A once in a lifetime experience – meet two of the Great Apes, the Golden monkeys and the Mountain Gorillas. You travel to Kigali, Rwanda, and the Virunga Mountains – hike to meet the Golden monkeys, more endangered than the gorillas, and continue by car for an amazing visit to the mountain gorillas of the Bwindi National Park in southwestern Uganda – home to about a half of the world’s remaining 880 critically endangered mountain gorillas. Due to its rich biodiversity Bwindi and the Virungas are recognized by the UNESCO as natural Heritage Sites. Add a piece of history to your stay in Kigali with a visit to the Genocide Museum and a lunch at Hotel Rwanda – famous from the film “Hotel Rwanda”
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Ecorating: 3.0
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
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This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
Sample Itinerary
Welcome to Rwanda and Kigali! You will be picked up at the airport and then transfer to your hotel for some rest before the adventure the following day.
Meet & greet your driver guide, visit to the Genocide Museum, lunch at Hotel Rwanda, proceed on scenic roads towards The Virunga Mountains in the northern part of Rwanda. Check in at hotel, dinner
Golden Monkey trek day. Early start after breakfast, trek to see the Golden Monkeys – also a thrilling experience tracking their prominent golden fur coat amongst the bamboo forests. This species is endangered and exclusive to the Virungas. You usually stay with the monkeys 1 hour and they are more easy to track than the gorillas. Return to hotel for lunch, transfer on scenic roads to the Uganda border, cross and arrive at your hotel in Bwindi National Forest. Dinner and overnight.
Gorilla trekking day – today is the big day!
05.45 AM. Breakfast at your chosen lodge / hotel where you have spent the night.
06.15 AM. You will be picked up from the lodge / hotel by your driver – guide & drive to the check in & registration office.
07.00 AM. Registration & briefing by your designated Gorilla guide.
08.00 AM (Approx). Proceed with your vehicle and driver – guide to the actual starting point. The driving time from the check in point – office and to your starting point can be anything between 30 minutes and 1 & ½ hours depending on which Gorilla family you have been allocated
09.00 AM (Approx). Start your Gorilla trek. Your driver – guide will wait for you at the road head while you do the Gorilla trek with your designated Gorilla guide from the Bwindi National Parks Authority.
12 NOON – 16.00 PM (Approx). Return from your Gorilla trek and drive back with your driver – guide to your chosen lodge / hotel for a late lunch & probably a very appreciated shower. Overnight at your lodge / hotel or proceed with your onwards program as chosen.
Breakfast at hotel and return to Kigali, connect with onwards flights or stay another night in Kigali.
Trip details
Ecorating: 3.0
Airport: Kigali International Airport Jomo Kenyatta (KGL)
Duration: 5 days or as long as you wish
Includes: Full board, activities, domestic flights, transfers
Not included: Drinks , extra activities, visa, insurance, tipping etc.
Rwanda:
Good to know about Rwanda: Rwanda is in the middle of Africa and has about 10 million inhabitants. One third of the world’s mountain gorillas live here, but Rwanda is also home to other exciting wildlife.
Rwanda is also known as “the land of thousands of hills” and borders Uganda in the north, Tanzania in the east, Burundi in the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west. In Rwanda, you speak kinyarwanda – a bantu language which is the official language and mother tongue for all ethnic groups in the country.
Travel ethics: Always ask before photographing. Bring small bills in local currency to shop for local crafts in the villages. Shake hands with those you meet – a code of goodness here.
Mobile network and email: The mobile network works well.
Visa: You must apply for an East African visa. Please ask us about this and we can assist with information.
Time zone: GMT + 2
Vaccinations: Learn more about what vaccinations you need
Packaging: It is important to wear comfortable hiking boots, long pants, sweets and enough water because it is hot and humid in the rainforest during the day. Bring a day-backpack to carry your gears in. Rain clothes are advisable, at least 2 liters of water and sun screen.
Local Currency: Rwandan Franc
Weather: Kigali
Water: Clean water is available at the camp.
Security: Your security is our priority. Listen carefully to the guide’s information and requests.
More information at: Travel Advice
Ecorating: 3.0
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
Does my trip make a difference?
Read more
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
Volcanoes National Park, Virunga, Rwanda
Part of the fees you pay for your visit to the gorillas goes to strengthening law and law enforcement efforts have been introduced to protect the gorillas, as well as to engage the local community and contribute important revenues to governments for implementation. The International Gorilla conservation program (IGCP) also supports the area with continued protection and research-oriented efforts.
This are and environment is an important habitat for the endangered species of mountain gorillas. The region includes three interconnected national parks spanning the Virunga volcanoes and bordered by Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
In “Bwindi” conservation efforts are driven by the tourism activities in the region. Whenever one visits the forest you contribute 60% of the park fees to the community projects, 20% to improve park management and 20% to ecological monitoring and research aimed at conserving the remaining wildlife in this forest. Therefore you directly contribute to the conservation of the primate species during this adventure. In addition the Bwindi region where we do track Gorillas is surrounded by the local people. During the Gorilla tracking activity you are encouraged to use the services of a local porter or helper to carry your luggage for you since in many cases the tracking can go for long distances and involves climbing very steep landscape.
