Experience Rwanda

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. An arrival transfer is included on this trip. Please confirm your transfer by providing your flight details at least 15 days prior to your arrival and you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Rwanda's capital, Kigali, is a great place to explore on foot - from its market areas to the infamous Hotel Rwanda. 

Included Activities 

Nyungwe National Park is in south-west Rwanda on the shore of Lake Kivu and close to the border with Burundi. The national park was only established in 2004 and contains 13 different primate species including the chimpanzee, golden monkey, silver monkey, olive baboon and the Angolan black and white colobus monkey. It's also home to a great number of bird species. Set off on a hike to track some of the park's primates. We generally expect to walk between 2-5 hours however the distance and terrain depend on where the monkeys are located on a given day. We will need to carry our own water, camera and wet weather gear in our day pack. When trekking in the Rwandan forest, we recommend you wear appropriate trekking shoes and clothing. For tracking primates full length, lightweight trousers and long sleeved light weight shirts in neutral colours are recommended 

Our accommodation in the park is a simple, basic lodge with twin share rooms and shared bathroom facilities, but you can't beat the location - right in the middle of the national park. 

Included Activities 

Travel further north to the lake side town of Gisenyi (approx 5 hours). We will have excellent views of the lake and the Virunga volcanoes as we travel. For both of these nights our accommodation is located on the shores of the lake - twin rooms with private facilities.

Accommodation

Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be pretty strenuous and often humid, but the sheer thrill in coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to 4 hours - up and down hill. We can usually get very close to the mountain gorillas, who are placid and gentle, and watching their movements is like seeing a mirror image of yourself. Your visit with the gorillas will last one unforgettable hour. 

We stay in a local homestay, part of a local sustainable tourism program established to help the local people. We can visit the market, attend optional dance lessons, help in the gardens, enjoy the local food and take the chance to try banana beer. You may choose to visit the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village which includes cultural Intore dances, traditional healer visit and community walk. Accommodation tonight may be multi-share with up the three people sleeping in each hut. There are no showers as such, but water for bathing is provided in local buckets and basins. Local eco-latrines (long drops) have a traditional wooden throne to sit on. 

Included Activities 

No accommodation is provided for tonight, but we are able to book you additional accommodation in Kigali. Please ask at time of booking.