Welcome to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda since it gained independence in 1962. Most associate Rwanda with the horrific genocide that took place in 1994, but this is a country that has been striving to rebuild its economy for years and offers so much to international tourists. 

And though the past won’t, and shouldn’t, be forgotten, the future of Rwanda’s tourism is looking bright thanks to its welcoming people, an abundance of lakes, beautiful mountainous views, famous mountain gorillas, flora, and fauna. Your adventure begins by meeting your experienced tour guide who will accompany you to your hotel for a relaxing evening before you start your adventure in the land of thousand hills.

After breakfast, you’ll visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, which was opened in 2004, where you will learn more about the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. It serves as both a museum, detailing the history and consequences of Rwanda’s genocide, and a place for people to grieve for lost friends and family. 

From here you’ll start your journey to Nyungwe National park, through the south corridor, which is considered a cultural heritage. You will get a chance to learn about the old Catholic church cathedral where Rwanda was dedicated to Christ the King by Mutara III Ridahigwa in 1942. You will be able to visit AZIZI LIFE, the place which gathers craftsmen in the Muhanga district, and learns they wave baskets, and more of their artwork. Here, you can buy good crafts for your memory. 

You will take a visit to Nyanza King’s Palace Museum where you will learn more about the Rwandan Kingdom in the pre-colonial period and Rwandan lifestyle and rituals back in the days. After your tour in King’s Place Museum, you take a tour in the National Art Gallery, which exhibits mesmerizing crafts of all sorts. 

You will extend your Rwandan discovery by visiting the Huye Ethnographic museum which is rich in historic, geographic, and instrumental proofs of rich Rwandan culture and history. You learn more about Rwandan leadership from the kingdom, colonial and post-colonial periods to date. After this long but exciting visit, you will continue your journey to Nyungwe National park, where you will spend a night before your adventure begins.

The Nyungwe National Park lies within the Albertine Rift Eco-region, is claimed for its biodiversity, and for being one of the most endemic species-rich areas in all of Africa. It’s one of Africa’s most important conservation sites. The park covers 1020 kilometers square and within this area, boasts a diverse ecosystem from the rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bog habitats. 

Early in the morning, you take your break. Your guide takes you to the forest where you spend the whole morning exploring the beauty of nature. On your walk, you are likely to meet different species of primates. There are more than 240 tree species, 140 orchids, and 1,068 plant types, such as the giant Lobelia.  Nyungwe is home to 310 species of birds with 27 Albertine Rift endemics to be found; the highest concentration found in any single park in Africa. There are 75 different mammals, such as Cervical cats, Golden cats, Wild cats, Mongoose, Genet, Duiker, and more. Some of the other species within the park comprise hundreds of butterflies, including 40 endemics to Nyungwe forest, a small number of snake species but several colorful lizards, and five species of chameleon. This trail is an ideal opportunity to experience the magnificent forest views and learn about the diversity of birds, plants, and animal life found here. 

After lunch, it’s a good time to take on the IGISHIGISHIGI trail which takes you to the Canopy. It’s 1Km from Uwinka Visitor Center. It leads to a 200 m trail suspended between giant trees, offering a magnificent view of the upper canopy, and is also a very good bird-watching area. In the evening, you will enjoy your rest, breathing fresh air in the midst of the forest.