Rwanda
“In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat, are great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest – the Virungas.” Dian Fossey
Explore Rwanda and immerse yourself in a verdant world of emerald hills and lush tropical rainforest…habitat of that most majestic of creatures, the mountain gorilla. Rwanda's thickly forested Volcanoes National Park is home to an estimated one-half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. This is where Dian Fossey did her groundbreaking work which ultimately lead to the conservation of these gentle giants—a story brilliantly retold in the book and award-winning film, Gorillas in the Mist. But Rwanda is much more than a one-hit wonder—wildlife of all kinds abounds here with hippos, elephants, a selection of other primates and antelope inhabiting its protected areas. Rwanda has become a model for other African countries, and is one of Africa’s top must-see destinations.
Knightsbridge Safaris has now put together a few fantastic packages which can be used for clients wishing to visit East Africa for a terrific safari and then to also experience the amazing Gorillas in Rwanda as well as the Genocide museum.
3 Days/2 nights Terrific Rwanda Gorilla Safari (STANDARD PACKAGE)
Day 1: Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport you will be met by your driver/guide and thereafter you drive a short distance to Gisozi Genocide Memorial, a memorial to the one million people killed in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Proceed to Novotel Hotel for a sumptuous buffet lunch then drive to Gorilla Mountain View Lodge with the rest of the afternoon at leisure to relax & unwind. Later in the evening you enjoy a cool refreshing overnight stay at Gorilla Mountain View Lodge.
Day 2: Early English breakfast before driving to Park Headquarters for gorilla trekking formalities and briefing. Drive a short distance to the forest edge where you start trekking. Walking is quite steep but not overly strenuous. Nothing can prepare you for the impact of encountering a full grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of a bulky man yet remarkably peaceful and tolerant of human visitors. There are no words to describe the hour you will spend with these gentle giants who share 97% of our genes. Return to the Lodge for a sumptuous lunch before driving to Kigali arriving in the evening. Overnight at LEMIGO HOTEL (Bed &Breakfast)
Day 3: After an English breakfast you undertake a short drive to Kigali International Airport to board your onward flight.
N.B: No children under 15 years are allowed access to get gorilla permits
3 Days/2 nights Fantastic Rwanda Gorilla Safari (LUXURY PACKAGE)
Day 1: Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport you will be met by your driver/guide and thereafter you drive a short distance to Gisozi Genocide Memorial , a memorial to the one million people killed in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Proceed to Novotel Hotel for a mouth-watering buffet lunch and thereafter drive to Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Overnight at SABYINYO SILVERBACK LODGE
Day 2: Enjoy an early sumptuous English breakfast before driving to Park Headquarters for gorilla trekking formalities and briefing. Drive a short distance to the forest edge where you start trekking. Walking is quite steep but not overly strenuous. Nothing can prepare you for the impact of encountering a full grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of a bulky man yet remarkably peaceful and tolerant of human visitors. There are no words to describe the hour you will spend with these gentle giants who share 97% of our genes. Return to the Lodge for lunch before driving to Kigali arriving in the evening with a cool refreshing overnight stay at KIGALI SERENA HOTEL.
Day 3: After a delicious English breakfast you undertake a short drive to Kigali International Airport to board your onward flight.
N.B: No children under 15 years are allowed access to get gorilla permits
5 Days/4 nights Breath-taking Rwanda “Primate” Safari
Day 1: Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport you will be met by your driver/guide and thereafter you drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Cool refreshing overnight stay at NYUNGWE FOREST LODGE
Day 2: Morning of trekking to see the chimps in the Forest with lunch at the guest house. Shortly after lunch you drive to Kibuye. Cool refreshing overnight stay at COMORAN LODGE
Day 3: After an English breakfast you depart to Volcanoes National Park.
Cool refreshing overnight stay at GORILLA MOUNTAIN VIEW LODGE
Day 4: Enjoy an early tasty English breakfast before driving to the Park Headquarters for gorilla trekking formalities and briefing. Drive a short distance to the forest edge where you start trekking. Walking is quite steep but not overly strenuous. Nothing can prepare you for the impact of encountering a full grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of a bulky man yet remarkably peaceful and tolerant of human visitors. There are no words to describe the hour you will spend with these gentle giants who share 97% of our genes. Thereafter you proceed to the Lodge for lunch before driving to Kigali arriving in the evening. Cool refreshing overnight stay at THE MANOR HOTEL
Day 5: Shortly after a mouth-watering English breakfast you undertake a short drive to Kigali International Airport to board your onward flight.
N.B: No children under 15 years are allowed access to get gorilla permits.
Gorilla Trekking Safari with Lake Kivu (03 Nights / 04 Days)
Day 1 – Kigali
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your representative, outside the airport arrivals section and transferred to either Kigali Serena/Lemigo Hotel/Luxury Hotel Rwanda.
Overnight at Kigali Hotel on bed & breakfast
Day 2 – Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy a sumptuous English breakfast at the hotel
Enjoy a stunning City Tour of Kigali. (Cost of city tour included)
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.
Visit the Kandt museum, see old Kigali and the craft centres then visit the genocide memorial site. 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.
Later, depart Kigali and drive to Ruhengeri. Approximately 2.5 hrs arriving in time for lunch at the Volcanoes National Park HQs
In the evenings, Optional highlight will be the Intore Cultural Dancers troupe who will spice your stay with memorable Rwandan dances. (At an extra cost of USD 40.00 per person)
Refreshing cool overnight stay at Sabinyo Silverback Lodge/Virunga lodge/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Home inn Hotel (LDBB)
Day 3: – Volcanoes/Lake Kivu
Enjoy a mouth-watering English breakfast at the hotel/lodge.
0700 hrs: Registration is a simple process where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and 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 88 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.
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/hotel for a sumptuous lunch.
After lunch, depart from foothills of the volcanoes and drive to Lake Kivu Serena arriving in the evening. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy optional activities offered at an extra cost.
Refreshing cool overnight stay at Lake Kivu Serena on bed & breakfast
Day 4: – Kigali / Departure
Enjoy an English breakfast at the hotel with the rest of the early morning at leisure to enjoy optional activities. Later depart eastwards past coffee, tea and banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali. Everything and everywhere, sheer green and hanging on the hills; Rwanda truly - land of a thousand fertile green hills. (Approximately 3 hrs)
Transfer to the airport for your onward departure flight. (Cost of flight not included)
GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI (03 nights / 04 days)
Day 1 – Kigali
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your representative, outside the airport arrivals section and transferred to either Kigali Serena/Lemigo Hotel/Luxury Hotel Rwanda.
The rest of the day will be at leisure with a cool refreshing overnight stay at Kigali Hotel on bed & breakfast
Day 2 – Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy a mouth-watering English breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy a City Tour of Kigali. (Cost of city tour included)
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. Visit the Kandt museum, see old Kigali and the craft centres then visit the genocide memorial site. 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.
Later, depart Kigali and drive to Ruhengeri. 2.5 hrs arriving in time for lunch at the Volcanoes National Park HQs. In the evenings, Optional highlight will be the Intore, Cultural Dancers troupe will spice your stay with memorable Rwandan dances. (At an extra cost of USD 40.00 per person)
Refreshing cool overnight stay at Sabinyo Silverback Lodge/Virunga lodge/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Home inn Hotel (LDBB).
Day 3 – Volcanoes National Park
Early breakfast.
0620 hrs: Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs for your first day of trekking.
0700 hrs: Briefing by your trackers then drive to the trail head for the start of your amazing Gorilla Tracking adventure.
Porters may be hired for the trek to carry your backpack and gear.
The cost is USD 10 per person/per day. We kindly advise that you utilize this service.
Your trek again starts in the cultivated foothills of the Virunga’s offering stirring views in all directions. When it enters the national park, trekkers will be immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the colorful bird calls, chattering golden monkeys, littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, among the highest in Africa yet easily accessible, beckon an ascent.
Weaving through overhanging vines, moss-covered hagenia trees and giant lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate, our experienced trackers, who have spent their entire lives in or close to this forest, soon bring us up close with one of the Gorilla Families.
Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting; raising their young. Coming face to face with a giant silverback must truly be one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth!
After the trek, rejoin your driver/guide for a transfer to your lodge/hotel for a mouth-watering lunch.
The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure to enjoy optional activities offered at an extra cost.
Optional visit to Iby’iwacu village is at an extra cost of USD 30.00 per person.
Enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the lodge/hotel.
Refreshing cool overnight stay at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Virunga lodge/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Home Inn Hotel (LDBB)
Day 4: – Kigali / Departure
A sumptuous English breakfast at the hotel/lodge.
0700 hrs: Registration is a simple process where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and 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 88 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.
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/hotel for lunch.
After lunch, depart from foothills of the volcanoes and drive south past coffee, tea and banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali. Everything and everywhere, sheer green and hanging on the hills; Rwanda truly - land of a thousand fertile green hills. (2.5 hrs)
Transfer to the airport for your onward departure flight. (Cost of flight not included)
Bon Voyage!