Gorilla Trekking Safari

Virunga

Day 2: Ruhengeri After breakfast, your day starts with a complimentary tour of the city. Named in 1907 by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda, Kigali City is surrounded by lush hills of green and is referred to as the land of a thousand hills. Get to visit interesting spots which may include the craft market, Gisozi genocide memorial site, and Kigali museum. Depart for a two hours’ drive to Ruhengeri area the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains, The Virungas. Arrive at Red Rocks Intercultural Exchange Centre for lunch then join the local brew makers to understand the chemistry about the process of brewing a local beer from bananas fruits. If you find the activity interesting enough, you can join the women in squeezing the juice out of the bananas and drink a glass of juice (optional). Understand how long juice takes to turn into alcohol after adding in sorghum floor. Enjoy the big glass of the local brew. Among other activities, Kubwa Five Safaris also does basket weaving and with a visit to a local community that will be proud of this activity and their families supported financially. Later, drive to your hotel of your choice, which is Garden Place Hotel (budget), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (mid-range), or Virunga Lodge (luxury) for dinner and an overnight. Driving distance: two hours Activities: City tour and intercultural exchange Overnight: Garden Place Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, or Virunga Lodge Meal plan: Full board - lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast

Virunga

Day 4: Gorilla tracking After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the national park headquarters, Kinigi, to meet your guides for the day. After completing your park formalities, you will embark on a once in a lifetime experience of tracking mountain gorillas. Once you spot them, you are allowed to spend an hour watching your closest long lost cousin. This is perhaps one of the most breath-taking wildlife experiences on earth! You get so close to these awesome giant primates. You will stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 700 living today. You will get within meters of the family, and be privileged to spend an hour amongst them. The trekking may be fairly strenuous; up to six hours or longer at a relatively high altitude. Kubwa Five Safaris encourages, for your own enjoyment, to make sure that you are perfectly fit and healthy. They’ve had people as old as 70 years old do gorilla tracking so this should not be a problem; all you need is to ask your driver guide to request a shorter group for you if you cannot trek far. It is important to bring good hiking boots, long trousers, gloves for protection against stinging nettles, some snacks and sweets (for you, not the gorillas) as well as sufficient water as the rainforest gets hot and humid during the day. You will spend one hour with the gorillas, but it is an hour you will never forget. Return to your hotel for lunch and later dinner and overnight. Driving distance: 45 minutes Activities: One gorilla trek Overnight: Garden Place Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, or Virunga Lodge Meal Plan: Full board - lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast