4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Extension

Day 1:

Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali

Arrive by at Kigali International Airport; after completion of customs and immigration formalities you will be met at the airport by our representative, briefing on your trip and introduction to your Safari driver guide. Thereafter, be transferred to your Kigali Hotel. Dinner will on own arrangement

Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretches across undulating lush 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, 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.

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.

Day 2:

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Volcanoes National Park

Have breakfast at your hotel,

Embark on a City Tour of Kigali including the Genocide Memorial site a grim reminder of a senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience.

The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare. Enjoy Lunch at Hotel Des Milles Collines.

Depart on scenic drive North West wards through the beautiful terraced hillsides that display Rwanda’s landscape. Arrive at Ruhengeri, the base for Gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans. The town itself, located only 25km from Uganda boarder, is relatively a small city of about 70,000 people. The constant flow of humanity is quite remarkable. The Town has great views of the surrounding volcanoes. People are very friendly here and although a former Belgian colony (and thus French-speaking), many people speak English here.

Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face encounter with these intriguing creatures. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorilla’s are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the crater lake on Mount Bisoke.

Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge located in Musanze district northern Rwanda neighboring Volcanoes National Park. The lodge is located in the foothills of the Mount Sabinyo, volcanic mountains that make up the Virunga ranges. The lodge is about 15 minutes from the main entrance to Rwanda’s Park National des Volcans. Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is an ecolodge with 30 spacious cottages. The cottages are made of stone and thatch. All cottage comes with a living area with a fireplace, en-suite facilities, and a private veranda. The main lodge area has a restaurant serving home cooked food and a bar.

Day 3:

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Volcanoes National Park

Early breakfast at your lodge

0630 hrs; Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs

0700 hrs; Registration where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff = advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There are a total of 96 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group.

Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs the trekkers of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas; After the briefing trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point.

Porters may be hired for the trek to carry your backpack and gear; Cost, US$10 per person/per day. We advise that you utilize this service.

Trekking can take from two to six or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way.

After the trek, rejoin your driver Guide for a transfer to your Lodge for lunch. Afternoon optional visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village at $ 35 per person.

Day 4:

End of Itinerary

Enjoy breakfast at your Lodge,

Optional - Today you may choose to go for another Gorilla Trekking to observe the famous Rwandan mountain gorillas (subject to gorilla permits being available) Or the Endangered Golden Monkey Trekking or other activities in the Volcanoes National Park.

After the trek, rejoin your driver Guide for a transfer to your Lodge for lunch.

Depart from foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes, driving South past coffee, tea and banana plantations on a breathtaking scenic drive back to Kigali. On arrival in Kigali you will be transferred to Kigali International airport for your onwards departure flight