Gorilla safaris in Rwanda
| country: | Rwanda |
| departures: | 2009: 18 Jan, 22 Feb, 7 Jun, 5 Jul, 2 Aug, 30 Aug, 27 Sep, 25 Oct, 20 Dec 2010: 3 Jan, 7 Feb, 7 Mar |
| price: | From £1585 (7 days) excluding flights, based on 2 people sharing. Price includes trekking permits. Single supplement available. Max group size on this trip is 7 |
read 2 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
A truly breathtaking experience...
There are no words that can accurately describe the emotions experienced when you come face to face with the majestic mountain gorilla. Spending an hour with these highly endangered primates will etch itself indelibly onto your soul and your psyche. Once you have gazed into the eyes of these beautiful creatures, you will not see life in the same way again.
Another wildlife encounter awaits as you travel into Nyungwe Forest, home to one-fifth of all African primates. Here you will spend a day trekking and on the lookout for chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and much more. Amazing wildlife experiences combined with the incredible spirit of the Rwandan people ensure this is the safari of a lifetime.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
Includes: tour leader, arrival transfer, accomodation (2 nights comfortable hotel, 4 nights local guesthouse), most meals (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners), transport and game activities.
There are no words that can accurately describe the emotions experienced when you come face to face with the majestic mountain gorilla. Spending an hour with these highly endangered primates will etch itself indelibly onto your soul and your psyche. Once you have gazed into the eyes of these beautiful creatures, you will not see life in the same way again.
Another wildlife encounter awaits as you travel into Nyungwe Forest, home to one-fifth of all African primates. Here you will spend a day trekking and on the lookout for chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and much more. Amazing wildlife experiences combined with the incredible spirit of the Rwandan people ensure this is the safari of a lifetime.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
Includes: tour leader, arrival transfer, accomodation (2 nights comfortable hotel, 4 nights local guesthouse), most meals (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners), transport and game activities.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive in Kigali and the tour starts with a drive through the verdant rolling hills of Rwanda as we drive to Gorillas Nest, Ruhengeri. |
| Day 2: | Gorilla trek in Parc National des Volcans. 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 Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| Day 3: | Optional second gorilla trek or trek to Dian Fossey’s grave or trek with Golden Monkeys. Return to Kigali. |
| Day 4: | Drive to Nyungwe. Visit to Butare Museum en route. Built in the 1990's, it is an excellent source of the cultural history of Rwanda's people as well as the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The visit to Butare is an important part of this tour. To understand and appreciate the incredible resiliance and beauty of the Rwandan people one must understand the sheer horror and brutality of the genocide. |
| Day 5: | Chimp trek in Nyungwe Forest National Park. The park is one of the largest montane forest remaining in east and central Africa. Nyungwe, celebrated for its rich variety of flora and fauna, is a rich and ancient centre of unparalleled biodiversty and natural wonders. |
| Day 6: | Visit tea estate and Kings Boma en route back to Kigali. |
| Day 7: | Visit to Kigali Genocide Museum. The museum was opened in 2004 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide and will be an emotionally moving and important way to understand the sheer courage and resiliance of this beautiful, tiny nation. Trip ends in Kigali in the afternoon. |
travellers' tales
The Gorilla Trek when we met the Gorilla group was the most memorable. It was incredible to be so close to them and watch them in their natural habitat. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
|
Search for endangered primates in Rwanda with the help of local eyes, as your tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the rich tapestry of this veritable Garden of Eden. From traversing through the forest looking for magnificent mountain gorillas and golden monkeys to a more challenging search for chimpanzees, this amazing experience ensures that travellers become acutely aware of the importance of conservation and also become ambassadors for the continual protection of wildlife and wilderness the world over, so that future generations can continue to appreciate them.
 A visit to Butare is also an important part of this tour, as it helps us to understand and appreciate the incredible resilience displayed by the Rwandan people, who only recently endured the sheer horror and brutality of a period of genocide. In their continuous support of tourism in Rwanda this operator is training their tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |