Rwanda Gorilla & Chimpazee Trekking Safari

Arrival into Kigali International Airport. Meet & Greet Services, followed by transfer to your Kigali hotel, for check-in. Offering a prime city center location, the Park Inn by Radisson Kigali is the premier hotel choice in Rwanda's capital city. The hotel is within easy reach of government buildings like the Presidential Palace and the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center. Lunch and dinner on own account. Overnight on Bed & Breakfast basis. Park Inn by Radisson Hotel (Mid-range, 4star). (B)

Morning, depart and head south – destined for Nyungwe Forest National Park. 260km, 5.0hrs. En route, stop-over visits of Rwanda’s Historic Towns – Nyanza & Butare. Attractions include Nyanza: King’s Palace (traditional) & National Arts Museum. Butare: National Ethnographic Museum & Rwanda’s oldest National University. (These two sites give you great insights into Rwanda’s cultural heritage and history – pre & post-colonial era). Lunch at Butare Town. Arrival at your Nyungwe hotel in the late afternoon. Balance of the afternoon at leisure enjoying the sceneries and you can do some unguided birding around the beautiful hotel. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel - A Mid-range hotel located just outside Nyungwe Forest NP. Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (BLD)

Morning, Chimpanzee Trek in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Nyungwe only became a national park in 2004, established to protect its lush rainforest that is home to a staggering 13 species of primates. These include huge troops of colobus monkeys that look like aging hippies with long white beards, plus grey-cheeked mangabey and chimpanzees. Chimps are also the main attraction in nearby Cyamudongo Forest and we were lucky enough to see several swinging in the trees and a young mum giving her baby a piggyback.

The remarkably accessible Nyungwe Forest National Park contains the largest remaining tract of montane rainforest in East Africa. Montane rainforests are a rare and unique ecosystem, found only in mountainous areas above 1,000m/3,281ft within the tropical belt. The main attraction is primates including chimpanzees. Another highlight is the suspended canopy walk, offering a bird’s eye view into the dense forest. After lunch, enjoy a Canopy Adventure Hike – metal bridge 160metres long and 90metres high, suspended across a forest gorge, giving one a bird’s eye view of the forest canopy and distant hills. Overnight on Full-board basisDinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel - A Mid-range hotel located just outside Nyungwe Forest NP. Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (BLD)

Morning, optional activity, such as: Colobus Monkeys Trek or Watefalls Hike. Mid-morning, depart Nyungwe Forest region and drive to central Lake Kivu, for lunch. 130km, 2.0hrs. Lake Kivu is known to be one of the world’s only three known “exploding lakes.” That is to say, this stretch of water has, on occasion, been known to experience limnic eruptions, which are rare natural disasters involving carbon dioxide erupting from the deep lake water. Afternoon, drive north and then east - to the Volcanoes Mountains for overnight 250km, 3.0hrs. Of the 880 gorillas thought to be left in the wild, an estimated 300 reside in Volcans National Park in the Virunga Mountains, a stunning stretch of green oozing with dramatic scenery and lush, verdant vegetation. Visitors will need to purchase a permit to gain entrance into the park, and although this sometimes can be quite expensive, it proves well worth it once you’re witnessing giant gorillas living in their natural terrain. All meals and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. A Mid-range lodge located just outside Volcanoes NP (BLD)

Morning, enjoy your Rwanda Gorilla Trek in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Trekking can take from two to six or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. Our experienced trackers, who have spent their entire lives in or close to this forest, soon bring us up close with one of the Gorilla families. Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical one-hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting; raising their young. Coming face to face with a giant silverback must truly be one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth! A Walking Stick is provided at the start-point – to help steady your trekking. Porters are also available – to help carry your water bottle/hand luggage and/or even hold hand in slippery/steep sections. A US$10 per person tip payable at the end will be appreciated. Afternoon at leisure. All meals and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. A Mid-range lodge located just outside Volcanoes NP (BLD)

Morning, you can do a further gorilla trek in which case you visit a different gorilla family; or, do the Golden Monkeys Trek - trekking the only other member of the primate species residing in the volcanoes forest. You may also choose to do the Dian Fossey Tomb Hike + Visit of her former research station. After the trek, drive back to the lodge – for freshening up and lunch, followed by check-out – ready for your drive back to Kigali. Before exiting Musanze Town, make a brief stop-over visit of the Dian Fossey Museum & Foundation, in Musanze town.(No Entrance fee, but donations are welcome). Then, bid farewell to the Volcanoes Mountains region, and drive back to Kigali - with onward transfer to the Kigali International Airport.

These items form the basic components of your tour / safari cost and MAY NOT be excluded / removed from the tour pacakge all-together. However, if you still like the tour without some of of the basic components, kindly request for customization of the tour. The tour cost includes;

· Free pick-up / drop-off from your Hotel / Kigali / Airport

· All transportation in a custom-built safari vehicle with window seat guarantee

· 3 meals a day / Full-Board accommodation whilst on Safari Hotels, lodges or Camps

· All parks and game reserve entry gate fees including vehicle & driver fees

· One day Gorilla Tracking Permit from Rwanda Wildlife Authority

· Services of an English - speaking and professional safari driver/guide

· Unlimited Supply of Complimentary Bottled Drinking Water on safari

· Lunch on the first and last days of safari with free bottled water

· Guaranteed Departures with a minimum of just 2 travellers!

· ALL Government taxes and levies

These items are excluded from your tour cost / package. You are therefore expected to make own arrangement for some such as your International Flight Tickets, Travel Insurance and so on. Others are available as 'add-ons' to your tour and we shall be glad to include any extras you like at a reasonable cost. The tour cost excludes;

· International Air Fares to and from Africa

· Accommodation in Kigali before or after the tour

· Travel Insurance Cover, Personal or Baggage (Highly Recommended)

· Cost of Tourist or Business Visa and any other associated expenses

· Optional excursions not mentioned in the inclusions and/or quoted separately

· Expenses of personal nature such as phone calls, internet, laundry etc

· All soft and hard drinks (alcoholic drinks, wines and spirits)

· Tips and gratuities to driver guides/lodge/hotel staff

· Festive days supplements such as those on Easter and Xmas dates

· All other extras not mentioned in the 'included'

When you book a tour with us, we want always want you to fee special. That is why we go the extra mile not only to make you smile but to ensure that your are taking home only the fondest of memories from our trips. Below are some of the special treatments you are unlikely to find with other tour operators;

· Special 'Welcome Package' for you upon arrival

· Free supply of UNLIMITED bottled mineral water whilst on safari

· Complimentary 'AfriChoice!® Authentic African Safari Sun Hat

· Free Membership to AMREF's Flying Doctors Emergency Evacuation Programme*

· Signed & Sealed 'Participation Certificate' (adventure quests only*)

· Special 'Farewell Dinner' at the end of your trip (Time Permitting*)