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Rwanda - The Virunga Primates.
Discover the Gorillas and the Golden Monkeys!
Trek the gorillas and visit the golden monkeys! The
little-known golden monkey (cercopithecus mitis kandt) is listed as
"endangered". The newly habituated troops of more than 40 individuals are found
in the Virunga Conservation Area and they are the only ones in Africa!
- Min. 2 participants. For gorillas the min. age is 15 years.
- You can choose from 2 hotel categories. see the hotels
proposed in the day by day program, itinerary)
- Only the Park Authorities will assign you a gorilla group.
Communicate your wishes to our driver-guide he will make some arrangements for
you! The Sussa group leaves at the Karisimbi volcano and is more challenging
with much longer hiking times!
- Flash photography is not permitted when tracking the
gorillas.
- What is included?
Tour Includes: Airport
transfers, accommodation, all meals, plenty of mineral water, the services of a
driver-guide, all park and entry fees, all activities as per programme: visit of
Kigali including the Genocide Memorial Centre at Gisozi, 1 gorilla trekking and
the visit of the golden monkeys. Excludes: Airline ticket,
beverages, tips, visas and personal expenses.
Money for your personal expenses (average of $ 50), outfit
with adapted colours for wildlife observation, good walking shoes, raingear, a
few long-sleeve shirts, slippers, sweater for cool evenings, sun protection:
hat, sunglasses, sun cream, video/photo camera, a 200 mm or longer lens is very
useful, reserve batteries, films and a torch.
- WARNING: Gorilla
permits are in high demand and need to be booked and paid in advance! Book your
gorilla safari accordingly and avoid disappointment!
Duration : 4 Days
Travelstyles : Private Safaris, Lodge Safaris, Road Safaris
Activities : Gorilla Trekking, Guided Nature Walks & Hikes.
Parks & places : Genocide Memorial Centre - Gisozi & others, Volcanoes National
Park
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival and transfer to Kinigi (Volcanoes NP)
Meet and greet at the Kigali International Airport by your driver-guide. Depending on your arrival time, your driver-guide may
propose you a visit of Kigali city which includes the Genocide Memorial centre
at Gisozi.
Transfer to Kinigi at the foothills of the Volcanoes. Diner
(D) is included in the package. Hotel accommodation at your choice.
Flights: There
are daily flights to Kigali out of Nairobi with Kenya Airways and
Rwandair Express. This makes it easy to combine your short gorilla safari with
another East-African safari.
Accommodation : Kinigi Guest House (*), Mountain Gorilla Nest
(***), Virunga Lodge (****)
Day 2 : Gorilla Tracking
After breakfast, you will depart for the Headquarters of the
Park where your driver-guide will accomplish the necessary formalities for you.
You will meet your ranger guide(s) for a briefing about the greatest animal
experience ever!
We will drive you to the slopes of one of the Virunga volcanoes for your trekking. After the trekking, if time allows lunch at
Ruhengeri and an excursion to explore the beautiful lakes in the region (Lake
Bulera & Ruhondo). Overnight at Kinigi. Your guide will make the necessary
arrangements for the next day. (B-L-D)
Accommodation : Kinigi Guest House (*), Mountain Gorilla Nest
(***), Virunga Lodge (****)
Activities : Gorilla Trekking
Parks & places : Volcanoes National Park
Day 3 : Visit of the Golden Monkeys - transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, you will report to the headquarters for a
visit of the golden monkeys (cercopithecus mitis kandti). A visit to the golden
monkeys is very different experience from gorilla-viewing, the monkeys react and
interact differently; they will keep on playing hide-and-seek much to the
delight of the visitors. On your way to Kigali several stops will be made to
admire the scenery. Rwanda is the country of the thousand hills! Overnight in
Kigali at your hotel. (B-L-D)
The golden monkeys live only in the Virunga Conseravtion Area.
They have been well habituated and there are 2 troups.The Kabatwa troop is
located not so far from the Park headquarters and the Musanga troop lives near
the Karisimbi and has a much longer walking distance. Another experience
with excellent photo opportunities!
Accommodation : Hotel Chez Lando (**), Intercontinental (*****),
Milles Collines (****)
Activities : Guided Nature Walks & Hikes.
Parks & places : Volcanoes National Park
Day 4 : Kigali Visit and Departure
Pick up at your hotel, depending on you departure time and if you missed the
opportunity the first day, you will have Kigali city trip including the visit of
the Genocide Memorial centre at Gisozi. Transfer to the Airport for your
departure. (B)
Genocide Memorials:
In Rwanda you will find all over the country Memorials
to remember the genocide of 1994. The most important Genocide Memorials are
those of Kigali (Gisozi) and Murambi (Gikongoro) where the history of the
genocide is explained. A visit to the genocide memorial is for most visitors an
emotional event.
Important:
Before you travel please check your Tour Voucher and Arrival Information for the
latest joining instructions. This will be sent to you upon receipt of final
payment.
All itineraries are
subject to change without prior notice.
The American naturalist Diane
Fossey (Author of Gorillas in the Mist) dispelled the myths and revealed that
gorillas are in fact shy and gentle creatures, intelligent, sociable and given
to aggression only as a means of defence. We owe Diane Fossey a great debt for
bringing the gorillas to public attention and inspiring the governments to
introduce laws for their protection. She also contributed largely to set out the
basic rules for gorilla viewing. Today the International Gorilla Conservation
Programme covers all three countries, and it is most certainly a great privilege
to be able to visit these mountain gorillas (gorilla gorilla beringei ).
The entire world population is
found in 2 only conservation area. The volcanic Virunga Mountains, which
straddle the common borders of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, and in South Western
Uganda's Impenetrable Forest. Both conservation area give a different gorilla
experience. The habitat in Bwindi Impenetrable NP is a dense rainforest while in
Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) and Mt Mgahinga (Uganda) the habitat of
the gorillas is part of the Virunga, the famous chain of volcanoes located in
Congo, Rwanda and also partially in Uganda.
A typical gorilla trekking starts
with assigning the visitors to the respective habituated gorilla groups. In
Bwindi the groups are assigned when buying the gorilla permit while in Rwanda
the Park Authorities will assign them on site the day of the trekking.
After this formality the Rangers
will give you a briefing of the way they will conduct this fantastic guided
nature walk to the gorillas. They will give you extensive information on the
environment, the gorilla family you will visit and the way you should behave
with them. The so named “gorilla rules” will be clearly set out because it’s a
corner stone in the conservation of the gorillas. There is not only a high risk
of disease transmission to gorillas and vice versa, but the daily visits can
cause behavioural disturbance and stress to gorillas. Please respect the rules!
After the briefing we will drive
you to nearest location outside the park and from there your rangers will guide
you to the gorillas. Gorilla trekking is unpredictable and it’s difficult to
foresee how many hours you will hike. In Bwindi the hiking time are generally
much challenging. The terrain is usually more difficult in the rainforest and
hiking times are longer because when looking for food Bwindi gorillas tend to
travel longer distances per day. In Rwanda the gorilla trekking is usually
easier except for the challenging Sussa group located at the Karisimbi volcano.
This doesn’t mean that you don’t
need a good physical condition in Rwanda. We have seen several times that
visitors had some problems during their trekking. Rain can get you by surprise
and during the dry season gorilla tend to climb higher for their preferred
bamboo shoots. It has to be said that the park rangers and the porters are
extremely helpful and will do everything they can to make sure that visitors can
see the gorillas. We therefore strongly advise not to hesitate to take a porter.
Porters can not only be very efficient but in return you help local communities
to benefit from tourism! There is also a very efficient rescue team available in
the parks for visitor getting in trouble!
For conservation purposed the time
spend with the gorillas is limited to one hour. The daily visits have an impact
on gorilla activity patterns. The daily visits are a source of animal stress and
less feeding are a strong justification for he one-hour rule.
Gorilla trekking is the strongest
animal experience ever! Tracking the gorillas is a unique experience - it leads
you to meet unusual creatures on their own terms and it’s a very intense and
trilling experience! You will be rewarded with a certificate of the National
Park!
GORILLA RULES
Eco-tourism is nature-based tourism that meets conservation objectives and
favours sustainable development. Gorilla tourism depends largely on the
conservation of this magnificent animals. Some rules have been developed to
protect the gorillas and the park rangers will brief you before the trekking.
Please respect them.
PHOTOGRAPHY
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You will have excellent photo opportunities in Rwanda.
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When photographing people we advise you to respect their privacy. Be
discreet when taking pictures or ask first. Some will refuse, some will accept
and some will ask you for money.
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Special photographic film conditions are applicable to professionals, a
non-professional video camera will be allowed during the visit, without
additional charge.
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Flash photograph is not permitted when tracking the gorillas!
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU?
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Money for your personal expenses: Us Dollars or Euro!
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Outfit with adapted colours for wildlife observation, good walking shoes,
rain gear, gloves (nettle stings), a few thick long-sleeve shirts, slippers,
sweater for the cool evenings!
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Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sun cream.
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Mosquito repellent
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Video camera/ photo camera, a 200 mm or longer telephoto lens will be very
useful, reserve battery, films (with a few high speed films – 800/1600 ASA)
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Binoculars, if you can. Highly recommended!
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A torch
Note that due to the altitude the mornings, evenings and nights are quite
cold. During the trekking you can expect both sun and rainfall (raining season)
and we recommend long trousers and long sleeve shirts to avoid nettle stings.
Waterproof raingear is essential for your trekking!
VISA AND INOCULATIONS
Visa: A valid passport is
mandatory. Visas are required by all visitors except nationals of the USA, UK,
Germany and Canada. Nationals of countries without an embassy can obtain a visa
on arrival by prior arrangement.
Inoculations: Yellow fever is required! Ask your physician for malaria
protection.
Security: There are no security problems in Rwanda. After the tragedy of the genocide
in 1994, Rwanda has now stabilised and welcomes visitors.
Safari guide: Your guide is an experienced person speaking
English and the local language. He will be your guide from your arrival till your
departure.
Prices for-
Rwanda
Gorilla Adventures
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