9 Days Rwanda - Gorilla Tracking in the Land of a Thousand Hills With Optional Tanzania Extension Tour Package

Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Priced From: $9,990 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Jul

There are only about 700 mountain gorilla worldwide, and you have the opportunity to track them in the cool, misty highlands of Parc National des Volcans. Observe the habits of another primate species when you spend a day with the humorous golden monkey. Enjoy the lush scenery of this still unspoiled land throughout your journey.

Tour Director David Bromham

Raised in the Himalayan foothills of India, David Bromham began his safari career on the back of an elephant at age three. He is a keen birder, photographer and horseman with a deep understanding of East Africa's wildlife and culture. David's experience and knowledge make him a favorite of all his clients, from Princes William and Harry to hundreds of satisfied travellers.

Days 1-2
USA or Canada/Kigali, Rwanda

Board an overnight flight to Rwanda's capital city, Kigali. This evening, meet with local community and business leaders at a welcome dinner.Kigali Serena Hotel D

Day 3
Kigali/Akagera National Park/ Parc National des Volcans

This morning, tour Kigali and visit the Gisozi Memorial Museum's exhibition of the Rwandan genocide. Later, travel by helicopter to eastern Rwanda for an aerial view of the Akagera National Park, home to all of the "Big Five" (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino). Land at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, located amid the foothills of the Sabyinyo volcano. You are welcomed by a traditional dance troupe.Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge B L D

Days 4-5
Parc National des Volcans

Learn about the golden monkey of Parc National des Volcans during a morning briefing. Viewing this primate species is much different than observing gorilla. They love to chatter and play hide-and-seek. A large part of their day is spent climbing the vegetation and feeding on bamboo leaves and shoots. After watching the golden monkey, visit an ex-poachers village where you learn about fire making, archery and traditional medicine.

The next day, you are briefed on the behavior of the mountain gorilla in preparation for your trek, considered to be the pinnacle of African wildlife experiences. After being assigned a gorilla family, begin your tracking with your expert guides, who rely on field reports as well as their own experience to find the gorilla. Once you locate the family, you may stay with them for an hour to observe them in their natural habitat - more than enough time to experience the familial bond between human and gorilla.

Return to your lodge for lunch and a performance by a local dance troupe. Afterward, meet with a veterinarian who discusses his work with the mountain gorilla. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge B L D

Day 6
Parc National des Volcans/ Lake Kivu

Observe a different gorilla family this morning. After lunch, drive to the resort town of Gisenyi, located on the shores of Lake Kivu, a beautiful high altitude lake that forms the border between the Congo and Rwanda. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax at the pool or beach. Lake Kivu Serena Hotel B L D

Day 7
Lake Kivu

Rwanda has some of the best coffee growing conditions in the world. Visit the COOPAC coffee cooperative that produces specialty coffee from the Arabica bean. It is located on the steep slopes of northern Rwanda's volcanic mountains, where the rich soil, high altitudes and abundant rainfall give the bourbon coffee trees that dot the slopes above Lake Kivu the best environment to yield the highest quality Arabica beans. COOPAC has been Fair Trade certified and currently COOPAC specialty coffee is distributed in Rwanda, the USA and France. This evening, enjoy a special barbecue dinner on the beach. Lake Kivu Serena Hotel B L D

Day 8
Lake Kivu/Imbabazi Orphanage/Kigali

This morning, drive back to Kigali. En route, stop at the Imbabazi Orphanage, founded by Rosamond Halsey Carr in 1994. Imbabazi, which means "a place where you will receive all the love and care a mother would give," was established by Carr in response to the 1994 genocide and has provided refuge and hope to hundreds of Rwandan children. Pause for lunch in Carr's gardens before you return to Kigali for your farewell dinner in one of the city's most popular restaurants. Kigali Serena Hotel B L D

Day 9
Kigali/USA or Canada

Board your homebound flight or continue to Tanzania.

B

Optional Extension to Tanzania

From the location of the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra to the lion cub practicing the art of the hunt, Tanzania is a world where nature creates the rules. Fly to Arusha to begin your exciting safari in Tanzania. Spend two days viewing game in the Serengeti National Park, one of the world's largest wildlife sanctuaries. Go on morning and afternoon game drives through some of the park's 10,000 square miles that support every type of animal found in the region. Spend two nights in a lodge near the Ngorongoro Crater, a giant caldera that is one of Africa's most fascinating wildlife areas. View flamingo and other birds sharing the shallow water of the lake with hippo, their massive heads skimming the surface. You are also likely to see cattle and Maasai herdsmen who continue to coexist with wildlife as they have for centuries.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

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