Soft mist drifts through a lush, dense green forest, evoking Rwanda's volcanic highlands.

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Luxury Rwanda: Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Kivu

Top-tier lodges at Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Lake Kivu, framing gorilla trekking, chimp trekking and the canopy walkway.

Enquire about this trip See the day by day

Duration8 Days / 7 Nights

Group size2 – 6 travellers

Best monthsJune – September, December – February

From$7,850 per person sharing

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The Trip in Short

Rwanda’s tourism strategy has leaned hard into high-value, low-volume travel, and its top lodges reflect it – small, well-designed, and priced accordingly. This itinerary uses them properly: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest or an equivalent at Volcanoes, a forest-edge lodge at Nyungwe, and a private villa or suite on Lake Kivu to close.

The activities are the same trio you’d get on a midrange version of this trip – gorillas, chimps, the canopy walkway, the lake – but the pacing, the vehicles and the rooms are built for people who want the experience without any of the friction.

Park fees and gorilla permits in Rwanda are set by the Rwanda Development Board.

Highlights

Gorilla trekking based from a premier lodge at the park gate
Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walkway at Nyungwe
Private suite or villa on Lake Kivu to close the trip
Helicopter transfer option between regions
Curated wine and dining throughout
Small-group or fully private departures

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Where You Go, Stop by Stop

Day 1–3

Kigali – Musanze, gorilla trekking

Day 4–5

Musanze – Nyungwe Forest

Day 6–7

Nyungwe – Lake Kivu

Day 8

Lake Kivu – Kigali – departure

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive and transfer to Musanze

A private transfer to a premier lodge at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, with the option of a scenic helicopter transfer in place of the road drive.

Day 2–3: Gorilla trekking

A full day for the gorilla trek itself, with a rest or optional golden monkey trek the following day, all run at a pace set by the group rather than a fixed group departure time.

Day 4–5: Nyungwe Forest

Transfer south – by road or, where operationally possible, by helicopter – to a forest-edge lodge at Nyungwe for chimpanzee trekking and the 160m canopy walkway, with private guiding throughout.

Day 6–7: Lake Kivu

A transfer to a private villa or suite on Lake Kivu's shore for two nights with no fixed programme – a boat safari, a spa treatment, or simply the terrace and the water.

Day 8: Departure

Private transfer back to Kigali for departure.

From

$7,850

Enquire about this trip

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What the Price Covers

Included

Rwanda gorilla trekking permit ($1,500)
All accommodation, 7 nights, at premier properties
All meals and a curated wine list
Private vehicle and driver-guide throughout
One guided boat safari on Lake Kivu
Airport meet-and-greet

Not included

International flights
Rwanda entry visa
Helicopter transfers, if selected, priced separately
Spa treatments
Gratuities
Travel insurance

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Before You Book

Is the helicopter transfer worth it?

It cuts a four-to-six-hour drive to under an hour and adds a genuinely spectacular view of the volcanoes and forest canopy; it's an optional upgrade rather than a default inclusion.

What lodges are typically used?

Premier properties such as One&Only Gorilla's Nest, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge at Musanze, a forest-edge lodge at Nyungwe, and a private villa on Lake Kivu; exact properties depend on availability.

Can this be fully private, with no other guests?

Yes, this itinerary is designed to run privately for a single party from day one.

What's the single supplement?

Solo travellers pay a supplement at luxury properties on this route; ask for the current rate when booking.

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Where This Trip Goes

Rwanda

Country

The most accessible mountain gorilla trekking in the world, a rainforest canopy walk in Nyungwe and a recovered Big Five park at Akagera, all within a…

Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda · National Park

Africa's first national park, protecting mountain gorillas since 1925, and the most accessible gorilla trekking destination anywhere thanks to its proximity to Kigali.

Akagera National Park

Rwanda · National Park

Rwanda's only Big Five park, rebuilt over the past two decades after severe post-genocide poaching, with boat safaris on Lake Ihema and strong night-drive access.

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Luxury Rwanda: Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Kivu