RWANDA – 3 NIGHTS/4 DAYS GORILLA TRACKING AND GOLDEN MONKEYS TOUR
ARRIVE KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT + DEPART FOR RUHENGERI
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by Amahoro driver | guide and your day starts with a complementary 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 & Kigali museum. Depart for a 2 ½ hours’ drive to Ruhengeri the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains – The Virungas. Arrive in time for check in and lunch at the lodge then later stay for dinner and overnight.
Driving distance: 3 hours
Activities: Kigali City Tour
Overnight: Virunga Inn Resort & Spa
Meal Plan: Full board – Lunch, Dinner, bed & breakfast
GORILLA TRACKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK (RWANDA) + KARISOKE RESEARCH CENTER TOUR
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the National Park headquarters – Kinigi to meet your guides for the day. After completing our park formalities, we embark on a once in a life time 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 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. We encourage for your own enjoyment to make sure that you are perfectly fit and healthy. (We’ve had people as old as 70years 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 & sweets (for you, not the gorillas) as well as sufficient water as the rain forest 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 lodge for lunch then a visit to the Karisoke Research centre now known as the Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Diane Fossey gorilla fund. Dr. Fossey established the Karisoke Research Center in 1967 and began her ground breaking research on gorilla behaviour. Over five decades later, Karisoke is the world’s longest-running gorilla research site and conducts cutting-edge, award-winning science on gorillas and their habitat. Later return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Driving distance: 45 Minutes to the park
Activities: 1 Gorilla Trek + Karisoke Research Center tour
Overnight: Virunga Inn Resort & Spa
Meal Plan: Full board – Lunch, Dinner, bed & breakfast
GOLDEN MONKEYS TRACKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK (RWANDA) + INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGE
This day is set out for Golden Monkey tracking in the Volcanoes National Park. Entering dense stands of bamboo interspersed with open glades; you will make your way deep into golden monkey territory. Guides lead visitors to the habitat of groups of ‘habituated’ golden monkeys – monkeys that have become accustomed to human presence. Though viewing is kept to a maximum of one hour, travelers can get an up-close look at the golden monkey in its natural habitat. Adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch. Females carry their young, completely comfortable among onlookers. Return to the lodge for lunch then then drive on to Red rocks Intercultural Exchange center to 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 flour. Enjoy the big glass of our local brew. Among other activities they also do basket weaving and with your visit this local community will be proud of this activity and families supported financially. Later drive to Kigali arriving at your hotel for overnight.
Driving distance: 45 Minutes to the park
Activities: 1 Golden Monkeys Trek + Intercultural Exchange
Overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Full board – Lunch, Dinner, bed & breakfast
DEPARTURE
After breakfast and depending on your flight departure timings engage in last minute shopping in one of the friendliest African capitals, before returning to the airport for your onward international flight back home.
End of service
Driving distance: 30 Minutes
Activities: 0
Overnight: 0
Meal Plan: Breakfast