Rwanda

arrive kigali, rwanda

Arrive in Kigali and transfer to your hotel.

The Retreat

nyungwe forest national park | time to reflect

Begin with an evocative visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Next, drive south to Nyanza, the historical seat of the Rwandan kingdom. Continue to Nyungwe Forest National Park, a pristine, bio-diverse natural rainforest filled with intriguing wildlife. Arrive at your lodge, a serene hideaway occupying a tea plantation on the edge of the forest. Enjoy the evening at leisure to enjoy your surroundings.

One&Only Nyungwe House | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK | guided walk

Explore the park on a guided morning nature walk, following the trail of its 400-strong troop of habituated Ruwenzori black and white Colobus monkeys. It is also home to nearly a dozen other primate species and a birder’s paradise with over 300 species, including 16 endemics. This afternoon, tour a nearby tea plantation where you have the opportunity to visit local farmers. Alternatively you may choose to embark on a canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

One&Only Nyungwe House | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

gisenyi | along the shores

This morning, take a scenic drive to Gisenyi, located on the shores of Lake Kivu, stopping at local markets along the way. Spend time relaxing at your lodge, watching the sun set over the lake and over the nearby Virunga Volcanoes.

Lake Kivu Serena Hotel | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

volcanoes national park | where gorillas reside

Following breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park. The afternoon is yours to relax at your luxurious lodge overlooking the rolling hills and volcanoes of Rwanda. This great volcanic massif encompasses six active and three extinct volcanoes. Most notably, though, it’s the residence of around half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas — some 400 of them, in fact. The park itself has a longstanding connection with gorilla conservation. It was the base for the groundbreaking work of primatologist Dian Fossey, which began in the late 1960s and is portrayed in the evocative book and film Gorillas in the Mist.

One&Only Gorilla’s Nest | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK | close encounters

Drive to Volcanoes National Park headquarters to join your gorilla-trekking group. With help from your park guide, traverse the dense forest until you come face-toface with a local gorilla family. Observe them as they play, forage and rest in the shade of the trees. You are given one hour to spend in the presence of these magnificent animals.

One&Only Gorilla’s Nest | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

kigali | a parting glimpse

In the morning, observe a different gorilla family. Following lunch at your lodge, return to Kigali this afternoon.

The Retreat | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

depart kagali

Following breakfast, visit a local shop where you learn the art of basket weaving before your international homebound flight.

Meals: Breakfast