The 5 days Rwanda Gorilla and Golden Monkey trekking adventure safaris, brings you to a great encounter with the rare mountain gorillas and shy Golden Monkeys. This trip starts with a pick-up in Kigali, where you will have a night, before you head off to Volcanoes National Park, after an in sighting Kigali city tour with a visit to the Kigali genocide memorial. You will spend two nights at Volcanoes National Park, trek the gorillas and return for your departure flight back home. On the last day, you will undertake golden monkey trekking before you transfer back to Kigali, for your onward flight.
Arriving at Kigali International Airport, after clearing customs, you will be met by your driver guide outside at the exit point, he will welcome you to Rwanda, share a short briefing, later lead you to your vehicle at the parking and drive you to your booked hotel for an overnight stay. Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretches across undulating lush hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1850 meters above sea level. Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options, restaurants and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market and numerous craft shops. With its interesting architecture, busy streets, meandering boulevards, and green hillsides, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit. The city is well organized and known for its neatness and hospital people.
Accommodation: Kigali Marriott Hotel (luxury)
Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast
After breakfast we will depart the hotel and drive to visit the Kigali
Genocide Memorial Center which honors the memory of more than one million
Rwandans killed in 1994 through educational and peace-building. You will be
able to watch and listen to some video clips from some of the survivors of
the incident. Lunch in Kigali and after Lunch we will proceed to Volcanoes
National Park through the magnificent route to Musanze which will take us
approximately 2hrs of good road drive, with a great en route stop overs. The
road is smooth and well maintained, something that Rwanda is well known
for.
Volcanoes National park
Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in Rwanda, the
Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare
mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face
encounter with these intriguing creatures, making it the most famous park in
Rwanda. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic
Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors
to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural
habitat. While the gorillas are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors
can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails,
visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research
Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the Crater Lake on Mount
Bisoke. You can as well as opt for trekking the shy golden monkeys or head
for a canoe ride on the twin lakes. The beautiful Buhanga Eco Park, still
remains virgin and open to visitors, where you get more cultural insight in
regards to leadership and kingship of Rwanda.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After an early morning breakfast by 6:30 am, you will be transferred to the
park headquarters. You will meet with your ranger who will brief you about
the code of conduct while with the gorillas. You will then enter the forest
in search of the gorillas. The gorilla trekking may take 2 - 6 hours
depending on the movement of the gorillas in the jungle and your group speed
as well. Meet and stay with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour. After a
great experience you will walk back to the starting point, meet your guide
waiting for you and be transferred to your lodge for lunch, and after lunch,
you can decide to relax at your lodge at your leisure or opt head for a
visit at Elle DeGeneres Campus of Dian Fossey or a cultural encounter with a
walking tour at Iby’ Iwacu to get an insight of Rwandan culture. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel.
Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National Park offers visitors the unique
opportunity of discovering the 10 families of gorillas that live within the
national park. Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee before the trek starts and
will be separated into groups of 8 depending on their physical abilities.
Each group is guided by a guide and two scouts who are well trained in
emergency situations. The amount of time set aside per trek is different
depending on where the gorilla family is situated. Some trips may take as
little as half an hour and some take the better part of the day.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Today after your warm early morning breakfast, we will be transferred back to the park headquarters for briefing and start off your day golden monkey trekking in search of these primates in the jungle. Just like the gorilla trekking experience, the same trekking procedures and guidelines apply to golden monkey trekking though not so hectic like gorilla trekking. You will later return to the lodge for lunch and later transfer to Kigali. Time permitting, you may undertake an added Kigali city tour to explore the local market, craft shops, before you head to your booked hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Kigali Marriott Hotel (luxury)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Have your relaxed breakfast, and depending on your flight time, your driver
guide will come and pick you up and transfer you to the airport to catch up
with your flight back home.
End of service
Meals: Breakfast
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