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Four Day Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda / Uganda
Trip Highlights
ENCOUNTER endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat - the largest living primates on the planet.
EXPLORE the clean, progressive city of Kigali. Visit the Genocide Memorial and a non-profit organization that offers career training to local women.
TRACK beautiful golden monkeys while we keep an eye out for elephants and buffalo.
LEARN how to make banana wine and weave traditional baskets at a cultural center.
SAVOR some of the world’s finest coffee, grown right here on the hills of Rwanda.
JOIN in a Rwandan cooking class and eat the lunch we make with locals.
This tour has two options:
A) Rwanda Itinerary - includes visit to Red Rocks Cultural Center; trekking permit is more expensive in Rwanda than Uganda.
Hiking and roads are less strenuous.
B) Rwanda/Uganda Itinerary - begins and ends in Kigali, but trekking is done in Uganda and the hiking there is more strenuous. A visit to Red Rocks Cultural Center is not included.
Price: Rwanda Itinerary
We do custom dates and can offer customized itineraries for individuals, couples, families and small groups. Let
us know when you want to travel.
Please contact us for more information!
These prices are for double occupancy.
Rwanda Itinerary - $3,505 Single Room Supplement - $250
• All National Park entrance fees, including one Gorilla trekking experience and one Golden
Monkey trekking experience with rangers and trackers ($1,500 permit included)
•Lodging for all 3 nights in comfortable hotels
• Full time local guides
• All meals included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) except for the last day
• Guided tour of Kigali and the genocide museum
• A golden monkey tracking experience
• Red Rocks Cultural Center visit (basket weaving,, banana wine-making and more...)
What is Not Included?• Flights to/from Rwanda
• Alcohol• Souvenirs
• Gratuities (Tips)• Porters for bag/personal assistance
available for a fee during hikes
Rwanda ItineraryWhat is Included?
Day Two
Day OneUpon arrival in Kigali, a guide will be waiting for you at the airport. We will check in at Lemigo Hotel and then head to ASPIRE Rwanda, a non profit that provides child care and career training to local women. Learn how to cook traditional Rwandan food and then eat lunch with the organizers and participants of ASPIRE. Afterwards, return to your hotel and enjoy a nice dinner (the hotel has great Indian food!) and rest up, we have an early morning tomorrow.
We will arrange for a bagged breakfast to take on the 2 hour drive this morning, we will depart at 4:30am. Upon arrival in Ruhengeri, the second largest city in Rwanda, we will head to the park to meet our rangers for Golden Monkey Trekking! This hike is easy to medium difficulty, with some rocky and inclined terrain. There will be porters available for bag/personal assistance. Once we find the group of monkeys, we will observe them for an hour either feeding in the fields, or socializing in the bamboo forests. After lunch and checking in at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, we will visit Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, a non-profit organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park Later we return to the lodge for a delicious dinner and overnight.
Lunch & Dinner Included
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Rwanda Itinerary
Day ThreeThis morning we will have an early breakfast and then head to the park gates for 7am for our most exciting activity - gorilla trekking! You will be placed in a group based upon the level of hiking difficulty you select, coupled with any of your personal preferences (like seeing babies). There will be rangers and trackers with you, and there will be porters available as well. Hikes can take a couple hours to half a day depending on which group you visit. Once you are with the gorillas, you will have an hour to observe them. Looking into the eyes of these long lost evolutionary cousins is an incredible experience you’ll never forget. Later that day, we visit the Red Rocks Cultural Center, where you will have a chance to meet locals, see their artwork, learn how to weave traditional baskets and make banana beer! Then we return to the lodge for dinner and one last overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day FourAfter breakfast at the lodge, we head back to Kigali and prepare for your journey home. Drive back from the park and if you have time, visit the Genocide Memorial and some arts markets around town. The Kigali airport takes an especially long time to get through, so you will need to leave a few hours early for the gate security and airport security screenings. Our guide will help you through the process. This is a once- in-a-lifetime wildlife viewing tour and a chance to get to know a truly unique and progressive culture. Don’t miss out on this adventure!
Breakfast Included
Rwanda Itinerary
We can provide customized dates and itineraries for individuals, couples,
families and small groups. Let us know when you want to travel.
Please contact us for more information!
These prices are for double occupancy.
Rwanda/Uganda Itinerary - $2,755Single Room Supplement - $199
Price: Rwanda / Uganda
Itinerary
• All National Park entrance fees, including one Gorilla trekking experience ($600 permit
included) and one Golden Monkey trekking experience with rangers and trackers.
• Lodging for all 3 nights in comfortable hotels
• Local guides
• All meals included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) except for the last day
• A golden monkey-tracking experience
What is Not Included?• Flights to/from Rwanda
• Alcohol• Souvenirs
• Gratuities (Tips)• Porters for bag/personal assistance
available for a fee during hikes
Rwanda / Uganda ItineraryWhat is Included?
Day Two
Day OneUpon arrival in Kigali, a guide will be waiting for you at the airport. We will head to ASPIRE Rwanda, a non profit that provides child care and career training to local women. Learn how to cook traditional Rwandan food and then eat lunch with the organizers and participants of ASPIRE. Afterwards, we depart for Ruhengeri, the second largest city in Rwanda. Enjoy the beautiful backdrop of the Virungas as you rest in comfort at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge.
We eat an early breakfast and then head to the park for a trek to see the famous Golden Monkeys. We will do an easy/medium level hike to see a group of monkeys that are highly social and fun to watch.
After about an hour of observation we will head back to the lodge for lunch and then depart for the Cyanika border crossing into Uganda. After we clear customs we will drive to Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, just a short walk from the National Park that has stunning mountain views. Eat dinner and rest up, we have an exciting day tomorrow!
Lunch & Dinner Included
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Rwanda / Uganda Itinerary
Day ThreeAfter an early breakfast, we head to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the only park in the world with both gorillas and chimpanzees. This forest also boasts 5 other primate species, 113 mammals, over 200 butterflies and 360 birds. It can take between 2 and 9 hours in sometimes steep and muddy conditions to reach the gorillas. This is a tour that is designed for people that are active and in good shape. A briefing will be given on how to safely view and behave around these gentle giants. Spend up to an hour observing these magnificent creatures whose DNA is so similar to ours! Afterwards, we will begin the drive back to Ruhengeri where we will stop for lunch. After lunch we continue to Kigali where you will enjoy dinner and rest after a long day at Lemigo Hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day Four
Rwanda / Uganda Itinerary
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Our guides will take you to the airport whenever you need to leave. If you have time, enjoy a tour of the city with a stop at the Genocide Museum and some arts markets. The Kigali airport takes an especially long time to get through so you will need to leave a few hours early for the gate security and airport security screenings. Our guide will help you through the process. This is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience and a chance to get to know a truly unique and progressive culture. Don’t miss out on this adventure!
Breakfast Included
Lemigo Hotel
Le Bambou Gorilla LodgeThis homey lodge is located in Kinigi at the base of Rwanda’s famous
Volcanoes National Park and near the forests of the mountain gorillas.
Enjoy comfortable beds, a relaxing lounge area with wifi, and a fireplace in
your room for chilly evenings. The lodge was built using environmentally
friendly local materials such as bamboo and works closely with the local
community to ensure they directly benefit from tourism in the area.
Set in an urban oasis within the city center, this conveniently located
contemporary 4-star hotel is only 3 km from the airport and will be your
home away from home while in Kigali. With wifi in your room, a fitness
center and comfortable amenities, you'll be able to recover from your
travels and gather strength before heading off to see the gorillas!
Accommodations
Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Uganda)Located only 10 minutes walk to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,
and with a beautiful 360 degree view of the jungle, this lodge is the perfect
place to relax after gorilla trekking. Enjoy the onsite restaurant and bar
and the incredible views in your unique and comfortable cabin.
Accommodations
Your Lead Local GuideGreg Bakunzi is a Rwandan tour operator who along with his talented
team of local guides, focuses on the endangered mountain gorillas that
reside in Volcanoes National Park. In his career that spans two decades,
Bakunzi has been a driving force in the Great Lakes region tourism
industry.
Greg may not personally be your guide, but he is in charge and has
extensively trained everyone on his staff and they will make sure you are
well taken care of and shown only the best of the region. He also runs Red
Rocks Cultural Center and is highly involved in local politics.
Arrival and DepartureWhen should I arrive in Rwanda?You should plan to arrive at the Kigali International Airport
(KGL) early in the morning. This trip is best done as an
extension to a Tanzania safari and therefore you will likely fly
out from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)
What do I need to do to prepare?Send us your flight itinerary and we will arrange for a
company representative to pick you up at the airport outside
baggage claim with a sign. Make sure you travel with a
passport valid for six months from the date of entry and
your visa will be issued upon arrival in Rwanda.
What if I want to come and explore before Day 1?Complimentary transportation to your hotel will be
provided by Gondwana if you arrive early, and if you would
like help arranging a hotel we are happy to help for an
additional fee.
What should I do in preparation for my departure?You can depart at the Kigali International Airport (KGL)
any time on Day 4 of your tour. We recommend leaving at
5pm or later if possible so you can see a bit of Kigali. Arrive
with plenty of time and make sure to change out your
Rwandan currency before you leave the country.
What if I want to stay longer?For those of you who will be staying longer in Rwanda, feel
free to ask us for help or suggestions! We can also offer an 8
day itinerary that includes Lake Kivu and/or Nyungwe
Forest National Park.
Flexibility There are many opportunities
throughout the tour for you to customize your vacation with a variety of day excursions.
Our promise is to deliver travel experiences that enrich your mind, body and soul. We strive to put our values into practice with every ecotour that we create.
Why Travel with Us?
Local Guides Enjoy the unbeatable
experience of traveling with local guides who share their country, culture and customs.
Giving Back A portion of proceeds go to ASPIRE,
the non profit we visit in Kigali that provides urban women with the tools they need to earn a living.
Sustainability We purchase carbon offsets for our
guests’ flights to make our trips more carbon neutral. Our donations go to reforestation projects and other initiatives.
Low Impact Our ecotours leave a small impression
on the environment because of the small group size and the selection of sustainable activities and responsible vendors..
Unique Lodging Feel the heart of the
destination by staying at boutique hotels that are locally owned and eco-friendly whenever possible.
See What Our Past Guests Say!
“Gondwana takes a unique approach to planning a trip and wants to be not just a vacation but an exchange between cultures. One can take part in as much or as little of this as one wants, but Jared lays the foundation and makes it accessible and available.”- Melissa G.
Thank You!
Our team at Gondwana appreciates your interest in our
handcrafted travel experiences. If you would like to secure
your spot by paying the deposit or have any other questions,
please call us toll free:
1 (877) 587-8479
or contact us via email:
Thank you for your interest and we look forward
to seeing you in Rwanda/Uganda!!
Put down your $500 deposit & you will receive:
● A detailed packing list● Additional reading materials about your
destination● Health and safety information
www.GondwanaEcotours.com | Ecotours with Soul
