Day 1: Arrival at Kigali

Departure from Europe in the morning and arrival at Kigali – Gregoire Kayibanda International Airport in the evening. Meet and greet and transfer to the Serena Hotel for the night. Dinner free. Bed & Breakfast.

Day 2: Visit of Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Breakfast and city tour with a stop at the Genocide Memorial – a particularly interesting place of memory and evidence of how the country was reunified and rebuilt in 1994.

Lunch and departure by road to the Musanze District and the Virunga National Park.

This 3 hour trip to northern Rwanda goes through beautiful terraced hillsides that characterize much of the country’s landscape. The road rises gradually until reaching Ruhengeri, which is 1860 metres above sea level and forms the base of the impressive volcanoes of Volcanoes National Park (or Virunga).

Accommodation at the Mountain Gorillas View Lodge. Full board.

Day 3: First day of trekking to visit the mountain gorillas

Accommodation at the Mountain Gorillas View Lodge. Full board.

Day 4: Day of activities and visit of the Virunga region

This day allows you to rest after the first “mountain gorilla trek” while visiting some of the highlights of the region:

Discovery of the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo, two shimmering volcanic crater lakes located high in the Virungas and separated by a narrow stretch of earth – their deep blue waters ringed by steep hills and tall waterfalls in a most spectacular backdrop, the Virunga Volcanoes. Optionally walking with your guide in the hills bordering on the lakes to observe the broad variety of birds.

After lunch at your lodge, you can choose between:

• a guided tour of the Kinigi community to discover the Rwandan traditional arts and crafts, to try the banana or sorghum beers, and to admire the Batwa cultural dances
• a visit to the network of caves located under the region of Musanze

Accommodation at the Mountain Gorillas View Lodge. Full board.

Day 5: Second day of trekking to visit the mountain gorillas

This day follows the same organisation as day 3 and offers you the opportunity to discover another area of Volcanoes National Park and a second gorilla family.

(And you will realize how, just like us, families can vary and exhibit different behaviours!)

Accommodation at the Mountain Gorillas View Lodge. Full board.

Day 6: Morning of trekking to visit the golden monkeys and return to Kigali

After an early breakfast, you will go to the rangers’ and guides’ headquarters to join one of the few small groups who devote their morning to a hike to visit a family of golden monkeys. These families are usually found close to the entry points of the Park, which allows you to visit them without having to go for a long walk.

Lunch at your lodge before returning by the road to Kigali, where you will arrive in the afternoon.

Accommodation at Serena Hotel for the night. Dinner free. Bed & Breakfast.

Day 7: From Kigali to Akagera National Park

After your breakfast, departure by the road to Akagera National Park.

Arrival at Ruzizi Tented Camp for lunch.

Installation in your tent and afternoon spent at your leisure or discovering the fauna of the camp.

Accommodation at Ruzizi Tented Camp. Half board.

Day 8 to day 11: Akagera National Park

These days will be devoted to the discovery of the Akagera National Park and its flora and fauna. There will be ample opportunities to indulge in wildlife photography, and especially bird photography, with game drives in the morning and the afternoon in a 4×4 vehicle.

To allow you to discover the wildlife living in the river and lake environment, half a day will be devoted to a boat trip.

Accommodation at Ruzizi Tented Camp. Half board and game drives included.

Day 12: From Akagera National Park to Kigali

After breakfast, departure by road and drive back to Kigali.

Light lunch “en route” (free).

Transfer to Kigali – Gregoire Kayibanda International Airport for your return flight to Europe or to your next destination.

Indicative price: from £ 9.350 per person on the basis of 2 participants sharing one double or twin room/tent.

Subject to availability at the time of booking.

The final budget will be communicated after establishing a personalised quotation that will depend on the exchange rates at the time.

Notice:

This itinerary includes a number of walks in the forests of Volcanoes National Park. As gorillas move freely in the Park that extends at an altitude of 2,000 to 4,500 metres (for the highest peaks) and the terrain can be wet and muddy, the hiking can sometimes last several hours. We recommend that participants in this trip have a good physical condition and that they use the services of local carriers ($ 15 per day) for easy carrying of their backpack or camera bag. This amount is not included in the cost of this trip.

For people who do not wish to walk that long, we strongly advise to indicate their preference to the driver-guide to facilitate the visit to a family of gorillas near the park entrance.

– 2 « mountain gorillas » treks accompanied by specialist rangers-guides (value USD 1,500 per trek per person)

– 1 « golden monkeys » trek accompanied by specialist rangers-guides (value USD 100 per trek per person)

– 1 morning dedicated to a tour of the city of Kigali

– 1 day visit to the Lakes Burera and Ruhondo and the Kinigi community

– 4 days of safari and game drives in the Akagera National Park in a 4×4 vehicle

– The Park Fees and « Gorillas » and « Golden Monkeys » permits (subject to possible changes)

– The airport transfers and transfers between Kigali and your lodge in Ruhengeri and return and the transports to the activities mentioned in this programme in the region of the Volcanoes National Park in a privatised 4×4 driven by a specialised driver-guide

– 2 nights in Kigali at the Serena Hotel (4****) in a double or twin room with bathroom en-suite, bed & breakfast

– 4 nights at the Mountain Gorillas View Lodge (3***) in the heart of the Virunga National Park, in a double or twin room with bathroom en-suite, full board

– 5 nights at Ruzizi Tented Camp (3***/4****) in the Akagera National Park, in a twin or double tent with bathroom en-suite, full board.

– International flights to Rwanda and return

– Travel or Insurances (cancellation, repatriation, luggage, other risks and any additional insurance)

– Visas

– Meals not mentioned or mentioned as “free” in the itinerary (e.g. lunch of the last day)

– Any extras of personal nature, tips, laundry and drinks not mentioned in the program, etc.

– Any options, extra activities or private services.

Extensions to other reserves of Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania : please consult us