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Itinerary > Rwanda > Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Holidays

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IT01- Rwanda Discovery: Nyungwe Forest, Lake Kivu & Gorillas

Nyungwe forest istropical montane forest (980 km²), contiguous with the Kibira National Park in Burundi. Combined, these two protected areas form the largest block of forest in east Africa rangingbetween 1,500 and 2,300 metres in altitude. This forest is important for itsendemic species and it has a high diversity of primate species with 13 species recorded for the forest. Of particular interest are the large social groups of Angolan Colobus (Colobus angolensis), which may number over 400 individuals.It is a remarkably rich centre of biodiversity, harbouring 75 mammal species, 275 birds, 120 butterflies and more than 100 species of orchid.

There are an estimated 358 Mountain Gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda), Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda),and the Virunga National Park (DRC) - making the Ginsenyi area home to the highest concentration of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Itinerary - 7 nights

Day 1 : Kigali
Fly to Kigali, the lively Rwanda capital. Meet and greet and transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay at the Kigali Serena Hotel (B&B).

Kigali Serena Hotel *****, Kigali
The hotel is situated in the stylish Rue de Revolution in Central Kigali, the commercial hub of Rwanda. A modern monument to world-class service, standards and attention to detail, this spectacular hotel acts as a gateway the growing number of tourists visiting Rwanda and is where the world's elite stay in sumptuous style.
Guest rooms are luxuriously appointed, with a 300 square metre Presidential Suite, six luxury suites, 60 deluxe rooms, 19 superior rooms, 18 studio suites and specially designed and equipped accommodation for disabled guests. All the rooms are climate controlled and feature satellite TV, fax modem points, bar and 24 hour room service.

The hotel also boasts a fully equipped fitness centre, a business centre, a variety of shops and a swimming pool. Its exclusive restaurants and bars cater for a variety of sophisticated tastes - from the fashionable to the quietly elegant.

There is aninternational convention centre, with conference facilities for 900 people and the capacity to host 600 people for a banquet. The convention centre is a multi-level conference facility with breakaway rooms, translation centre, media rooms and state of the art audiovisual equipment.

DAY 2 : Butare / Nyungwe Forest Reserve
After breakfast, drive southwest to Butare. Butare is the cultural and intellectual town of Rwanda. Visit the King's Palace and the National Museum. Afterwards drive via Gikongoro (optional visit to a genocide memorial site) to Nyungwe Forest. Dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guesthouse (Full board).

Guesthouse Gisakura **,Nyungwe National Park
The Gisakura Guesthouse is sited alongside the main road; just outside the western side of the park, and forms part of the ranger station/park headquarters. The accommodation comprises several stone bungalows, each with several bedrooms and a shared bathroom; hot water was available, via electric water heaters. It makes for an ideal base from which to explore the park.

DAY 3 : Nyungwe Forest Reserve
Nyungwe Forest Reserve, the biggest montane forest in East and Central Africa. About 25% of the African primates are represented here and many birds, plants and forest flowers. Here you can track chimpanzees, see Colobus and L'Hoest's Monkeys,Blue Monkeys, Red-tailed Monkeys. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guesthouse (Full board).

DAY 4 : Nyungwe Forest Reserve / Kibuye
Morning in the rainforest-tracking primates. Lunch at the guesthouse. Then drive via Gitarama to Kibuye in the late afternoon. Kibuye is a lovely resort on Lake Kivu and sprawls across a series of hills interwoven with the lagoon-like arms of the lake. It's hard to believe, amid today's sunlight and tranquility that during the genocide the prefecture of Kibuye experienced the most comprehensive slaughter of Tutsis anywhere in Rwanda. Overnight stay at the Kibuye Guesthouse (Full board).

Kibuye Guesthouse **,Kibuye
Small hotel on Lake Kivu. 18 self-contained rondavel-style rooms and a restaurant with terrace and great views of the lake. All rooms have air-conditioning, TV and bathroom en-suite. Swimming is safe and there are boat trips and water-skiing on the lake, as well a tennis and ping-pong. Note: This establishment is to undergo renovation and may have to be substituted with another lodging.

DAY 5 : Kibuye / Gisenyi
After breakfast enjoy the 4-hour drive to Gisenyi. Optional boat trip on the lake to explore the numerous islands, islets and peninsulas. Relax and swim in the clean and sereneLake Kivu. Dinner and overnight at Lake Kivu Serena (Full board).

Lake Kivu Serena****, Gisenyi
Gisenyi is situated on the banks of picturesque Lake Kivu in western Rwanda. The lake is the sixth largest in Africa and the Kivu Sun is right o the beach, with views across the water to the Virunga volcanoes. It is a beautiful three-hour drive from Kigali through some of the spectacular scenery in Rwanda.

There are 66 climate-controlled rooms with 6 luxury suites, 23 family rooms and a room for the disabled. Each room will feature satellite TV, fax modems, bars in the suites and 17-hour room service. Downstairs you will find two restaurants: The Kivu Sands and the Lake View Bar and Terrace. The former is a fine dining experience serving buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with the choice of an a la carte option for lunch and dinner. The Bar and Terrace has live music at weekends and is the place after dark. There is also a fully equipped gym along with an indoor swimming pool and two tennis courts.

There are 3 conference rooms and a boardroom along with all the necessary services and equipment. The Icyumba Cy'Inama room holds 144, the Ruhondo-Bulera room holds 64 and the Nkombo boardroom holds 16.

DAY 6 : Lake Kivu / Parc National des Volcans
After an early breakfast you drive to the Volcanoes National Park. The drive will take approximately 1½ hours on a fairly good road through the countryside with its beautiful terraced hills that characterizes rural Rwanda. Kinigi is the departure point for yourvisit to thePark, currently one of thebest places anywhere in Africa to go gorilla tracking. Italso supports a number of other localised mammal, bird and plant species. This 13000-hectare national park protects the Rwanda sector of the Virunga Mountains, a range of six extinct and three active volcanoes, which straddle the border with Uganda and the DRC. Between 2500 and 3500m, where an average annual rainfall of 2000mm is typical, bamboo forest is interspersed with alpine grassland and marsh; a landscape dominated by otherworldly giant lobelia and senecio plants. Wear thick trousers, long-sleeved to protect against stinging nettles. Pack warm clothes, raincoat and hiking boots. Approximately 300 mountain gorillas live in the Volcanoes Park. Tourists are permitted to spend no longer than one hour with the gorillas, and it is forbidden to eat or smoke in their presence. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla Nest Lodge (Full board).

Mountain Gorilla Nest Lodge: Volcanoes National Park: ***
At the base of the Virunga Mountains the lodge Mountain Gorillas Nest is situated about 2 kms west of the Kinigi Park Headquarters. Set in a lovely rural setting and ideally situated near to the park headquarters in easy reach for the early mornings Gorilla trek registration process. There is no electricity in Kinigi, but the lodge has its own generator. Each room overlooks green lawns which are placed in a semi-circle of 20 double rooms & 2 suites. The rooms all look outwards into the Eucalyptus forest, pyrethrum farms and shambas (farms) beyond. The Lodge is well constructed, but utilitarian: with grass thatched roofs in traditional Rwandese style - not the "rustic luxury safari" style of East and Southern Africa.

DAY 7 : Volcanoes National Park - more Gorillas?
An option togo for a second Gorilla visit (payment of extra permit not included). In Rwanda there areseven habituated gorilla groups that can be viewed by tourists. Each group can be visited by a maximum of 8 people per day. Alternativelyvisit the famous Dian Fossey's tomb and the Karisoke Gorillas research centre (extra payment of USD 50) or just visit the village, markets and local communities. Lunch at the lodge before proceeding back to Kigali. Overnight stay at theKigali Serena Hotel (B&B).

DAY 8 : Transfer to the airport for your outbound flight.

Prices include

International flight (ex Johannesburg with Rwandair Express), all accommodation and meals as indicated, all excursions with car and English speaking driver/guide, guides in the reserves, one gorilla permit and entrance fees to the Museum and Nyungwe Forest (Chimpanzee permit), mineral water while trekking in the forest, porterage, airport-hotel return transfers.

Not included

Extra permits, meals not indicated drinks, tips and personal expenses, travel insurance, airport taxes and visa fees.

Below is an approximate price per person sharing (October 2008)

ex Johannesburg: USD 4573 EUR 3521

ex Kigali: USD 4019 EUR 3095

For an accurate online quote go to links below