5 Days Nyungwe Forest National Park

Met on arrival at the Kigali International Airport by our partners in Rwanda, you will be transferred to The Retreat a 20min drive away, this 20-room luxury boutique hotel created by the American owners of Heaven, designed by Italian architects, brought to life by an extraordinary team of Rwandan builders and technicians. This will be your overnight stay. Once assisted to check-in, you have the afternoon at leisure, dinner and overnight at the Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast & dinner. Overnight at the Retreat.

Early morning departure from the hotel with a snack box to the Kigali International Airport for your RwandAir flight (one flight in a day) to Kamembe Airport. Our partners from One & Only Nyungwe House will at the airport to meet you and transfer you to One & Only Nyungwe House a 54 min (36.5 km/22.6 mi) drive away.

Arrive at the House for a light breakfast and check-in, followed by lunch. A brief siesta before your transfer to the park headquarters for a tour briefing at 14h30 before the Canopy walkway at 15h00. The Canopy walkway is (1.5 -2 hrs.) consists of three bridges and three towers total of 200m in length.

This is embedded in a guided tour along the Igishigishigi Trail, the specialized Park Guide will show you the forest canopy and explain why it’s an integral part of the tropical rainforest ecosystem.

Here you will learn what the major characteristics of rainforest and its canopy are and the importance of Nyungwe Forest for Rwanda. Return to the House for dinner.

Meals: lunch, dinner and overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House

After breakfast, at 07h30 you will set off for the park headquarters with the house driver guide, in time for a briefing before the waterfall hike begins at 09h00. The Trail is about 10.6 km long and takes 4-5 hours to complete the hike, starting from Gisakura side of the park, you will be rewarded with wildlife, bird species, beautiful views and the Iumo waterfalls.

The waterfall is the biggest highlight of this hiking experience, ending down steep hillsides through primaeval looking ‘Hollywood’ style rainforest, where trees are festooned in vines and the air is heavy and damp. Ascend the waterfall at midday, as you walk back to the park office to rejoin your driver-guide at the park office and return to the House for lunch with a siesta following.

Another guided walking tour begins at 15h00 to the Gisakura tea plantation where you discover what makes the perfect cup of tea, experience and learn the art of picking the leaves with a chance to sample some beautiful black tea grown in this area. Return to the House where you will participate in a tea ceremony. Dinner at the House.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House

*If you choose to return by road, it’s a 7-hour drive we will have our partner’s driver leave Kigali a day before to Nyungwe (empty run).

An early rise at 05h00 with a drive to the park headquarters in time for the guided chimpanzee walk at 06h00. The park is rich in biodiversity and spectacular beauty, with mountainous region teaming with wildlife, including a small population of chimpanzees, 12 other primates and the L'Hoest's monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift. The two chimp communities are in Cyamdungo and Uwinka.

Chimpanzee tracking is popular in Nyungwe during the summer when the park’s trees are in full bloom. The well-trained guides will lead you through the forests, however to see the chimpanzees are not guaranteed, you will enjoy learning about them and their natural habitats.

After the trail is over, you will proceed to the House for a late breakfast, lunch at the House and relaxation by the outdoor pool. Take part in one of the complimentary activities like Boot camp spear throwing, Conservation Walk, Umuganda Community Participation, exploring on bicycle or Nyungwe Nocturnal Walk. Dinner at the House.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House.

Breakfast at the House and check-out, our partners’ driver will pick you on a 2 hr 50 min drive to visit the Ethnographic Museum in Butare, a gift from Belgium’s King Badouin in late 1980s. The Museum now houses one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections giving visitors a rich insight into Rwandan culture.

Lunch in Huye at either The Boni Consilii or Stanford Restaurant 3mins drive(1.3km). Proceed on to Kigali International Airport a 3 hr 7min (135km/83.8mi), our partner’s driver will bid you farewell as you check in for your out bound late flight.

Road trip from Nyungwe Forest National Park to Kigali International Airport is approx. 6-7 hrs. drive.