Glimpese of Gorillas

6 days—Best of Rwanda

$2865-3718 USD

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Safari summary

About this tour

	Tour type	Set-date, set-itinerary, group
	Main focus	Primate trekking
	Activity level	Moderate activity
	Best months
	Countries	Rwanda
	Parks	Volcanoes

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 Arrive in Kigali - Ruhengeri On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met and briefed on your upcoming safari. You then take a scenic drive towards the north-west, through beautiful terraced hillsides that display Rwanda’s landscape. You arrive in Ruhengeri, the base for gorilla trekking at the Park National des Volcano. The town itself, located only 25 km from the Uganda border is relatively a small city of about 70,000 people. The constant flow of humanity here is quite remarkable. The town offers great views of the surrounding volcanoes. People are very friendly here and although it was a former Belgian colony (and thus French-speaking) many people speak English here as well. Meals: Lunch, Dinne

Day 2

Virunga | Volcanoes

Day 2 Ruhengeri; Trek & Safari At 06:30 am in the morning, you will be dropped to the Volcanoes National Park. Around 07:00 am, after completing the registration, the park staff will determine which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff will discuss your fitness level and advise you on the trekking times and conditions depending on their location of certain groups in the park. There is a total of 80 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group. Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs on trekking procedures as well as the "do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers will return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point. Porters may be hired for the trek to carry your backpack and gear - the cost is US$10 per person/per day. It is strongly advised that you utilize this service. Trekking can take from two to six or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them. The guides will stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. The afternoon is at leisure to relax or visit the twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, where deep blue waters are surrounded by steep hills, towering waterfalls and the nearby Virunga Volcanoes. This is a great spot to visit after gorilla trekking and should not be missed. These beautiful twin lakes are located at over 7000 ft above sea level at the base of the Muhabura volcano and close to the Rwanda - Ugandan border. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 3

Day 3 Ruhengiri - Gisenyi After an early breakfast at your lodge, the morning is at leisure to relax or join in on the excursions at the park (at an additional cost). Later, you depart from the foothills and drive to Gisenyi, in the north-westernmost province on the shores of Lake Kivu in the Albertine (western) Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valleys. The lake is a 2650 square kilometer freshwater expanse. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 4

Day 4 Gisenyi The Lake Kivu, an extraordinarily beautiful inland sea, lined with swaying palms and colonial-era hotels, exudes an atmosphere of tropical languor. It offers the most serene environment within the central African Region and boasts of a beautiful sandy beach. This lake is the largest of all lakes that fill the valleys of Rwanda. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Day 5 Gisenyi - Kigali The morning is at leisure at Lake Kivu Serena with optional activities to explore (at an additional cost). In the afternoon, you drive to Kigali City. The journey takes you back to Ruhengeri through the beautiful terraced hillsides that display Rwanda’s landscape.

Day 6

Day 6 Departure from Kigali Today, you can take an optional tour of Kigali city, the capital of Rwanda or you can depart directly to the airport to catch your flight home. Meals: Breakfast.

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