Day 1 – Arrival in Kigali, the Festival Capital

Your adventure begins in Kigali, a city known for its harmony, cleanliness, and warm welcome. As you arrive, the air carries a gentle energy, with festival banners and cultural decorations signaling the upcoming Kwita Izina celebrations. After meeting your guide, you settle into your hotel, surrounded by green hills and a calm evening breeze. This first night offers rest and anticipation for the days ahead, as Rwanda prepares to celebrate its most beloved wildlife event.

Day 2 – Kigali Cultural and Conservation Tour

Morning light illuminates Kigali’s leafy streets as you begin a cultural exploration of the city. You visit key sites that highlight Rwanda’s resilience, creativity, and conservation achievements. Artisan centers, cultural communities, and historical landmarks reveal the soul of a nation deeply connected to nature and its people. Throughout the day, the atmosphere of celebration continues building as the festival approaches. The evening in Kigali feels vibrant and full of life.

Day 3 – Drive to Nyungwe National Park

After breakfast, you begin the scenic journey to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda’s southwestern highlands. Terraced hillsides, tea plantations glowing in emerald green, and peaceful rural life unfold outside your window. The road winds deeper into the highlands until the ancient forests of Nyungwe rise before you. Upon arrival, your lodge rests among towering trees and mist-filled valleys, offering a serene escape into the heart of Rwanda’s rainforest. As night falls, the sounds of the forest create a soothing, natural symphony.

Day 4 – Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe

Before dawn, you enter the forest in search of Nyungwe’s celebrated chimpanzees. The trek takes you through dense foliage, moss-covered pathways, and deep forest echoes. Each step builds anticipation until the chimpanzees reveal themselves — energetic, expressive, and alive with emotion. Their interactions, calls, and remarkable intelligence offer a powerful and intimate wildlife encounter. After this unforgettable experience, you return to your lodge for a calm afternoon surrounded by Nyungwe’s ancient tranquility.

Day 5 – Canopy Walk and Transfer to Lake Kivu

Morning light filters through the trees as you make your way to the iconic Nyungwe Canopy Walk. Suspended high above the forest floor, the walkway opens breathtaking views of treetops, ravines, and distant green hills. Monkeys glide through branches, birds call from unseen perches, and the cool forest air fills every moment with wonder. After the canopy experience, you drive north toward Lake Kivu, arriving at a peaceful lakeside lodge where the water glimmers under the setting sun. Evening unfolds with the gentle movement of waves and the scent of the lake breeze.

Day 6 – Relaxation and Cultural Moments Along Lake Kivu

Today is dedicated to the calm rhythm of Lake Kivu. The morning begins with soft light reflecting on the water as fishermen paddle quietly across the lake. You may enjoy a lakeside walk, a gentle boat ride, or time spent with communities whose lives revolve around fishing, farming, and local crafts. The landscapes around Kivu are poetically beautiful — rolling hills, quiet villages, and tranquil waters that shift from deep blue to shimmering silver. The day closes with a peaceful lakeside sunset.

Day 7 – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

As morning rises over the lake, you begin the ascent toward Volcanoes National Park. The road winds through green highlands, offering magnificent views of hills stretching endlessly into the distance. Soon, the majestic Virunga Volcanoes appear ahead, standing tall and timeless against the sky. Your lodge in Musanze offers sweeping views of these volcanic peaks, and the atmosphere becomes charged with excitement as the Kwita Izina festival draws near. The evening is quiet, with mist floating across the slopes.

Day 8 – The Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony

This is the long-awaited day — the heart of your journey. The Kwita Izina Festival begins with music, dance, cultural performances, and a gathering of community members, rangers, conservationists, dignitaries, celebrities, and travelers. The ceremony celebrates the naming of newborn gorillas, honoring their mothers, their families, and the rangers who protect them. Each name carries meaning, hope, heritage, and a vision for the future of gorilla conservation.

The atmosphere is electrifying — joyful, emotional, and deeply connected to Rwanda’s identity. You witness not just a celebration but a powerful example of conservation success, community empowerment, and national pride. As evening falls, the highlands glow with celebration, and the spirit of Kwita Izina lingers long into the night.

Day 9 – Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After the celebrations, today brings the profound experience of meeting the very species you celebrated. You begin with an early morning briefing at the park headquarters before entering the ancestral forest. Bamboo groves, ferns, and thick volcanic vegetation lead you toward the gorilla family. When the moment arrives, you stand only meters away from these gentle giants — a silverback watching calmly, mothers nurturing their infants, and juveniles playing with carefree joy. The encounter is emotional, sacred, and unforgettable. After your trek, you return to your lodge for a peaceful afternoon in the volcanic highlands.

Day 10 – Return to Kigali and Departure

Morning mist drifts across the volcanoes as you begin your journey back to Kigali. The drive offers time to reflect on a journey filled with festival beauty, wildlife encounters, cultural connections, and Rwanda’s heartfelt dedication to conservation. Upon arrival in the capital, you may visit craft markets or enjoy a final panoramic view before heading to the airport. The expedition ends, but the memories — of gorilla names echoed across the hills, of chimps calling in the rainforest, and of Rwanda’s profound unity between people and nature — remain with you forever.