Day by Day Itinerary

Rwanda has much to offer visitors, most notably the tracking of endangered mountain gorillas in the lush Virunga National Park, which extends across the peaks and jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Other major tourist attractions include expansive Lake Kivu, ancient Nyungwe Forest with its rich population of primate species, and the game-rich savannah lands of Akagera National Park.

Day 1 - Kigali

Arrive in Kigali and transfer by road to your hotel - 10 mins approx. 

The city of Kigali has a population of almost one million people and has a thriving café culture and some excellent restaurants. . Spanning wide ridges and valleys, Kigali is an attractive city of lush hillsides and flowering trees, winding boulevards and bustling streets.

The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 12-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Centre.  It is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally-crafted furniture, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga and meditation room, spa, large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness centre.  Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine, while Heaven Restaurant offers an innovative modern African menu. 

The Retreat by Heaven - 1 night HB

Day 2 - Volcanoes National Park

Travel by road to Volcanoes National Park - approx 2.5 hours

Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face encounter with these intriguing creatures. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorillas are, the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the crater lake on Mount Bisoke.

With impressive views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes and surrounded by high-altitude forests, Singita Kwitonda Lodge offers an exceptional experience. With its natural beauty, environmentally conscious luxury and transformative, purpose-driven experiences, the lodge was designed in response to this remarkable location, and the eight contemporary suites (as well as the private four-bedroom villa – Kataza House) are linked by volcanic rock pathways to the central lodge. The interiors emphasise local design and handcrafted details adorn the carefully planned spaces. A fire pit, interactive kitchen, bar-deli and wine cellar complete the picture.

Singita Kwitonda Lodge - 2 nights FB

Day 3 - Full day gorilla trekking

An early morning start to your very exciting day spent gorilla trekking. The ranger station is a drive of approximately one hour from the lodge. After a safety briefing the guides will take you throught the bush to track the gorillas. The trek can take from half an hour to 7 hours – a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Once you are close to the group, the guides will ask you to leave behind your bags as no food items should be carried close to the gorillas. Just take your cameras with you as you are about to meet the gentle giants! Sit in the forest amongst the gorillas, listening as they grumble to each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male, the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas – sadly enough there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left.

The distance of each gorilla trek is varied, so depending on which family group guests are allocated, the duration is anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day. Meals and lodge activities are flexible around each trek. Rwanda can be visited at any time of the year and gorilla trekking is a year-round activity. 

Day 4 - Serengeti Grumeti River

Return to Kigali by road (approx 2.5 hours) for your 3 hour flight to Sasakwa Airstrip in Tanzania.

Singita Grumeti is located adjacent to the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, bordering the national park, and encompasses 400,000 acres of unrivalled wilderness.  Wide river valleys meandering through the plains, grasslands, woodland and forest. The area forms part of the famous migratory route, which is travelled by hundreds of thousands of animals every year. Grumeti features unparalleled exclusivity combined with the ability to enjoy a wide selection of activities not allowed inside the Serengeti as it is not governed by national park regulations. The famous Great Migration, an annual trek of 2 million animals through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, bisects the reserve annually. Called The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth it has, since time immemorial, been the dramatic backbone of this enormous wilderness.

Faru Faru River Lodge is built on a gently sloping hill, overlooking a waterhole and the Grumeti River. It is built in the style of a classic East African safari camp, with the suites and lodge areas decorated as a throwback to the timeless Colonial era. Each of the six air-conditioned suites feature a picture window and deck, with your own Swarovski spotting scope, from which you can enjoy the rugged landscape, whilst at the same time, the luxurious comfort of your suite. Huge picture windows with uninterrupted views of the valley and of the antics of the resident vervet monkeys! The lodge area offers a lounge and dining room, elevated viewing decks, heated plunge pool, spa and Colonial Trading Post. Walks from Faru Faru along the Grumeti River, with its spectrum of fauna and flora, are an unforgettable experience. 

Singita Faru Faru Lodge - 3 nights FB

Days 5-7 - Serengeti

You have two full days of activities within the private Grumeti Reserves with your open-sided 4x4 vehicle with driver.

Day 7 - Chem Chem Concession

Flight to Lake Manyara airstrip and onwards by road to Chem Chem.

Sandwiched between the endless savannas of Tarangire National Park and the bird-rich waters of Lake Manyara National Park, Chem Chem lies in the renowned migration corridor. This concession covers over 20,000 hectares of Tanzanian wilderness characterised by vast grasslands dotted with ancient baobab trees and inhabited by diverse wildlife including herds of elephant, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, impalas, and over 400 species of bird. Visitors can look forward to dining under the African night sky, day and night wildlife safaris, and visiting a traditional Maasai village. Other popular activities including: horse riding, bird watching, fishing, guided bush walks, 4x4 trails, hiking, picnicking, and game drives.

Little Chem Chem is located in a huge unfenced concession of 16,000 hectares by the shores of the freshwater Lake Burungi. There is good game in the immediate vicinity, with regular leopard and cheetah sightings. Venture a little further afield and you come to Tarangire National Park, which is about 25 minutes away by road. Here you will find all the game you are looking for. Tarangire is especially known for its huge herds of elephants, and for the amazing ancient Giant Baobab trees which dominate parts of the landscape. Activities include game walks, moonlit drives, off road game drives, running with the Maasai, and splendid sundowners out by the lake.

Little Chem Chem - 3 nights tented accommdation FB

Day 8-10 - Chem Chem Concession

You will enjoy two full days of game activities within the Chem Chem Concession with your Little Chem Chem open-sided 4x4 vehicle and driver-guide. Being located within a private concession, at Little Chem Chem, it’s possible to get out for guided bush walks as well as night game drives.

Day 10 - Depart

Transfer by road to Kilimanjaro International airport to connect with your onward flight home.

Why we love it

Face to face

Hikes up to the gorillas various locations can last anything from 30 minutes to four or more hours, reaching an altitude of between 2,500m and 4,000m. Porters are available to carry backpacks and cameras, as well as to offer a helping hand along the route.

Wildlife encounters

Be on the look at for the Big Five in the Grumeti Reserves and Chem Chem Concession as well as numerous wildlife and plains game such as lion, cheetah, elephant and, if you're lucky, rhino.

Raw drama of the bush

A handful of luxury vintage tents guarantee an intimate experience with this untamed land.

It’s the scent in the breeze, the roar in the night, the padded paw-print in the sand - the wildness is all around you. Little Chem Chem – also known as “sunrise camp” - offers the raw drama of the East African bush in a very private setting.

Big game country

Game drives on open-air safari vehicles offer unforgettable moments: watch cheetah sprint across the savannah; observe elephants herds on the move; thrill at the rare sight of tree-climbing lions…