MOUNTAIN GORILLAS, CHIMPS & MORE ITINERARY:
DAY 1 ~ Arrive in Kigali
Arrive at the Kigali airport. A Mountain Travel Sobek
representative will meet you and transfer you to the Novotel
Umubano for a briefing and introduction to your safari
driver-guide. Time permitting, you may wish to visit the Kigali
Memorial Centre, a site that is a moving tribute to all those
who lost their lives in the genocide a decade ago. Dinner and
overnight at the Novotel Umubano. Dinner... Novotel
Umubano, Kigali
DAY 2 ~ Akagera National Park
After an early breakfast, we drive 3_ hours to Akagera
National Park in eastern Rwanda. Akagera is a unique piece of
wild Africa. The western part of the park features rolling hills
with areas of swamp, grassland, and savannah woodlands covering
the valleys. The very eastern part is where papyrus swamps crowd
around beautiful lakes along the Kagera River. Impala and topi
are the most numerous of the antelope and you may see oribi and
the magnificent roan antelope as well. Buffalo are very
numerous, as are herds of elephants. The birdlife at Akagera is
always stunning in its diversity: more than 500 species of birds
have been recorded, including the rare shoebill stork and the
endangered papyrus gonolek. We'll spend most of the day in the
park, with a picnic lunch, then retire to the lodge for dinner
and overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...Akagera Game Lodge
DAY 3 ~ Akagera - Nyungwe
After an early breakfast we will re-enter the park for a
morning game viewing drive. We'll then proceed to Kigali, where
we'll have lunch, then continue to Nyungwe National Park in
southeast Rwanda. (6 hours driving.) Overnight at ORTPN (Rwandan
Office for Tourism and National Parks) Guest House, a rustic
accommodation on the edge of Nyungwe Forest.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner... ORTPN Guest House
DAY 4 ~ Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe is noted for its primates: some 13 species inhabit the
park, including chimpanzees, Angola colobus, mangabeys, the
handsome L'Hoest's monkey, and various other primates. Today
you'll depart after breakfast for a hike on trails in the
montane forests of Nyungwe. In addition to primates, there are
250 species of forest dwelling birds, including the great blue
touraco. For those interested in botany, the flora in Nyungwe
comes as an added bonus (there are more than 100 orchid species
alone!). Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...ORTPN Guest House
DAY 5 ~ Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, we will drive 4 to 4½ hours to Kinigi,
enjoying magnificent views of rural Rwanda along the way. We'll
quickly understand why the country has been nicknamed "the land
of a thousand hills." These hills are intensively cultivated by
rural folk who live on tiny farmsteads, so they form a terraced
patchwork of banana plantations, sorghum fields, and vegetable
gardens. Rwanda is densely populated so we see many people
walking along the roads and working their fields while en route
to the nation's capital, Kigali. We will have lunch in Kigali
before proceeding to Gorilla Nest Lodge, near the park
headquarters at Kinigi. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...Gorilla
Nest Lodge
DAY 6 ~ Gorilla tracking
After breakfast, transfer to park headquarters. Here you'll
have a briefing by the park staff and rangers and be divided up
into small gorilla tracking groups based on interest and
apparent fitness.
Four family groups of gorillas are open to the public, and each
lives in a very different part of the park. The Sabinyo Group
lives on the hills below the jagged peaks of Sabinyo Volcano.
These hills are mostly covered with forests of giant bamboo.
Group 13 and the Amahoro Group live on the forested slopes
between Visoke Volcano and Sabinyo. Visoke is a lovely volcano
that reaches up to 12,175 feet on its rim, and its interior is
filled with a crater lake. Fortunately, the gorillas tend to
range in the moss-draped hagenia forests of its lower slopes.
Group Susa lives on the middle-level slopes of the largest
volcano, the giant Karisimbi (14,787'). Although the Susa Group
tends to inhabit the hagenia-hypericum forest (at altitudes of
9,000-10,000 feet), they do range widely and sometimes venture
higher up on the mountain, into the zone of bizarre and
wonderful Afro-alpine vegetation. Susa is therefore considered
the most strenuous group to track.
Although park rangers try to keep tabs on the whereabouts of the
gorillas, they are free-ranging wild creatures and can be
difficult to locate. Sometimes finding the gorillas can be easy,
as they may have remained close to the area where they had been
feeding the previous day. Sometimes they require constant
tracking, which can be arduous. Some of the difficulties to be
encountered can be steep, muddy slopes, stinging nettles, safari
ants and rain. The reward is an extraordinary opportunity to
observe the gorillas at close range. The gorillas are NOT tame,
but they have been scientifically habituated to accept the
presence of quiet and unthreatening observers. (You may also
encounter groups of unhabituated gorillas during your treks, but
they will run from you.) Once found, you are allowed one hour
only to observe the group.
Return to the lodge for lunch and a brief rest. In the
afternoon, if time permits, we will visit the little known, but
compellingly beautiful, twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...Gorilla Nest Lodge
DAY 7 ~ Gorilla tracking, return to Kigali
In the morning we re-enter Volcanoes National Park for a
second gorilla trekking session, visiting a different family.
Afterward, drive to Ruhengeri for lunch at the Muhabura Hotel
before returning to Kigali. (2 hours driving.) Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner...Novotel Umubano, Kigali
DAY 8 ~ Departure
Transport to the airport for departure on homeward-bound flights
or to other destinations in Africa. B...
Stay a Little Longer
You may wish to combine this trip with one of our regular group
departure adventures in Africa, our other "Private Adventures"
trips in East or Southern Africa, or other independent travel on
your own.
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