“In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat,” wrote the eminent American primatologist Dian Fossey, “are great, old volcanoes towering almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest – the Virunga’s.”
Day 1
Arrive in Kigali. Off the plane you will be greeted by Akagera Aviation, this is the meet and greet service off the plane that will whisk you through immigration. You will leave for the Northern Province, a 2-3h car journey. In the afternoon you will visit the Dian Fossey Campus, a world class research centre focusing to advance of Dian Fossey’s work and legacy of saving Gorillas from Extinction.
Day 2
After an early breakfast at around 6.30 AM you will be taken to Volcanoes National Park, a short drive from your accommodation, for your Gorilla tracking experience. Gorilla trekking can take from 30 minutes to several hours and that’s why a certain level of fitness is required. You may not know when you will return, and afternoon activities will be planned depending on the intensity of your hike in the jungle.
Day 3
Second Day of Gorilla Tracking in the early morning. Spend the afternoon at leisure or Canoe down River Mukungwa, a fantastic opportunity to observe daily African and see all sorts of bird species up-close.
Day 4
This morning early you will hike to Dian Fossey’s original Campsite in the Jungle - an easy to moderate hike, finishing at Mrs. Fossey’s original research camp where she lived and studied gorillas as well as her and her favourite Gorilla’s resting point at 3000m altitude. In the afternoon you will take a scenic 7h drive to Nyungwe Forest. En route stop over for Lunch in Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu, that borders the DRC.
Day 5
At 4.30 AM, packed with breakfast you will drive 1h to Cyamudongo forest for the start of your Chimpanzee Tracking experience. You have a chance to view their daily activities in the wild, such as when they wake up, and their first activities of the day, behaviours, what plants they feed on etc. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Day 6
At 9 AM you will be taken on a tropical Waterfall Hike in Nyungwe Forest which takes half a day. Spot magical Birds and immerse yourself in this special forest. In the afternoon a walk on a suspended Bridge 70m above and through Nyungwe’s Forest is on the schedule, which takes about 2 hours.
Day 7
At 6 AM Packed with Breakfast you will be on your way to track the Colobus Monkey. You will leave Nyungwe around 1PM and head to the Airport in Kigali, an approx. 6h drive. En route stop over’s in Nyanza (once the capital of the Kingdom) to see the Modern Kings Palace with an exhibition of Rwandan Artists. There is a possibility to stop by the Ethnographic Museum as well. In the evening you will depart your flight from Kigali Airport.
Vaccintions:
Make sure you are up to date on all routine vaccines. It is recommended that travellers going to Rwanda take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. A yellow fever vaccine is only necessary if you arrive from another African country at risk for transmission.
Visas: Are easily obtained upon arrival for most countries.