Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Volcanoes National Park, Diani Beach
100% customisable for you
Congratulations on tying the knot – now it's time for the best part, your honeymoon. Head to the airport, glide through security and relax in the lounge, where you can enjoy celebratory refreshments and nibbles before boarding. Your flight to Kigali, the Rwandan capital, takes roughly eight-and-a half hours, so snuggle up and get set for the adventure of a lifetime...
Wake up, wheels down and welcome to Kigali. A private transfer will be waiting to sweep you north to your first honeymoon hideout, a gorgeous lodge tucked deep in the foothills of the mighty Virunga Mountains. This smooth, scenic drive usually takes around two hours.
A dramatic chain of active and dormant volcanoes, the Virungas rise as high as 15,000ft – a vast range stretching for 50 miles or so along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Your lodge is perfectly placed beneath these mighty peaks, with sensational views and prime access to the adjacent Volcanoes National Park.
Spend the rest of the day soaking up your surroundings. Stretch your long-haul legs with a gentle wander around the grounds and drink in those first thrilling views of the towering Virungas.
As evening falls, enjoy your first supper in Rwanda. Try to enjoy a good night’s sleep ready for the real adventure to begin tomorrow.
Volcanoes National Park’s lush rainforest is home to approximately 24 gorilla families, 12 of which are fully habituated to visitors. To protect them, tourism is strictly controlled, with only eight visitor permits granted per gorilla family per day. Nature’s ultimate backstage pass, today, two of these coveted permits are yours.
Guided by an expert ranger and tracking team, set off from the park entrance into the dense rainforest. This is not a hike for the faint-hearted – you’ll spend several hours trekking across demanding terrain, through thick foliage and over steep slopes. But the final reward is worth every sweaty step.
Once your guide locates a family, spend a full hour sitting quietly with the majestic creatures as they feed, play and interact. Offering a rare, profoundly moving glimpse into the lives of some of our closest living relatives, you won’t want the time to end.
Tired but exhilarated, head back to your luxury lodge, where you can relax over a leisurely dinner and let this once-in-a-lifetime experience really sink in.
Don’t dust off those walking boots yet, because this morning, you’ll head back into Volcanoes National Park in search of Virunga’s endemic golden monkeys, alongside an expert guide. Brightly coloured, big-cheeked and impressively agile, these playful primates are a joy to watch.
After lunch at your lodge, return to the forest to learn more about gorilla research and the work of the late Dian Fossey, one of the 20th century’s great primatologists. The internationally acclaimed Karisoke Research Centre – which Fossey founded in 1967 – continues her research today, making it one of the longest-running wildlife field studies in the world.
Fossey was buried beside her favourite gorilla, Digit, in the graveyard that she’d created for her primate friends. Visit the site with a brilliant guide and learn more about Fossey’s pioneering work while exploring some of the park’s most scenic trails.
This evening at your lodge, it’s your final chance to enjoy a romantic Rwandan evening before your honeymoon heads to Kenya.
After one last Rwandan breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to Kigali for the one-and-a-half-hour flight to Kenya’s bustling capital, Nairobi. On arrival, take a private transfer to Wilson Airport to catch your internal flight to Ukunda Airstrip, near Diani Beach. It’s just an hour-or-so in the sky to Kenya’s coast, so chances are you’ll still be scrolling through your photos when you land.
Finally, a 15-minute private transfer later (traffic permitting), and you’ll have the Indian Ocean on your doorstep. Let the more conventional half of your honeymoon begin:
Your home for the next six nights is a stunning beachfront lodge, so kick off your shoes and embrace those newlywed vibes with a sandy-toed stroll before sundowners and a romantic candlelit dinner.
After Rwanda’s early starts and heart-racing hikes, the pace now softens completely. The next few days are yours to do as you dream with. Diani – one of Africa’s finest beaches – provides the blissful backdrop.
If you’re feeling active, there’s plenty to tempt you onto and into the water, from snorkelling and dolphin-watching boat trips to kitesurfing and kayaking. Prefer to stay horizontal? No judgement here. You’ve a compelling case for minimal movement – it is your honeymoon, after all.
Evenings here are made for easy indulgence. Diani has a relaxed but lively dining scene, from low-key beach bars to fine dining under the stars, including one particularly romantic restaurant tucked inside an ancient, candlelit coral cave. If you’d like advice on where to head, or help setting up a honeymoon surprise, just give our local Concierge a call.
Sadly, today marks the final chapter of your Rwanda and Kenya Coast honeymoon. The good news? There’s no alarm required. Linger over a lazy lie-in, squeeze in one final dip in the warm, glassy waters and make the most of every minute before your return to reality.
Later, after a last leisurely lunch, your private driver will transfer you back to Ukanda Airstrip for the return hop to Wilson Airport. From there, you’ll be seamlessly transferred to Nairobi’s international airport to board your overnight nine-hour flight back to the UK. Remember, officially, you’re on honeymoon until you land. And if that sounds like a perfectly good excuse for more champagne, we couldn’t agree more...
Your flight lands back in the UK in the early morning. Hopefully, your newlywed buzz will keep any holiday blues at bay. But if they come knocking, console yourselves with thoughts of all the adventures that now lie ahead… and give us a ring.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
