Sample life in Kigali before traveling through two of Rwanda’s most beautiful national parks in search of chimps and mountain gorillas.

After a day in the capital getting a taste for local life and learning about the country’s history, you’ll drive to Nyungwe National Park. This ancient rainforest reserve on the southern border is famed for its exceptional bird and plant life, including several endemic species. The forest is also home to several troupes of chimpanzees (our closest relatives with a DNA match of 99%), which you’ll spend a morning tracking.

Heading north along Lake Kivu you’ll climb into the highlands for a once in a lifetime experience: hiking into the Volcanoes National Park to spend time with a family of mountain gorillas.