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Overview

Tailor made trip to Rwanda

Welcome to Rwanda, in the heart of central Africa where nature has adorned its finest attire. Throughout this tailor made trip you will discover the most beautiful national parks in the country, with countless opportunities to be amazed, looking up to what seems to be a true Noah’s Ark. Hundreds of species will show off their carefree and natural wildlife before your eyes. Antelopes, hyenas, zebras and giraffes roam in the savannah which holds its promise of wide open spaces and exclusive photo shoots for a memorable safari. A bit further, the forest spreads his long green coat in areas where men have learnt to respect natural environments such as in the national parks of Virunga and Nyungwe. Climb the canopy of the forest of Nyungwe to observe at leisure birds, butterflies and monkeys living in the heights. This ascent to the top of the canopy will give you wings, literally and figuratively!
But the most authentic encounter of this tailor made trip will be the kings of Rwanda, the gorillas, lords of the Parc des Volcans, who you'll meet with our experienced local guides, ambassadors of your curiosity for a day. In the midst of fabulous landscapes festooned with sapphire blue lakes, cloud-crowned volcanoes, and bamboo forests carpeted with ferns and blazing orchids, follow the tracks to the territories of mysteriously named species, such as the golden monkeys, the olive baboons or the blue monkeys of l’Hoest. No doubt that after this epiphany trip where every minute reveals a new discovery, Rwanda will appear as the ultimate experience destination.

Feel free to contact our Central Africa Uniktour expert advisor to obtain more information about this tailor made trip in the national parks of Rwanda!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| Kigali
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our representative outside the airport arrivals section and transferred to your hotel. Dinner under own arrangements and overnight.

Day 3| Kigali
Morning spent at leisure. In the afternoon, enjoy a City Tour of Kigali: The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare. Visit the Kandt museum, see old Kigali and the craft centres then visit the genocide memorial site. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda, the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. Lunch and dinner are under own arrangements and overnight. (B)

Day 4| National Park of Akagera
At 6:00 AM, you will be collected from hotel by your guide and driven east to Akagera National Park (125 km/2.5 hrs) proceeding on a morning game viewing drive in this African savannah park before stopping for lunch at a lodge. Dominated scenery-wise by the labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the meandering Akagera River, the most remote source of River Nile, Akagera National Park lies in the north east corner of Rwanda where the fertile green hills give way to archetypal African savannah landscape of tangled acacia woodland interspersed with open grassland. Above all, Akagera is big game country! Herds of elephants and buffalos emerge from the woodland to drink at the lakes, giraffes and zebras haunt the savannah and more than a dozen types of antelopes inhabit the park including the handsome chestnut-coated impala and the world's largest antelope, the statuesque Cape Eland. Lucky visitors might stumble across a leopard, a spotted hyena, even a stray lion. Alongside the picturesque lakes of Akagera, pods of 50 hippopotami grunt and splutter throughout the day, while outsized crocodiles soak up the sun with their vast jaws menacingly agape. Lining the lakes are some of the continent’s densest concentrations of water-birds. In the afternoon, exit with more game viewing en-route and drive back to Kigali for drop off at your hotel. Dinner is under own arrangements. (B, L)

Day 5| Nyanza - Butare - Nyungwe National Park
Following breakfast, drive south to Nyanza, the historical seat of the Rwandan kingdom; visit the Royal Palace which has been restored to its 19th century grandeur and the National Museum with its very absorbing displays of traditional artefacts. The exhibitions of turn-of-the-century photographs provide invaluable insights into Rwanda’s pre-colonial history. Thereafter, stop at the University town of Butare where the National University of Rwanda houses one of the greatest ethnographical records in East and Central Africa. Lunch is at a local restaurant. Proceed to Nyungwe National Park arriving at your lodge in time for dinner. (B, L, D)
Optional at extra charge: Kigali/Nyungwe transfer in private helicopter


Day 6| National Park of Nyungwe
After breakfast, drive into the park for a Forest Hike/Nature Walk then return to lodge for lunch. A true nature lovers’ paradise, Nyungwe Forest National Park’s glorious sense of expansiveness is among its most striking features. The 970 km² of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps and bogs in the majestic hills in southeast Rwanda is the largest remaining ‘island’ of montane forest in East and Central Africa. It is also home to a rich variety of flora and fauna; 200 types of trees, hundreds of flowering plants, over 100 species of orchids and sensational lobelias and 13 recorded species of primates, 25% of the African primate checklist, including the acrobatic Angola colobus that move in troops of several hundred and an estimated 500 chimpanzee (often seen from the forest trails during the rainy season) as well as L’Hoest’s monkey, olive baboon, grey-cheeked mangabey and red-tailed monkey. Bird enthusiasts will not be disappointed with the over 300 species of birds including 24 Albertine Rift endemics e.g. the spectacular Ruwenzori turaco and several iridescent birds. Nyungwe enjoys a cool climate perfect for the extensive network of well-maintained forest hiking trails that lead to various waterfalls and viewing points; all said and done, it is the intimacy of the rainforest that most impresses: the closed canopy, towering trees and delicate ferns that line the steep gorges, the mysterious calling and rustling of birds and monkeys hidden in her depths. Back at the hotel for lunch then in the afternoon, tour a nearby tea plantation; an excellent way of interacting with the local farmers, to know them, hear their successes and challenges and make friends. (B, L, D)

Day 7| National Park of Nyungwe
This morning, a thrilling adventure awaits you on the Nyungwe Canopy Walk. From the park information centre, descend the 40º slant via a zig-zag foot path to the first tower deep in the forest valley for the 1½ hr walk on the Canopy Walk’s suspension bridge. Besides being so high in such a picturesque location, the walk allows access to the upper parts of the forest, where one can see some unique ‘canopy’ species; apes, birds, butterflies, plants and insects, flowers, leaves and other animals that live in the roof of the forest which are otherwise invisible but can now be seen at eye level, or even from above. It is an unforgettable experience. Lunch at the hotel and in the afternoon, tour the Kamiranzovu area and the local town environs. (B, L, D)

Optional at extra charge: Chimpanzee tracking
It is possible to track Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest however this is in very hilly terrain with steep hills and deep valleys. Because these semi-habituated Chimpanzees move a lot, sometimes far, deep and high in the hills and valleys in dense forest, it is difficult to guarantee seeing them. Guests can enjoy Nyungwe’s rain forest by hiking in the well maintained trails and upcoming Canopy walk. One has a chance of seeing some of the primates who ‘call’ Nyungwe home including Angola colobus monkeys, Black and White Colobus, Greycheeked Mangaby, Blue Monkey, L'Hoest's Monkey, etc.

Day 8| Kibuye
In the morning, drive to Kibuye arriving at your resort for lunch. Afternoon spent at leisure or enjoying the resort’s array of possibilities including kayaking, boat riding and boat trips to nearby islands - at extra charge. (B, L, D)

Day 9| Gisenyi - Lake Kivu
Morning drive further north to Gisenyi, northern tip of the lake arriving at your hotel for lunch. For the rest of the day, you have time to relax and enjoy some of the hotels facilities. Together with her 7,000 km2 catchment area, multiple islands and surrounding hills, Lake Kivu is just plain gorgeous. Lying in the Albertine Rift and covering most of Rwanda’s western border with DR Congo, Lake Kivu, the largest water body is one of Africa’s Great Lakes and the 6th largest in Africa. 89 kms long by 48 km wide, the lake’s 480m maximum depth makes it the fifteenth deepest in the world! Lake Kivu empties into the Rusizi River which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. It is also one of the world’s only 3 known exploding lakes; it’s not going to happen today though, so no need to worry. Further economic importance derives from the lake’s estimated 65 billion m3 of dissolved methane gas which is extracted to run boilers at the Bralirwa brewery in Gisenyi. (B, L, D)
Optional at extra charge: A boat transfer Kibuye/Gisenyi aboard the ultra-modern Umunezero boat.

Day 10| Gisenyi - Lake Kivu - Volcanoes National Park
Morning spent at leisure at your hotel. You will find your time well taken care of. You can swim in the pool, surf, kayak, boat ride on the lake, hire a boat and visit the local islands or simply lie on the beach and be mesmerized. The lake is all yours. In the evenings at Gisenyi, visitors can awe at the red glow atop the Luvono hill volcano across the border in DR Congo. It is still active! After lunch, enjoy a leisurely drive through more Rwandan countryside to Kinigi town-ship on the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, and arrival at your lodge in the late afternoon. If time allows, visit a local food (fruits and vegetables) market in the vibrant town of Ruhengeri.
"In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat," wrote the eminent primatologist Dian Fossey, "are great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest - the Virungas". Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, Parc des Volcans protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range - home of the rare mountain gorilla - and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, embracing evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp & heath. (B, L, D)

Day 11| Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast, drive to the Volcanoes National Park information centre where you will be allocated a gorilla tracking group. 7:00 AM: briefing by your trackers then drive to the trail head for the start of your amazing Gorilla Tracking adventure. Our exhilarating trek starts in the cultivated foothills of the Virungas offering stirring views in all directions. When it enters the national park, trekkers will be immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the colourful bird calls, chattering golden monkeys, littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, among the highest in Africa yet easily accessible, beckon an ascent. Weaving through overhanging vines, moss-covered hagenia trees and giant lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate, our experienced trackers, who have spent their entire lives in or close to this forest, soon bring us up close with one of the Gorilla Families. Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting; raising their young. Coming face to face with a giant silverback must truly be one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth!
Afternoon sightseeing around the Twin Lakes, Burera and Ruhondo, deep blue waters ringed by steep hills and tall waterfalls in the spectacular backdrop of the Virunga Volcanoes. (B, L, D)

Day 12| Volcanoes National Park
Spend this morning tracking the Golden Monkeys.
The very beautiful Golden Monkey has a golden body, cheeks and tail with contrasting black limbs, crown, and tail-end. Sharing the Virungas with their big brother the Mountain Gorilla, they face the same threats; snares, human encroachment etc. and are listed on the IUCN Red List of critically endangered species. Little is known about the golden monkey’s behaviour. They live in social groups of up to 30 individuals. Adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch while females carry their young, completely oblivious of on-lookers. Viewing is limited to one hour but visitors can also see the monkeys in their natural habitat.
In the afternoon, you tour to the nearby ex-poacher’s village. Part of overall conservation efforts, former poachers renounced their old ways and became conservation activists. Together with their families, they founded this little village where they now participate in eco-tourism showcasing Rwandan culture. Visitors can learn about traditional skills like fire-making, archery, traditional medicine, architectural design (grass thatched huts that were used for the kings), traditional medicine, cultural dances among other attractions. (B, L, D)

Day 13| Volcanoes National Park - Kigali
There are, at the moment seven gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park that have been habituated to human visitation. The Susa Group, Group 13, Umubano, Amahoro group, Sabyinyo Group, Kwitonda and Hirwa. Each family will usually reside in a different section of the ranges, further or higher the volcanoes. Gorillas are however not territorial and when two families come together, the silver-backs may fight, sometimes to death, to defend family not territory. Spend this morning tracking, visiting a different Gorilla Family, experiencing a different thrill. Following lunch, drive back to Kigali proceeding to your hotel for dinner (under own arrangements) and overnight.

Day 14| Kigali - International flight
Morning spent at leisure or on last minute shopping and packing. In the mid afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight. A dayroom has been reserved for your comfort and convenience until 6:00 PM.

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Lodging

Gorillas tracking guidelines

General:
Mountain Gorillas live at high altitude in Virunga Volcanoes National Park. There are 7 habituated families. Each family can be visited by a maximum 8 visitors per day. Viewing time is limited to maximum one hour. Gorilla tracking involves walking long distances through thick vegetation, up steep, wet and muddy terrain. This may cause difficulties for some visitors. We recommend you pace yourself; walk slowly and drink plenty of water. No one should feel deterred from making this trip. Children under 15 yrs of age are not allowed on gorilla tracking.

What to Bring/Wear and Take:
The climate in Volcanoes NP is changeable. One can generally expect both sun and rainfall during the day. At 1,700m above sea level, it is generally quite cold, especially in the mornings and evenings. Bring sturdy walking shoes/hiking boots. Warm clothing is recommended and a light raincoat for the gorilla tracking trip. We recommend long trousers (thick) and a long-sleeved top to protect against stinging nettles. A pair of gardening gloves is helpful when you are grabbing for holds in thorny vegetating. If you feel safer with a walking-stick, pack a folding one. On the track, carry as little as possible in a waterproof bag: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, your Camera, etc.

Health & Safety:
To minimize possible transmission of human diseases, maintain a distance of 7m from the gorillas. If you are sick with a cold, flu or other contagious illness, please do not visit the gorillas. Spitting or peeing in the park is strictly prohibited. Should you need to cough please cover your mouth and turn away from the gorillas. Do not litter. Eating and drinking near the gorillas and smoking anywhere within the park is forbidden. Photography is permitted, but you may NOT use flash. When with gorillas, please keep your voice low. Do not make rapid movements that may frighten them. Should a gorilla charge or vocalize at you, do not be alarmed, stand still, look away from the gorilla and follow your guide’s directions. The safety of our visitors is our highest priority. There is no need for concern about your personal security.

To enhance your enjoyment:
Certainly carry enough bottled mineral water- at least one liter, and you may also feel like a snack during the long hike so bring a small one. Porters are available to help you carry your daypack for a small charge.

Fees for Mountain Gorilla permits:
Fees for Mountain Gorilla permits are US$500 per person for non-nationals, US $250 for foreign residents and 20,000 FRw for Rwandan citizens. This is inclusive of park entrance fees.
Tracking starts at the ORTPN offices in Musanze at 7:00 AM. ORTPN currently has a team of 80 trackers and anti-poachers, many of whom speak French or English.

Overview

Wake up to a golden glow in the sky, mountains unveiling their mists, the air sweet and cool as it brushes your cheeks. Walk through a primeval forest bathed in green, thrill to the sight of that rarest of beasts, the mountain gorilla, look into the eyes and look into yourself. You¹re here, you are in Rwanda and you've discovered a new African dawn. Discover a new place, a new adventure, new friends and unimaginable beauty.

Tourism

BASIC PRIMATOLOGY
Primatology is the study of primates. It is a branch of biology and is closely related to physical anthropology, which is the primatology of genus Homo, especially Homo sapiens. The fields cross over in the study of the hominids, which includes all ancestors of man and the other African Apes.

Modern primatology is an extremely diverse science. It ranges from anatomical studies of primate ancestors and field studies of primates in their natural habitat, to experiments in animal psychology and ape language. It has cast an immense amount of light on basic human behaviors and ancient ancestry of these behaviors.

Geography

Rwanda is a landlocked republic in Equatorial Africa, situated on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift, a western arm of the Great Rift Valley, on the watershed between Africa's two largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo. Much of the country's 26,338 km2 is impressively mountainous, the highest peak being Karisimbi (4,507m) in the volcanic Virunga chain protected by the Volcanoes National Park. The largest body of water is Lake Kivu, but there areother numerous lakes around the country, notably Burera, Ruhondo, Muhazi and Mugesera, some of which have erratic shapes following the contours of the steep mountains that enclose them.

Culture

TRADITIONS OF RWANDA

The earliest known inhabitants of Rwanda were pygmoid hunter-gatherers, ancestral to the modern Twa people who today comprise only 0.25% of the national population. Some 2,000 years ago, agricultural and pastoralist migrants from the west settled in the area. Oral traditions recall that prior to the 15th century a ruler named Gihanga forged a centralised Rwandan state with similar roots to the Buganda and Bunyoro Empires in neighbouring Uganda. Comprised of a cattle-owning nobility and agriculturist serfdom majority - the precursors respectively of the modern-day Tutsi and Hutu - this powerful state was able to repel all early attempts at European penetration.

Rwanda became a German colony following the 1885 Berlin Conference, although it would be full decade before a permanent German presence was established there. In 1918, Rwanda was mandated to Belgium, which implemented a system of indirect rule that exploited and intensified the existing divisions between Tutsi and Hutu.

Music and dance plays an important role in the traditions of all Rwanda's peoples .The Rwandan people have a variety of music and dance which range from acts that demonstrate epics commemorating excellence and bravery, humorous lyrics to hunting root. Traditional songs are often accompanied by a solitary lulunga, a harp-like instrument with eight strings. More celebratory dances are backed by a drum orchestra, which typically comprises seven to nine members, and collectively produce a hypnotic and exciting explosion set of intertwining rhythms.

Lucky visitors may chance upon spontaneous traditional performances in the villages of Rwanda. The finest exponent of Rwanda's varied and dynamic traditional musical and dance styles, however, is the Intore Dance Troupe. Founded several centuries ago, the Intore - literally 'The Chosen Ones' - once performed exclusively for the Royal Court, but today their exciting act can be arranged at short notice through the National Museum in Butare. A more modern form of Rwandan music is the upbeat and harmonious devotional singing that can be heard in any church service around the country. A wide range of traditional handicrafts is produced in rural Rwanda, ranging from ceramics and basketry to traditional woodcarvings and contemporary paintings. A good selection of crafted artifacts can be viewed in the main market or street stalls in Kigali, while an excellent place to peruse and purchase modern art works is the capital's Centre for the Formation of Arts. A distinctively Rwandan craft is the cow dung 'paintings' that are produced by a local co-operative in the village of Nyakarimbi near the Rusumo Falls border with Tanzania. Dominated by black, brown and white whorls and other geometric abstractions, these unique and earthy works can be bought in Kigali, but it's worth diverting to source to see how the paintings are reflected in local house decorations.

Climate

WHEN TO VISIT
Rwanda can be visited throughout the year. Gorilla trekking and other forest walks are less demanding during the drier months. The European winter is the best time for birds, as Palaearctic migrants supplement resident species.

A combination of tropical location and high altitude ensures that most of Rwanda has a temperate year-round climate. Temperatures rarely stray above 30 degrees Celsius by day or below 15 degrees Celsius at night throughout the year. The exceptions are the chilly upper slopes of the Virunga Mountains, and the hot low-lying Tanzania border area protected in Akagera National Park. Throughout the country, seasonal variations in temperature are relatively insignificant. Most parts of the country receive in excess of 1,000mm of precipitation annually, with the driest months being July to September and the wettest February to May.