This 6-day experience lets you connect with local communities and visit many important historical sites. You will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, do chimpanzee trekking and a canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park, cross the border from Rwanda into Burundi, take a boat ride on the Rusizi River, visit the Nile source, and the Gishora Drum Sanctuary.
You will also enjoy a cultural performance by the locals. This trip will be unforgettable.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Today, you arrive at the airport and complete immigration. You will meet your travel companion who will introduce you to the Land of a Thousand Hills and give you details about your trip. Then, you will be taken to your accommodation in Kigali, where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 2: Kigali City Tour & Drive to Nyungwe
After breakfast, you will meet your driver guide for a short city tour starting with the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Here, you will learn about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis and the country’s journey since then. Next, you will take a long drive to Nyungwe, a place known for its many hills and natural beauty.
When you arrive at Nyungwe, you will do the canopy walk. This is a suspension bridge 90 meters high where you can enjoy views of the forest and the area around it. At the end of the day, you will check in to your accommodation, have dinner, and rest overnight near Nyungwe.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Travel to Bujumbura
After your morning coffee, you will leave the hotel and go to Nyungwe National Forest, home to 13 primate species. You will be briefed and then go chimpanzee trekking. You will have one hour to find the chimpanzees. After the trek, you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will cross the border into Burundi and be transferred to Bujumbura. You will check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing before dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Bujumbura City Tour & Boat Ride
After breakfast, you will start your Bujumbura city tour with a boat ride in Rusizi National Park along the Rusizi River to Lake Tanganyika. On the way, you will see hippos, birds, and crocodiles.
After the boat ride, you will continue the city tour visiting important sites, including the Living Museum. You will return to downtown Bujumbura for lunch. After lunch, you will visit the Musee Vivant. Later, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Visit to Gitega & Gishora Drum Sanctuary
After breakfast, you will drive from Bujumbura to Gitega. On the way, you will stop at the Nile River source and a tea plantation near Rutana. When you arrive in Gitega, you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, visit Gishora to meet the famous drummers and learn about this heritage site, which is not yet recognized by UNESCO. You will watch a one-and-a-half-hour show with drumbeats, dancing, heroic poems, and traditional songs. After the show, you will tour the royal house to see how people lived at the palace. You will then check into your hotel, have dinner, and stay overnight.
Day 6: Return to Kigali & Departure
After breakfast, you will be picked up and driven through the Nemba border back to Kigali. If time allows, you can visit local craft shops to buy souvenirs before you are taken to the airport for your flight home.
