African Unique Safaris and Tours Trip Itinerary for 2024 Great Gorilla Conservation Story Tour - Includes Kwita Izina, Rwanda's 20th Baby Gorilla Naming Ceremony

After breakfast, we will depart at 9am for the highly moving, and educational Kigali Genocide Memorial.

Kigali Genocide Memorial

This is an extremely moving, challenging, educational and ultimately inspiring memorial and great place to understand the cause, tragedy and successful rebuilding of Rwanda post genocide.

The reconciliation and rebuilding has been miraculous and these memorials are built to inform, educate and prevent such a tragedy to ever occur again.

The tour is very transparent and educational but very somber and humbling when you realize that over 250,000 deceased are buried on the site of the memorial. Guaranteed you will feel every emotion during this visit.

The most common question that goes through your mind is “would I be capable of that level of forgiveness if I found myself in this situation”. That’s true inspiration.

After activity

After this activity, we will transfer to Hotel Des Mille Collines for lunch.

It's only 5 minutes' drive to Hotel des Mille Collines for a quality lunch poolside. This hotel was the site of the real-life happenings shown in the movie Hotel Rwanda.

After lunch, we will embark in our vehicle and transfer to Question Coffee Master Class Experience.

Question Coffee Master Class Experience

First activity after the briefing is right here at Question Coffee Cafe where we have a coffee Masterclass organised. Rwanda has some of the world's best coffee with perfect growing conditions and bourbon Arabica coffee beans grown all around the country. The Master Class will provide a crop to cup experience providing you with extra knowledge about your favorite cup of coffee. Areas covered are:

Production
Cupping and Tasting
Brewing

After activity

After this activity, we will embark in our vehicle and transfer 15 minutes to our accommodation for freshen up and relax with the Boutique facilities.

The Retreat by Heaven - Inclusions

• 1 complimentary 30mins welcome massage per person valid once per booking – Subject to availability. Please reserve in advance of arrival. (Our Spa operates from 7AM – 8PM daily).
• One 30 mins onsite cultural activity per booking valid one time only (Cocktail making / banana wine making demonstration / local culinary demo / Neighborhood Walk) – Need to book in advance and (note that these activities may be shared with other hotel guests).
• Fruit Basket and Snacks Jar.
• Complimentary turndown every evening.
• Complimentary fiber Internet.
• Organic mattress & Bathroom amenities.
• Unlimited purified water as well as coffee/tea in every room.
• Complimentary access to the gym, large salt-water solar powered swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, and yoga terrace located at the Residence.

After breakfast at your hotel, our driver guide will be waiting for you at 7:30 am to begin the transfer to Nyungwe National Park. Our first stop is a 2.5-hour drive en route to the traditional power and cultural Centre of Rwanda in Nyanza/Butare at Kings Palace.

Kings Palace Museum

It is an impressive re-enactment display, restored to its 19th-century state and made entirely with traditional materials. Many facts and skills and cultural uniqueness are learned at this very interesting site.

After activity

After the visit, we will have our packed picnic lunch at Kings Palace Museum.
After lunch, you will embark in the vehicle and transfer a further 3.5 hours to Nyungwe National Park. You will see beautiful rain forest and plenty of monkeys on the side of the road if lucky before arriving at your stunning luxury accommodation at One&Only Nyungwe House. Nyungwe House is built among a working tea plantation that borders the ancient temperate rain forest of Nyungwe.

Upon arrival, you will be assisted with check in, freshen-up and relax with accommodation facilities.

One&Only Nyungwe House - Inclusions

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (house wines and beers).
• Two daily activities per person (as defined by the Resort and subject to change without notice).
• Nespresso machine, tea & coffee facilities.
• Turndown amenities.
• Laundry, within reason.
• Daily water and personal pantry in the room.
• Complimentary Wireless Internet Access.
• Access to the Fitness Centre – Open daily.
• For your nature experiences – our team provides complimentary trekking equipment, including ponchos, gaiters, backpacks, and shoe cleaning.

Wake up very early in the morning at 5:00 am ready to depart for your Chimpanzee Trek.
We will take a hot drink and snack on board as we aim to be at the ranger station for the briefing at 5:30am.

Chimpanzee Trek

At the park offices you will be briefed about the chimpanzees and the other primates in this forest and after entering into the forest searching for the shy chimpanzees and you may have a chance to see other primates on your way.

There are around 500 chimpanzees in this region of Rwanda making it an extremely important region for conservation of this rapidly declining relative. Depending on the trackers information you may get on of the larger troops of around 60 or a more intimate troop of 20-30. Either way chimpanzees are usually much more active than the Mountain Gorillas and are truly amazing to watch and try keep up with. Sharing 98.7% of human DNA you will be astounded by their intelligence, confidence and traits.

After activity

After the trekking experience, we will transfer back to our accommodation for freshen up, lunch and relax with the lodge facilities.

One&Only Nyungwe House - Inclusions

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (house wines and beers).
• Two daily activities per person (as defined by the Resort and subject to change without notice).
• Nespresso machine, tea & coffee facilities.
• Turndown amenities.
• Laundry, within reason.
• Daily water and personal pantry in the room.
• Complimentary Wireless Internet Access.
• Access to the Fitness Centre – Open daily.
• For your nature experiences – our team provides complimentary trekking equipment, including ponchos, gaiters, backpacks, and shoe cleaning.

Today you will have a relaxed breakfast at the resort.
You will check out at 9 am and embark in your vehicle for 35 minutes transfer to Canopy Walkway.

Canopy Walkway

It's suspended above ravine amidst the lush vegetation and montane forest of the Ngungwe National Park, Canopy Walk offers participants an exhilarating perspective atop the ancient treetops and wildlife. The 160 meters long suspended bridge is accessible as apart of a guided hike along the Igishigishigi trail or those hiking the Imbaraga and Umuyove trails.

After activity

After the experience, we will have lunch at Uwinka Cafe.
After lunch, we will embark in our vehicle for 2.5-hour scenic transfer to Lake Kivu Kibuye.

Upon arrival to the lodge, you will be assisted with check in. The whole afternoon is yours to relax with accommodation facilities as we wait for the time of Sundowner at 4 pm

Lake Kivu Sun-downer

The classic sunset boat tour to lake Kivu is an unforgettable experience accompanied by wonderful music and amazing scenery with your favorite drink. From the boat, you are close to lake’s shores, you see islands, you have a great view of the surrounding Rift Valley and chain of mountain of the Congo Nile, the beauty and scenic experiences, birds in bushes, swimming opportunity.

As you are enjoying your sundowner drink on an island and on a lucky day singing fishermen pass by in dugout canoes as they head out on Lake Kivu for a night of fishing, on our way back to our night staying location.

After activity

After Sundowner, we will return to our accommodation and relax with facilities.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will be assisted with check out at 8:30 am.
At 9:00 am, we will embark in our vehicle and start our 3.5 hours scenic transfer to the township of Musanze and on to the Volcanoes National Park. If weather permits, you may get to see all 5 Volcanoes peaks which is quite spectacular.

We will arrive at the lodge at around 12:30 pm where we will be welcomed with a tradition Intore Dance in the garden. After the welcome dance, you will be allocated to your rooms to check in, freshen up and have lunch.

In the afternoon we will visit Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Fund.

Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Fund

The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is an expansive, 12-acre property that rests adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. The campus showcases the best in sustainable architecture, local resourcing, and environmentally responsible practices and will offer state-of- the-art laboratories, a scientific conservation library, and meeting space for large groups. The goal of the campus is to inspire everyone who visits, to cherish gorillas and encourage a lifetime of conservation.

After activity

After this activity, we will transfer back to our accommodation for our late evening activity which is Gorilla Doctors Presentation.

Gorilla Doctors Presentation

At 6 pm, in the conference room next to the lodge lobby, we have arranged a special presentation with the Gorilla Doctors. These dedicated veterinarians and assistants play a special role in ensuring Gorillas populations continue to grow by treating injured and sick animals and protecting them from potentially catastrophic diseases. Imagine if your population was only 1000 how fragile your existence can be and you then understand the critical role The Gorilla Doctors have played in the growth of the Mountain Gorillas. The presentation will go through their work, the threats and what they have learnt about Gorillas.

After activity

After the presentation you will have your dinner and overnight stay.

Today we will depart at 10:00 am where your driver guide will meet you at the Hotel Reception for your transfer to Gorilla Naming Ceremony at Kinigi near Park Headquarters.

Rwanda’s Gorilla Naming Ceremony

The 2024 Kwita Izina is the 20th anniversary of this amazing event, that celebrates the conservation and growth of the Mountain Gorilla population each year. In recognition of the Keesling family's contribution to Mountain Gorilla Conservation, Frank Keesling will join a select group of celebrities, industry and world leaders and conservationists to name a new baby gorilla. This event will be the biggest yet and you will have front-row seats as a VIP guest of Frank.
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Experience one of the world’s most important celebrations of nature and meet Rwanda’s newborn baby gorillas

Kwita Izina is modelled off a centuries old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends. In 2005, Rwanda began officially naming mountain gorillas in what has become a global celebration of nature. By giving a name to these majestic animals, we give them a value they undoubtedly deserve.

The ceremony is an opportunity to thank the communities that live around Volcanoes National Park, our research partners, vets and the dedicated conservationists, rangers and trackers who protect the gorillas. Over the last 20 years, 397 mountain gorillas have been named.

After activity

After this ceremony, we will embark in our vehicle and transfer to our accommodation for late lunch and relax with accommodation facility as we prepare tomorrow's trek.

After breakfast, we will depart at 6:30am after breakfast as we take you to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for your trek briefing.

Mountain Gorilla Trek

Today you have a unique and privileged experience to trek and meet at close quarters the rare Mountain Gorilla. There are only around 1063 of these magnificent creatures left in the world with around 1/3 of those in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

Early in the morning after breakfast you will be taken to the park headquarters where you will be educated on the trek, Gorilla behavior and assigned in to groups of suitable fitness.

The trek can take between 2-6 hours depending on the movements of the Gorillas. This is considered one of the great natural animal encounters on the planet.

The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search for the Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about 1 hour once you find them.

After activity

After this activity, we will transfer to our lodge for freshen up, and have lunch.
The whole afternoon is yours to relax with the lodge facilities while swamping stories for your Gorilla trek or else you may decide to go for optional extra community walk where you will interact with the local communities around Volcanoes National Park.

After activity

After one of optional activity, we will return to our accommodation for dinner and overnight.

This morning after an early breakfast your driver guide will pick you up at reception at 7:00 am for your Golden Monkey Trek transfer.

Golden Monkey

It's a short drive to the Volcanoes National Park Headquarters to register and receive your briefing for the trek. Then you will be transferred to the starting point of the trek. Golden Monkey's on average are a much easier trek than the Mountain Gorillas, but of course occasionally nature doesn't cooperate. Like the Mountain Gorillas you will get to spend an hour with these active, unique and beautiful monkeys which are quite rare. Rwanda has probably the most accessible troops of Golden Monkey's in East Africa.

After activity

After this activity, we will transfer to our lodge for freshen up, lunch and check out.
We will embark in our vehicle for 3-hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable NP. Our first stop will be 1 hour at Cyanika border crossing to Uganda. Your driver guide will help you with all immigration process at the border and once he is done, you will proceed with 2-hour drive to Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge.

Upon arrival, you will be assisted with check in and relax with the lodge facilities.

After breakfast drive to the Uganda Wildlife Authority at Bwindi Park Headquarters.

Mountain Gorilla Trek

The early morning briefing starts at 7 am and the rangers will give you information on the trek, gorilla behavior, and rules. Then you head off into the Impenetrable Forest in search of these magnificent beasts. The advanced tracking group gives your guides an indication of where the gorillas were located last night, however, these creatures constantly move in search of food so the trek can take 2-6 hours in total.

When you come across the Gorillas you will sense the excitement as you get to spend an hour with the troop you have come across. It is often described as one of the great natural animal encounters on the planet. There are only around 1063 Mountain Gorillas left in the world and Bwindi have got the biggest population.

After activity

After this activity, we will transfer to our lodge for freshen up, and have lunch.
The whole afternoon is yours to relax with the lodge facilities.

Today after breakfast, we will check out of our accommodation.
We will then embark in our vehicle for 3.5-hour drive to Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival, we will register at the park entry with en-route gamed rive heading to our accommodation for lunch and check in.

After lunch, we will proceed with a game drive in Ishasha Sector.

Ishasha Sector

This park guarantees sightings of some of Africa’s most iconic species all being well you see elephants, buffaloes, different species of antelope and just maybe some of the exciting predators including, leopard, lions and others.

Ten species of primates enjoy the park's diverse habitats. Vervet and black- and-white colobus monkeys are easily spotted in the trees, and of course the boldest species, baboons and Hippos in river Ishasha! They are all there! A professional guide with extensive knowledge on the park and its inhabitants will help you to specify birdlife or wildlife, we will definitely don't miss to spot Topies as they are common in this part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

After activity

Afterwards we will transfer back to our accommodation for sundowner, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will check out at 7:30 am.
We will then transfer for 55 minutes to Kihihi Airstrip to catch up with your 9:45 am flight to Entebbe Airport

You will arrive in Kampala at 11:25 am, where you will find your driver guide at the exit gate waiting for you and will take you for lunch.
After lunch, we will proceed for 1 hour drive to Ruth Keesling Wildlife Health and Research Centre visit.

Ruth Keesling Wildlife Health and Research Center

This is a remarkable facility dedicated to wildlife health and research. It was established by the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund (MGCF), an organization working tirelessly to protect critically endangered mountain gorillas, preserve their habitat, and educate local communities.

The center, which opened in September 2015, is the first of its kind for Africa’s wildlife. It plays a crucial role in advancing education about wildlife veterinary medicine, with a state-of-the-art lecture facility for large classroom capacity. The legacy of Dr. Ruth Keesling, often referred to as the “grandmother of gorillas,” lives on through this center, which focuses on wildlife research, health care, and ecotourism.

After activity

After the research center visit, we will transfer to our hotel for check in, freshen up and relax with the hotel facilities.

Daily Summary

• Tour: Mabamba Swamp Shoebill
• Transfer: Farewell Dinner to Airport Transfer
• Meals: B, L, D

Aerolink Flight 0

Kihihi

Entebbe

KHH

EBB

DEPARTS

ARRIVES

9:45 AM

11:25 AM

Note: Kindly note that flight departure may change due to availability of flight.

Today after breakfast, you will be assisted with check out and meet your driver guide at hotel reception.
We will transfer to the shores of Lake Victoria for Mabamba Swamp boat safari with picnic lunch.

Mabamba Swamp Shoebill

Today after breakfast, you will be assisted with check out and meet your driver guide at hotel reception for the transfer to the shores of Lake Victoria for Mabamba Swamp boat safari.

Visiting the Mabamba Swamp to see the Shoebill is a great experience that you should not miss as it is truly a remarkable and rare bird. Often referred to as the dinosaur bird due to its prehistoric look.

It is usually an extremely rewarding trip as you see fishermen and chances of seeing lots of other birds, including pelicans.

After activity

After this visit, we will transfer to No. 5 Boutique Hotel for freshen up and have farewell dinner.

After the farewell dinner, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to catch up with your departing flight.

We wish you a safe onward journey with memories that will emotionally move you longer after you return home.