Day 1
Nairobi Arrival
Arrive JKIA. Transfer to hotel.
Gear check and trek briefing with your mountain guide.
Dinner and an early night.
Itinerary detail
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— NATURE & ADVENTURE
Volcanoes & Rainforest — Kenya to Rwanda
Mount Kenya's moorland, Nyungwe's canopy, and an hour with mountain gorillas.
Duration
11 Nights / 12 Days
Destinations
Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Kigali, Nyungwe Forest, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes NP
Group size
2–6 people
Best months
Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb
Est. budget
$9,000–$18,000
Highlights
Point Lenana, Nyungwe canopy walk, Chimpanzee trek, Gorilla trek
Overview
Two mountain ranges, two countries, and the two best primate experiences in Africa. Trek Mount Kenya to Point Lenana, fly to Rwanda for the Nyungwe canopy walkway and chimpanzee tracking, drive the Congo Nile ridge along Lake Kivu, and finish in the Virunga foothills with a gorilla permit.
Day by day
Day 2
To the Mountain
Drive Nairobi → Nanyuki (3.5 hrs) with an Equator stop.
Acclimatization walk in the Mount Kenya foothills.
Lodge dinner. Final pack and weigh-in.
Day 3
Sirimon Route
Trek to Old Moses, then on toward Shipton's Camp.
Moorland, giant lobelias, and the Mackinder Valley.
Camp at altitude. Short acclimatization walk before dark.
Day 4
Point Lenana
2am summit push to Point Lenana (4,985m) for sunrise.
Descend via Chogoria past Lake Michaelson and the Gorges Valley.
Camp lower. Hot food and a long sleep.
Day 5
Descend & Recover
Final descent to the Chogoria gate.
Transfer to a Nanyuki lodge.
Massage and a hot bath.
Celebration dinner with the trek team.
Day 6
Fly to Rwanda
Transfer to Nairobi.
Fly Nairobi → Kigali (1h 40m).
Kigali Genocide Memorial and a walk through the city.
Dinner at a Kigali restaurant. Overnight in the capital.
Day 7
Nyungwe Forest
Drive Kigali → Nyungwe (5 hrs) through the tea country.
Afternoon forest walk and waterfall trail.
Lodge dinner on the forest edge.
Day 8
Canopy & Chimps
Pre-dawn chimpanzee trek in the Cyamudongo forest.
Afternoon canopy walkway — 60m above the forest floor.
Tea estate visit and tasting on the return.
Day 9
Lake Kivu
Drive Nyungwe → Lake Kivu (3 hrs) along the Congo Nile ridge.
Afternoon kayak or boat trip on the lake.
Sunset over the Congolese hills. Dinner on the terrace.
Day 10
Kivu to Musanze
Coffee plantation tour and tasting on the lakeshore.
Drive the Congo Nile Trail route north to Musanze (3 hrs).
Gorilla trek briefing and an early dinner at the lodge.
Day 11
Gorilla Trek
Dawn briefing at Volcanoes National Park headquarters.
Trek to your assigned gorilla family — one hour with them.
Afternoon: Dian Fossey's Karisoke exhibit or the Iby'Iwacu cultural village.
Day 12
Departure
Morning golden monkey trek (optional) or a slow breakfast.
Drive Musanze → Kigali (2 hrs) with a craft cooperative stop.
Fly Kigali → Nairobi or connect internationally.