3 Days Rwanda gorilla tracking tour

3 DAYS RWANDA GORILLA TRACKING TOUR

– 2023
Kigali – Twin Lakes Burera & Ruhondo – Volcanoes National Park

3 Days / 2 Nights
0 Persons

Introduction

Key
HB: Half Board – Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
B&B: Bed and Breakfast
FB: Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

PRICES

Rates Applicable in 2023 and 2024

The prices from 2 pax is based on the clients sharing a double/ twin room. A single room surcharge applies for all single room occupants

Included

• Accommodation in the mentioned lodges
• Experienced English-speaking Safari Guide
• 1 Gorilla tracking permit per person in Volcanoes national park.
• Transportation in 4*4 safari Vehicle.
• Transportation to and from the areas indicated.
• Fuel and meals as indicated on respective days.
• All Entrance Fees and relevant government Tax. • AMREF emergency evacuation fees
• Mineral Water on the entire Safari.
• Administration fees.

Excluded

• Drinks, Tips, Souvenirs, and any personal purchases
• All activities are indicated as optional in the itinerary.
• Visa fees and international flight tickets
• All forms of insurance
• COVID-19 testing fees

Day 1: Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali

Kigali

Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretches across lush undulating hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1850 metres above sea level. Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options. It also offers a collection of restaurants and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market and numerous craft shops. With its interesting architecture, busy streets, meandering boulevards, and green hillsides, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit.

Day Itinerary

• TBA: Arrival time at Kigali International Airport.
• TBA: Transfer to your hotel in Kigali
• TBA: Arrival at your hotel in Kigali and check in.
• TBA: Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.

Overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel

Ideally located on one of Kigali’s most charming boulevards, the five-star Kigali Serena Hotel is built around a polished granite atrium, which showcases the very best of Rwandese cultural art. Relaxed yet elegant, the hotel centres on the Executive Lounge and Bar, which opens onto a wide sundeck overlooking the newly refurbished swimming pool. Also overlooking the pool, the popular Milima Restaurant offers a wide range of all-day buffet choices, while the relaxed Sokoni Café offers inside and outside poolside seating. The capital’s natural business hub, the hotel also boasts its own extensive conference centre, 500-seater auditorium and lavish ballroom.
The hotel features 148 rooms. Guests can choose from a selection of 60 Standard Rooms, 37 Superior Rooms, 19 Deluxe Rooms, 18 Junior Suites, 7 Prime Rooms, 6 Executive Suites and a luxury Presidential Suite. In-room facilities include 24 hour room service, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, tea/coffee making facilities, mini fridge, hair dryer, private safe and a flat screen satellite TV.

Lemigo brings a refreshingly unique experience to Rwanda. Conveniently located in Kimihurura-Rugando. It is just 10 minutes’ drive from Kigali International Airport. Relaxation reigns here amid a serene landscape. Set in a serene environment, the hotel is sandwiched between International Organizations of repute.
Lemigo Hotel has 97 rooms and suites are housed on three levels, surrounded by lush picturesque views and cooled by breezes from the hills. You’ll be delighted by these havens of space, luxury and serenity, styled with simplicity and filled with touches of Rwanda’s cultural richness. Each is designed for modern living, with luxury bed linens and blissful bath experiences designed for your indulgence, and hi-tech amenities including a 25-inch LCD TV and WiFi.

Located at the heart of the bustling Remera business suburb in Kigali, Chez Lando Hotel represents the essence of a homely, green, family-friendly and hospitable hotel with one of the most exquisite menus in the city. Chez Lando’s environment carries a character that spews of freshness, vibrancy, hope, ambition and confidence resonating from a past of pain and loss. The architecture of the new additions blends with its environment; stylish and modern, matching the new face of Rwanda. Hotel Chez Lando brings past and future closer up to the juncture where remnants of old bricks and new ones embrace. Boasting 82 rooms, locals and visitors from everywhere feel at home. Hotel Chez Lando wants to be a mosaic of culture and colors, where simplicity and warm hospitality are offered in rare moments of enjoyment. Hotel Chez Lando faithful customers are the reason behind staff and management renewed commitment to excellence in customer care.

BASIS
Half Board – Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Virunga Lodge, Twin Lakes Burera & Ruhondo

Twin Lakes Burera & Ruhondo

Located at the base of the Volcano Muhabura in northern Rwanda, the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo are picturesque blue water masses surrounded by the virunga high hills and separated by a one kilometre strip of land. Visitors can take canoe or boat trips along the waters to take in the magnificent views. Other activities include gorilla trekking or golden monkey tracking in the neighbouring Volcanoes National Park, taking fascinating cultural tours from Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, or visiting the intriguing, tropical Musanze Caves. The lakes’ Swamp Rugezi is one of the most important birding areas of Rwanda, and provides a photogenic, serene area to see a number of species. The lakes provide a wonderful opportunity to see people fishing along the shorelines with traditional methods, such as using self-made canoes (consisting of a single piece of wood), fishnets, and hooks.

Day Itinerary

• 0700: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0830: Transfer and visit the Kigali genocide memorial visit.
• 1030: Drive to Volcanoes National Park.
• 1300: Estimated time of arriving at your lodge in Volcanoes.
• 131500: Lunch at the lodge.
• 1500: Afternoon relaxation at your lodge.
• 1800: Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Overnight: Virunga Lodge

The magnificent Virunga Lodge, celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2019, is the luxury gorilla experience in Rwanda and one of Africa’s finest and most renowned lodges. The lodge is perched high on a ridge with the finest views in Africa, overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes and the Musanze valley to the west and Lake Bulera and Ruhondo to the east.
The iconic property has defined Rwandese Afro-chic since the lodge was built by Praveen Moman in 2004. The understated, timeless, hand-made style has been further refined to meet the needs of today’s luxury traveller during 2020.
Fantastic food and exceptional personalised service by our carefully trained staff make it the first accommodation choice for tracking the endangered mountain gorilla.
Each of our ten luxurious bandas has a private terrace from which our guests can watch the sunrise over the dramatic landscape of mountains and lakes, an individual fire place, a shower room with a double vanity.
The two deluxe bandas – called Ibirunga and Ibiyaga – have their own private sitting room and more refined interiors and will also include a hot tub and a larger terrace overlooking the majestic Virunga volcanoes or the twin lakes.

The Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is perfectly situated for gorilla tracking in Rwanda. The 30 individual cottages have been built on 4 acres of land on the slopes of Mt Sabinyo. The stone and thatch cottages each have en-suite facilities, a small lounge with a fire place and a private veranda. The cottages are of a good size and are well positioned to give them privacy from each other. Being at altitude, it can get cold therefore each cottage has a fireplace in the room.
Located very close (about 15 minutes) from the main headquarters of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (Parc National de Volcans), this is a very handy base from which to explore the area and organise treks to see the Golden monkeys and, of course, the mountain gorillas. This is a great location with superb views of the volcanoes.

Le Bambou Lodge is situated just a few kilometres from the Volcanoes National Park, the home of the endangered mountain gorilla, in Kinigi, Musanze District. Accommodation comprises of 23 self-contained private cottages with an individual fireplace. The property was constructed all from environmentally friendly items as well as local materials such as bamboo. The amenities offered are free Wi-Fi, free onsite parking as well as a complimentary breakfast and soft drinks.

ACTIVITIES

Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum

Located just outside of Kigali City Centre in the Gasabo district, Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. The centre is an extremely moving, challenging, educational and ultimately inspiring as well as a great place to understand the cause, tragedy and successful rebuilding post-genocide.
The memorial hosts a tour which is transparent and educational but very sombre and humbling when guests realise that over 250,000 deceased are buried on the site of the memorial.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3: End of Itinerary

Day Itinerary

• 0600: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0630: Transfer to the park headquarters for gorilla trekking briefing.
• 0800: Start the gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
• 1200: Estimated time of returning from the jungle.
• 1230: Transfer back to the Lodge.
• 1300: Lunch at the Lodge.
• 1420: Drive and return to Kigali.
• 1730: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to the airport for your outbound flight.

• End of service.

Activities

Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National Park offers visitors the unique opportunity of discovering the 10 families of gorillas that live within the national park. Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee before the trek starts and will be separated into groups of 8 depending on their physical abilities. Each group is guided by a guide and two scouts who are well trained in emergency situations. The amount of time set aside per trek is different depending on where the gorilla family is situated. Some trips may take as little as half an hour and some taking the better part of the day.