Rwanda: Gorillas in the Mist (8 Day Tour)
- Volcanoes National Park
- Genocide Memorial Museum
- Kigali City Tour
- Mountain Gorilla Tracking Safari
- Lake Kivu
Overview
Rwanda is known as the Land of a Thousand Rolling Hills. It has risen from the ashes after the 1994 genocide and is known as the cleanest country on the continent. Rwanda is also home to about 10 habituated gorilla families and a popular destination for people that would like to do gorilla trekking.
This tour is designed to allow guests to experience more of this small country in the heart of Africa and also enjoy the thrilling experience of gorilla trekking. The Rwandan authorities announced an unprecedented discount in the price of Gorilla permits. To make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime offer, we have put together an eight-day Rwandan Gorilla Tracking Safari from 15 to 22 July 2024.
Join our small group of like-minded travellers and journey to Rwanda.
Our tour starts in Kigali with an informative city tour and visit to the evocative Genocide Memorial Museum. Leaving Kigali, we visit Akagera National Park the only Bif Five park in Rwanda. From there we travel to the sandy shores of Lake Kivu, overlooking glimmering waters and emerald-green mountains in the distance. The Volcanoes National Park is one of the oldest parks on the continent. Shrouded in mist, the mountainous area is rugged and wild, covered in lush rainforest. It is here that we will trek into the forest in search of the mysterious mountain gorillas.. Our tour ends back in Kigali.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to make a travel dream come true.
Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE KIGALI
Early morning departure from O R Tambo Airport for Kigali, Rwanda.
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed. As check-in is only from 14:00 the group will proceed to enjoy breakfast.
After breakfast proceed on a city tour that will include a visit to the Genocide Museum. Arrive at the hotel for check-in early afternoon.
Check-in and the rest of your day will be spent at leisure.
Dinner will be at the hotel.
Overnight Park Inn by Radisson or similar (breakfast, dinner)
DAY 2: KIGALI - AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Approx. 3 hours' drive
After breakfast, drive to Akagera National Park. The Park is set at a relatively low altitude on the border with Tanzania and scenically dominated by a labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the meandering course of the Akagera River. Be on the look-out for game as we head to the lodge for check in.
Enjoy an afternoon game drive before dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Mantis Akagera Game Lodge or similar (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
DAY 3: GAME DRIVE AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Today you will spend your day exploring Akagera National Park with morning and afternoon game drives.
Akagera National Park offers a truly exceptional wildlife experience. It is the only Big-5 reserve in Rwanda and is also home to the rare swamp-dwelling Sitatunga. Guests also have the opportunity to see an abundance of birdlife. With over 500 recorded species, Akagera is one of the best birding environs in the world with the highest recorded number of species per unit area.
The park has a unique diversity of habitats, including lakes, marshes, savannah, mountains, and woodland, and is the largest protected wetland in central Africa.
Lunch and dinner at the lodge.
Overnight Mantis Akagera Game Lodge or similar (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
DAY 4: AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK - GISENYI
Approx.6 hours' drive
Today after breakfast you will depart from Akagera National Park to Gisenyi via Kigali. Stop in Kigali for lunch before you proceed along the shores of Lake Kivu to Gisenyi.
Lunch will be at the Hotel des Mille Collines, also known as Hotel Rwanda.
Gisenyi is a picturesque lakeside town on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, often referred to as the ‘Martha’s Vineyard of Rwanda’ with its pretty shoreline and colonial-style hotels. One of the greatest freshwater lakes in Rwanda, Lake Kivu lies in the Albertine Rift – part of the Great Rift Valley – and has a secluded inland beach lined with swaying palms, enclosed by green terraced hills.
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Lake Kivu Serena Hotel or similar (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
DAY 5: LAKE KIVU, GISENYI
Breakfast is followed by a morning boat cruise on Lake Kivu. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in this beautiful environment. The hotel has a pool where guests can cool down or you can enjoy a sunset walk on the beach.
Dinner and lunch at the hotel.
Overnight Lake Kivu Serena or similar (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
DAY 6: LAKE KIVU – VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Approx. 2 hours' drive.
After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will depart to the Volcanoes National Park. The journey passes through the beautiful, terraced hillsides that characterise much of Rwanda’s landscape.
Arrive at your hotel and check-in. The hotel is situated in a beautiful environment. Appreciate the scenery and views of the different volcano peaks.
Lunch and dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Gorilla Mountain View Lodge or similar (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
DAY 7: GORILLA TREKKING
Today you will have the rare opportunity to observe the famous Rwandan mountain gorillas. Tracking the gorillas through the forested slopes of the Virungas is a magical experience. If luck is on your side, you will find the gorillas, spend an hour with them, and be back at the base in time for a late lunch. Some gorilla families, however, are more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy.
You will be placed in a group of maximum 8 people, accompanied by a trekking guide and an armed park ranger. You will have the choice to hire a porter to accompany you on the trek.
Return to the lodge for lunch followed by a leisurely afternoon.
Dinner at the lodge.
Overnight at Gorilla Mountain View Lodge or similar – (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 9: ARRIVE JOHANNESBURG
Early morning arrival in Johannesburg.
End of service.
Day 8: DEPARTURE
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast.
After breakfast visit the Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund for a self-guided tour. Here you will learn more about gorilla conservation.
Enjoy lunch at the lodge and then depart from the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, driving south past coffee, tea, and banana plantations on a breath-taking scenic drive back to Kigali. You will then be transferred to Kigali International airport for your onward departure flight.
Check-in for your evening flight to Johannesburg.
Dates
15 July 2024 – 22 July 2024
Rates
LAND PACKAGE COST
Per person sharing: USD3 550.00 (± R 65 675.00)
Single supplement: USD780.00 (± R 14 430.00)
To be added: Gorilla trekking permit: USD 500.00 (instead of USD 1 500)
Average rate of exchange used USD1.00/ ZAR 18.50 for rand price indicated. Please use as a guideline only – final cost subject to rate of exchange at the time of confirmation and payment. Flights excluded.
Please note that once you have completed a booking form, the Gorilla Permit is payable, non-refundable,and non-changeable. Correct passport details including passport numbers are required to issue permits.
Included
- Live the Journey tour leader to accompany and assist the group.
- Return airport transfers in Kigali
- Transportation in 4x4 vehicles
- English speaking driver guide(s)
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Meals as per itinerary
- All park fees and government taxes
- Gorilla trekking permit costs shown separately (need to be added to per person rate)
- One bottle of mineral water per person per day during the tour.
Excluded
- International flights
- Airport taxes
- Domestic fights in South Africa to and from OR Tambo.
- Passport and visa fees. (currently no fees for SA passport holders)
- Any optional activity.
- Drinks (sodas, beer, wine, spirits...)
- Medical and travel insurance.
- Tipping suggestion USD 120.00
- Telephone, and personal expenses.
- Anything not listed under inclusions.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
South African passport holders require a visa for Rwanda. For a visit of less than 30 days a visa is issued upon arrival, at no cost.
TOUR NOTES
- Gorilla permits are non-refundable and non-transferable once purchased.
- Prices for gorilla tracking permits, airport taxes and park fees may be changed without
prior notice. This is beyond our control and any increase levied will be for the guest’s
account.
- It is a condition of booking the comprehensive travel insurance must be in place within
48 hours after the first tour payment was made. Live the Journey will not be liable for
any cancellation fees and other losses due to the fact that the travel insurance was not
in place.
- South African Passport Holders require a visa to enter Rwanda. This is issued free of
charge on arrival. A passport valid at least 6 months after date of return with sufficient
blank pages are required.
- Passengers must bring only a medium soft sided bags on safaris. Luggage space in the
vehicles are limited.
- For pocket money and payments made in cash while on tour, please note that USD1
bills and notes older than 2013 print are not accepted in Rwanda.
- SARS is implementing an online Traveller Declaration System. It is currently being
implemented at O R Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka Airports with harbours and
land borders to follow. Completing and submitting the declaration is currently at your
discretion. Please click on this link for more information on the Traveller Declaration or
to complete your declaration.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
- Proof of a Yellow Fever certificate.
- Rwanda is in a Malaria area and precautions must be taken against this. Please consult
your doctor or travel clinic at least 6 weeks prior to departure.
FLIGHTS
At time of print the following flight schedule was available:
15 July 2024: Johannesburg to Kigali Dep: 03:20 Arr: 07:00
22 July 2024: Kigali to Johannesburg Dep: 22:30 Arr: 02:20
Approximate cost: R9 000.00 per person
The above flight information is just an indication with details and rates that can only be confirmed closer to departure.
Reservations
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