Description
Day -1 > SECTOR : ARRIVE KIGALI AND TRAVEL TO RUHENGERI
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by a professional 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 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 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 your hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Driving distance: 2 hours
- Activities: City Tour + Intercultural Exchange
- Overnight: Garden Place Hotel | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Virunga Lodge
- Meal Plan: Full board – Lunch, Dinner, bed & breakfast
Day -2 > SECTOR : GORILLA TRACKING
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 are 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 hotel for lunch and later dinner and overnight.
- Driving distance: 45 minutes
- Activities: 1 Gorilla Trek
- Overnight: Garden Place Hotel | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Virunga Lodge
- Meal Plan: Full board – Lunch, Dinner, bed & breakfast
Day -3 > SECTOR : SECOND GORILLA TREK AND TRAVEL TO KIGALI
Today after an early breakfast, you will be driven to the National Park headquarters – Kinigi to meet your guides for the day for your second gorilla trekking experience. Mountain gorillas do not survive in captivity, which is why they are not seen in zoos and meeting them in the undergrowth is an inspiring moment. Quietly chewing away at their vegetarian delicacies, they seem like a marooned human family. The tender grooming and firm disciplining of their offspring seems all too familiar. The gorilla family cast a wary glance at the sudden human intrusion into their private world, but is comforted by the clucking made by the trackers. When provoked, the noisy but harmless silverback grunts, screeches, bares his fangs and beats his chest, before slithering off with attendant females, offspring and other mature males. Later return to your hotel to freshen up then have lunch. You will then be transferred to Kigali town in the afternoon for overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis.
- Driving distance: 2 hrs
- Activities: 1 Gorilla Trek
- Overnight: Overnight: Great Seasons Hotel | Lemigo Hotel | Kigali Serena Hotel
- Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast
Day -4 > SECTOR : CITY TOUR AND SHOPPING + DEPART
After breakfast you will depart for a 2 hours’ drive to Kigali. Engage in last minute shopping in one of the friendliest African capitals, before returning to the airport for your onward international flight back home.
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- Meal Plan: Breakfast
- Driving distance: 15 Minutes
- Activities: City tour
- Meal Plan: Breakfast
