should you wish to keep discovering. WELCOME TO ONE&ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE
Alongside ancient rainforest, within the lush green expanse of a working tea plantation, One&Only Nyungwe House offers an exclusive window to Africa’s fascinating wildlife and culture. Surrounded by awe-inspiring jungle views, every element of the resort has been carefully curated, with farm-to-table dining, nature-inspired spa and wellness offerings, and authentic experiences that immerse you in Rwanda’s wild beauty. DAY 5: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND A SCENIC HELICOPTER FLIGHT TO NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
After your breakfast at the resort, you will be assisted with check-out. At 11am it’s time to climb aboard the helicopter for an unforgettable scenic flight to Nyungwe National Park, where the largest mountain forest in East and Central Africa is found. The heart of Nyungwe National Park is like a scene from a fairy tale. Ancient mahoganies, ebonies, and giant tree ferns tower above you, whilst orchids and other epiphytes cling to every branch. Brightly coloured birds flit around; butterflies hum in the air; not to mention the appearance of a variety of playful primates for which Nyungwe National Park is renowned. Arriving at 11.45am, you’ll be greeted by our guide and brought to the exceptional One&Only Nyungwe House. Once you’re checked-in, it’s time to enjoy a delectable lunch. The afternoon is free for you to unwind amongst the elements, or take part in one of the complimentary activities on offer, such as boot camp, spear throwing, a conservation walk, tea tasting, exploring by bicycle or Nyungwe’s nocturnal walk. In the evening, a beautifully prepared dinner is served and you’ll enjoy an overnight stay at One&Only Nyungwe House. DAY 6: NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK – CHIMPANZEE TREK
The day begins bright and early, driving to the park headquarters at 5am with a delicious packed breakfast. After an insightful chimpanzee trek briefing, you’ll be escorted to the Evergreen Forest for 6am, when the adventure begins. Alongside the famous chimps, you are likely to spot a wide variety of bird life. Their playfulness and human–like characteristics make this journey so rewarding. You may even be welcomed by chimp morning calls deep in the forest. Upon encountering the chimps, you can stay in their presence for one hour as you enjoy their acrobatics, feeding, and day-to-day behaviours. You’ll make your return to the resort at around 11am, and a welcome lunch will be served at 1pm. The afternoon is then at your leisure, for relaxation or experiencing a new activity of your choice. A traditional tea tasting will be a highlight of the evening, before another delightful dinner and overnight stay. DAY 7: NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK – CANOPY WALK
After breakfast at the resort, we take you once again to the park headquarters for the canopy walk briefing at 8am. Your guided canopy walk will then begin at 9am. The canopy walkway consists of three bridges and three towers, with a total length of 200m. The walkway is embedded in a guided tour along the breathtaking Igishigishigi Trail. On this journey, your expert Park Guide will not only reveal the forest canopy, but also explain why it is an integral part of the tropical rainforest ecosystem. You will learn what the major characteristics of a rainforest and its canopy are, and the importance Nyungwe National Park has for Rwanda as a whole. After this insightful tour, you’ll return to the resort for lunch. The afternoon is again free, to indulge, relax, or get active around resort. In the evening, dinner is served, and you can enjoy your final overnight stay, surrounded by the jungle elements. DAY 8: A DAY AT YOUR OWN LEISURE AND A SCENIC HELICOPTER FLIGHT BACK TO KIGALI
The morning is at leisure within the resort, including a beautiful relaxed breakfast. Check out is at 12pm, though you can then enjoy lunch and a little more time to relax. Your scenic helicopter flight to Kigali takes off at 3.30pm, where you will arrive and check-in for your outbound flight. For now, your safari adventure concludes, but the memories will stay with you forever!
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
GORILLA PERMIT NOTE AND TREKKING RULES Once the permit is bought, it cannot be refunded or inter-changed. Before confirming the tour, please ensure that you have requested availability for the total number of participants because there are only 96 permits issued per day. This activitity is available for children over the age of 15 years. If you have a cold, flu or other contagious infection, you shouldn’t go gorilla trekking as the gorillas are very susceptible to catching human infections, particularly respiratory ones.
WEATHER IN RWANDA Rwanda has a tropical highland climate, with plenty of rain. Temperatures vary considerably between locations depending on their altitude, but very little from month to month in the same place. In the capital, Kigali, the average daily temperature is about 21°C/70°F: – Rainy season: March to May and October to November – Hottest months: June to September
ATTIRE GUIDE AT ONE&ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE AND ONE&ONLY GORILLA NEST Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner – Casual Attire For all outdoor activities, we recommend suitable outdoor clothing, appropriate to the season and weather. The weather in the rainforest and mountains can change quickly, ranging from warm sunny days to rainy spells and very cool conditions during winter evenings. We therefore recommend that you pack a range of clothing suitable for all conditions, particularly warm gloves, scarves, and head wear during winter, as well as waterproof outer-wear, closed shoes for hikes, plus a hat and sun protection.
TIME ZONE The time zone in Rwanda is set two hours ahead of GMT (GMT +2). The sunrise is usually between 5.30am and 6am, and sunset is between 5.30pm and 6pm. Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.
LOVELLE DRACHMAN