Gorillas and Chimpanzees tracking, as well as Kigali genocide memorial center, Lake kivu tour , Cultural tour, Markets, Butare National museum in Rwanda, ChimpanzeeTrekking in Nyungwe forest,
Day 1: Safari Arrival.
Arrive at Kigali airport where you will be welcomed by our driver and local guide for transfer to your Hotel- Briefing- Dinner and overnight in Kigali the capital city of Rwanda, at Gorilla hotel or Iris Hotel. Kigali was founded in 1907 as small colonial outpost by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first German colonial resident of Rwanda. The city has made tremendous progress since 1994 genocide. Considered one of the safest and friendliest of African capitals, Kigali is blessed with a moderate high altitude climate. It is inhabited by approximately 1 million people who now enjoy the benefits of peace. You will be pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it feels to be among the gentle people of Rwanda who will be delighted to welcome you to their beautiful, exceptionally friendly country.
Day 2: Discovering Kigali and it’s surrounding and Transfer to Kinigi after visiting the Kigali genocide memorial center- Stay night at Muhabura Hotel or Kinigi Guest house,
The exhibition in the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre tells the history of Rwanda leading up to genocide in 1994 and catalogues the details of the genocide using photographs, video, written accounts and a range of artifacts. It includes personal testimonies and a moving memorial to the children of the Rwandan genocide. The exhibition also has a section called “wasted lives”, which reflects on the holocausts and genocides in Armenia, South-West Africa, Bosnia and Cambodia. The Kigali Memorial Centre has gained a word-wide reputation for the powerful exhibition and its work in promoting peace; take your time to absorb its important message.
After lunch we proceed to Kinigi, the home of mountain gorillas, passing through magnificent views of the beautiful, hilly countryside which gives Rwanda its name as “a country of a thousand hills”-
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking - Stay night at Muhabura Hotel or Kinigi Guest house.
Trekking in the forest on the edge of the Virunga mountain chain
to find one of the last mountain gorilla families in the world.
After Gorillas trek- visitors
may choose to go on walks in villages surrounding the park and interact with
local people Make an optional visit to Ruhengeri Market, providing you with an
opportunity to explore and buy local produce and Rwandan fabrics. Take some
time to haggle for bananas and pineapples and have fun with the friendly,
helpful stall holders. We can organize optional traditional dance lessons to
experience local culture and learn how it is embedded in the Rwandan
traditions. Other optional trips include a visit a local household and
experience local lifestyle, or a trip to the learn how to make local banana
beer. Well worth a taste! You may also wish to visit the twin lakes Burera and
Ruhondo and marvel at the breathtaking views of the Virunga mountain chain.
Day 4: Lake Kivu and Nyungwe National Park- Night at Gisakura Guest house.
After breakfast we go on to Nyungwe Forest via Gisenyi to view
Lake Kivu, with a stopover for lunch in Kibuye. We aim to arrive at the Nyungwe
Forest Park Headquarters late in the afternoon where we will check in at
Gisakura Guest House for the night.
Lake Kivu is a large deposit of fresh water that
marks the western border with DR Congo and one of the Great Lakes of Africa.
The lake lies in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley and
empties into the Ruzizi River, flowing southwards into Lake Tanganyika. Beneath
the lake lie vast reserves of approximately 55 billion cubic of dissolved
methane gas now being exploited. Lake Kivu tour is a wonderful tourist centre and is
safe to swim so bring your swimming kit for a quick lunchtime dip. There are
many stunning beaches, gorgeous landscapes and the sunsets are regularly
stunning.
Day 5: Primate Trekking- Night at Gisakura Guest house.
After a very breakfast we begin our trek into the forest to trek for chimpanzees, hundred-strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angolan Colobus monkeys, as well as the handsome L’hoest monkeys.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a rain forest that is home to 13 different primate species, including humankind’s closest living relative the chimpanzee, in addition to the L’hoest monkeys and the largest known troop of agile Angolan Colobus in the world. Nyungwe Forest is home to some 25% of the African primate species! There are l’hoest monkeys and blue monkeys present and often observed around Uwinka, requiring less strenuous hiking. In addition to these important primate species Nyungwe Forest is alive with a huge floral diversity including at least 140 orchid species. The tall primary forest covers much of the fertile land, bamboo grows on the higher ridges while there are flooded forests and marsh habitats to the south of the National Park. Such diverse habitats attract an enormous range of plant, insect, bird and mammalian species, making Nyungwe a premier destination in East Africa for naturalists.
Day 6: Butare Museum and Nyanza.
After breakfast we travel to Butare where we visit the Butare Museum- After touring the exhibits at the museum, entertainment is provided by Rwandan traditional dancer called ‘’Intore’’ After lunch we drive to Nyanza, the historical seat of the ancient Rwandan kings where we visit the Palace and enjoy some traditional story-telling by some of the village elders. We then proceed on to Kigali for the night.
The “Intore”, once the
elite of the traditional Rwanda army, were not only trained as expert warriors
but also in high jump and dance. They were known for their remarkable technique
allowing them to jump almost 2.5 metres. The Intore gained an international
reputation as dancers in 1958 when they performed at the World Expo held in
Brussels. Today Intore dancers are part of the rich Rwanda folklore. The
warriors dance is a jewel of the choreographic heritage of Rwanda. Dressed with
a lion mane made of sisal fibre, and little bells on each ankle, the warriors
dance, accompanied by wonderful drummers and a beautiful choir, is a thrilling
rhythm. Throughout the Intore ballet, physical confrontation turns into
artistic rivalry and then at “the end” comes out into a vigorous hug of the
warriors. This is the most artistic gesture of friendship mutual aid and
protection.
Day 7: Kigali and transfer
at the airport.
After breakfast there is time for a last-minute shopping trip in Kigali before transferring to the airport for our personal good-byes and your departing flight.
NOTE/ Clients who choose to stay in Rwanda for more days at the end of their safari are free to do so. We can arrange hotel accommodation for your extended stay. Should you wish to spend more time exploring Rwanda, Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania, we can arrange further East African safaris and city tours to meet your requirements.
For gorilla trekking in Bwindi Visit Uganda gorilla tracking packages site www.gorillatrekkinguganda.com
