Enjoy a 9-night luxury flying safari in Rwanda, traveling by helicopter between Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest Reserve, and Akagera National Park. Begin in Volcanoes National Park with gorilla trekking and the chance to see golden monkeys. Continue to Nyungwe Forest Reserve for chimpanzee trekking, a canopy walk, and other forest activities. Finish in Akagera National Park with game drives and boat safaris. Throughout the trip, stay in luxury lodges and move easily between parks for a smooth and memorable experience.
Visit the Genocide Memorial Centre
Lunch at the Repub Lounge
Visit the Kimironko Market
Helicopter flight to Volcanoes
Gorilla Trekking
Helicopter flight to Nungwe Forest
Chimpanzee Trekking
Helicopter flight to Agagera National Park
Game Drive
Boat Cruise
Helicopter flight to Kigali
Flight from Johannesburg to Kigali Airport. We will then transfer to Hemingways Retreat to enjoy breakfast (for your account), drop your bags, and refresh. We will then visit the Genocide Memorial Centre, regarded as one of the best museums in Africa! Here, we will learn about Rwanda’s history from the pre-colonial era to the 1994 genocide war that shocked the world.
After visiting the museum, we will stop at the Kimironko Market. Here, you will find handicrafts and souvenirs, colourful baskets, vibrant kitenge fabrics, and sewists ready to make you a dress, fresh vegetables and fruits, household goods, and a meat and fish market.
Lunch will be at Repub Lounge (included), where you can taste some of Rwanda’s local food and enjoy stunning city views.
You can check in at the hotel in the afternoon at your leisure, or you can arrange with your guide to explore more of Kigali City!
Stay: Hemingways Retreat
Room: Deluxe King Room
Meals: Breakfast on arrival, dinner & breakfast the next morning
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out and heading to the airport for your helicopter flight to Volcanoes National Park. Your driver will meet you at the helicopter pad. After lunch, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Fossey Fund, a modern center dedicated to gorilla conservation. The campus also features a café and gift shop, with comfortable areas where you can relax and take in the surrounding biodiversity.
Stay: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Room: Forest Treehouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages + Two on-site activities per person per day
Experience the thrill of mountain gorilla tracking with an early morning departure from the lodge to the trailhead at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The tracking can last anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours, so it's important to be prepared for both short and long excursions. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is one of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences in Africa—and possibly the world. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are a critically endangered species, making this tracking opportunity a life-changing and once-in-a-lifetime adventure. After your encounter, you will return to the base where your driver will be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge.
Stay: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Room: Forest Treehouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages + Two on-site activities per person per day
After breakfast, transfer to the helipad for your helicopter flight to Nyungwe Forest Reserve. Upon landing at your lodge, check in and enjoy your afternoon at leisure.
Stay: One&Only Nyungwe House
Room: Canopy Treehouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages + Two on-site activities per person per day
Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge before transferring to the park office to register for a true Rwanda-style chimpanzee tracking and trekking experience.
Stay: One&Only Nyungwe House
Room: Canopy Treehouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages + Two on-site activities per person per day
Our morning adventure begins with the Canopy Walk, which stretches nearly 160 meters in length and rises over 75 meters above the ground. This provides a unique 'eye-to-eye' experience with the diverse array of primates and birds found in the upper reaches of the canopy. Afterward, we return to the lodge for lunch, followed by a late afternoon boat excursion on Lake Kivu and a visit to Nkombo Island. Shared between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Kivu lies within the Albertine Rift and is surrounded by steep, terraced escarpments. It is the largest lake in Rwanda and the sixth-largest lake in Africa.
Stay: One&Only Nyungwe House
Room: Canopy Treehouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages + Two on-site activities per person per day
After breakfast, you will board a helicopter for a scenic flight to the Akagera Game Reserve. Upon landing, your guide will be there to welcome you and assist with the check-in process at your camp. After settling in and enjoying lunch, you will embark on an afternoon game drive through the park, where you can take in the diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes as the day unfolds.
Stay: Wilderness Magashi Camp
Room: Tented Suite
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Spend two full days exploring Akagera, featuring exciting birdwatching, a relaxing boat safari on the lake, and immersive game drives through the reserve.
Stay: Wilderness Magashi Camp
Room: Standard room
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Enjoy your morning at leisure before boarding your helicopter for the flight back to Kigali Airport. You will depart for home at 23:30 (Rwanda time) and arrive at 03:20 (South African time).
End of service
PRIVATE (TAILOR-MADE) SAFARI:
Valid until: 15 December ‘26
This safari has been crafted with knowledge and insight, showcasing just a few of the experiences you can enjoy in Rwanda. It is merely an example, and any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Chat with one of our Safari Specialists, who will be able to help you to customise the ideal safari itinerary for you based on your interests, preferences and budget.
SA Resident:
| Mar & Apr ’26 | R549,539 pps |
| May & Nov ’26 | R525,688 pps |
| 5 Jan – 28 Feb, 17 – 31 Dec ‘26 | R616,315 pps |
| Jun – Oct ’26 | R687,868 pps |
International Traveller:
| Mar & Apr ’26 | US$ 35,754 pps |
| May & Nov ’26 | US$ 37,096 pps |
| Jun – Oct ’26 | US$ 39,414 pps |
| 5 Jan – 28 Feb, 17 – 31 Dec ’26 | US$ 41,084 pps |
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA:
International flights from Johannesburg are available on RwandAir.
GORILLA PERMITS:
The Rwandan portion of the Virunga Volcanoes massif in the northwest of the country. This 330 km² park, known locally as “Parc des Volcans,” encompasses five extinct or dormant volcanoes and lush high-altitude forests, and is most famous for its mountain gorillas – the park offers life-changing gorilla trekking opportunities, as well as golden monkey tracking, hiking to volcanic summits, and spectacular cloud forest scenery.
A pristine montane rainforest in southwestern Rwanda, considered one of Africa’s oldest. Nyungwe spans over 1,000 km² of hilly terrain and is celebrated for its tremendous biodiversity – it harbors 13 primate species (25% of Africa’s total, including ~500 chimpanzees and large groups of Colobus monkeys), 300+ bird species (many Albertine Rift endemics), and a rich array of orchids and trees in an ecosystem receiving up to 2,000 mm of rain annually.
Eastern Rwanda’s Big Five reserve, Akagera covers 1,122 km² along the border with Tanzania. It protects a mosaic of savannah plains, woodlands, lakes and papyrus swamps – Central Africa’s largest protected wetland system. After a successful wildlife restoration, Akagera now offers excellent game viewing (elephants, lions, buffalo, rhinos, giraffes, etc.) and boasts nearly 500 bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork in its marshes.
Speak to our travel experts to start planning your tailor-made safari or tour.
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