See Another Africa - Rwanda #1:

Rwanda's Mountain Gorillas x 5 days/4 Nights
Includes two gorilla tracking permits.

Facts:

• Departing from: Arusha, Northern Tanzania
• Transport: private 4 x 4 vehicle
• Accommodation: hotels; lodges, guesthouses are all options.
• Adventure meter: high
• Suitable for: everyone; certain level of physical fitness is required.
• When to go: 1) June through September and 2) December through March are best.

Summary:

See another Africa after your northern circuit safari in Tanzania. Rwandair flies between Kilimanjaro International Airport (Arusha, Tanzania) and Kigali, Rwanda's capital. Variations of this safari are possible. For example, add a day and explore the Lake Kivu area.

Program:

Day One: Arrive Kigali, transfer immediately to Ruhengiri town, a two + hour leisurely drive, gateway to Volcanoes National Park.

Day Two: Drive to park headquarters at 07:00 where you are assigned a golden monkey group to track. Upon sighting the monkeys, you remain with them for some time before returning to park headquarters where your driver is waiting for you. Return to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, take a tour of ex-poacher's village were you will learn about the traditional methods of fire-making, archery and traditional medicines and dancing. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day Three: Drive to park headquarters at 07:00 where you are assigned a mountain gorilla group to track. Upon sighting the gorillas, you remain with them for some time before returning to park headquarters where your driver is waiting for you. Return to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, take a scenic drive around the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day Four: Second morning of gorilla tracking. Return to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, return to Kigali. At 19:00 you are picked up from your hotel and taken for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Price: $2161 USD pp, based on two people sharing, using Mountain Gorilla View Hotel in Ruhengiri and Kigali Serena in Kigali. Upgrades to Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Ruhengiri are possible. Includes: meet and greet with all airport transfers; exclusive use of 4 x 4 vehicle; full board at Mountain Gorilla View Hotel; bed and breakfast at Kigali Serena and farewell dinner in Kigali; park entrance fees; Kigali tour, visits to twin lakes and ex-poacher's village; services of professional trackers/guides while in the park; bottled drinking water in the vehicle; personal driver/guide/translator throughout; Flying Doctors evacuation service. Excludes: 1000 USD for two gorilla tracking permits (500.00 USD pp for one visit); 100 USD golden monkey tracking permit; flights to Rwanda; visa; gratuities; items of a personal nature; beverages other than water. Average cost of Tanzania – Rwanda return with Rwandair is $600 USD.

A seven day Rwanda tour includes the royal palace at Nyanza; the Nyungwe forest and its colobus monkeys and nearby tea plantations; an overnight stay at Gisenyi, Lake Kivu; Volcanoes National Park and one visit each to the golden monkeys and mountain gorillas; and city tour of Kigali.