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TRACK GORILLAS AND DISCOVER RWANDA IN 7 DAYS
HIGHLIGHT OF THIS TOUR
Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Monkeys tracking, Kigali genocide memorial center, Lake kivu, People Culture, Markets, Butare National museum, Trekking in Nyungwe forest, Entertainments by Intore dancers…
Day 1: 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 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 search 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 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 safaris and city tours to meet your requirements.
What to bring: Warm Coat, rain coat, hiking boots, knapsack, and hat.
Feel the following reservation form for the
prices. In addition to the above itinerary you ca request for tailor
made packages. So why not tell us what you want for your trip.
