9 DAYS - CAMPING IN THE MIST, HIDDEN TREASURES & THE PARADISE

Gorilla Trekking
Trekking Mountain Gorillas in Parc National des Volcans is one of the most memorable experiences of a life time. There are seven gorilla groups habituated for tourism. Parc National des Volcans is well known for its undulating volcanoes that give a spectacular view of Mount Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura.

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali Rwanda – Transfer to Gorillas Nest in Ruhengeri for early arrivals or Serena Hotel for late arrivals
Arrive at Kigali International Airport and be greeted by our professional and local guides. After a quick rest in your hotel room, you will be given a briefing on the trip for those who are spending the night in Kigali. For those continuing to Ruhengeri, the journey will start after a lunch break in Kigali. A full briefing on the trip will be given over dinner at the Mountain Gorillas Nest hotel.
Overnight camping in Kigali/ Kinigi (B, L, D)

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Parc National des Volcans
Early morning drive to Ruhengeri, for those who would have spent the night in Kigali, passes through magnificent views of the hilly countryside which give Rwanda its stature as “a country of a thousand hills”. Upon arrival, transfer to Park offices for pre-Mountain Gorilla visit briefing for all guests. After the gorilla trek there will an opportunity to explore other community-based tourism attractions.
Overnight camping at Kinigi/Muhabura camp ground (B, L, D)

Day 3: Local Community tour
The community tour discovers hidden local culture and tradition. This is the time to discover the day-to-day livelihood of local people and how they spend their time, and participate in local dances while wearing traditional local “Umushanana” dress.

On this day (depending on trekking time), we offer you a choice of value added package from the following:

• Visit Ruhengeri Market, providing you with an opportunity to see and buy local Rwandan fabrics and to see how local markets are organized.
• Visit our local projects, to see how your travel with us contributes to making a difference in local people lives and interact with project members.
• Attend traditional dance lessons, to see and have a taste of local culture and how it is embedded in the tradition.
• Taste local food and beer.
• Visit a local household and experience local lifestyle.
• Listen to a presentation on community development and mountain conservation.
• Go on walks in villages surrounding the park and interact with local people.
• Visit the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo and marvel at the views of the Virunga mountain chain.

Overnight camping in the community village/Muhabura camp ground (B, L, D)

Day 4: Visit Lake Kivu and Gisenyi
Lake Kivu: Kivu is one of the great lakes in Africa and the largest of the fresh water lakes that gleam in the Albertine (Western) rift of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu stands 1461m (4,790ft) above sea level and is Africa’s highest lake. The northern shore is subject to eruptions from nearby Mt Nyiragongo.

Beach relaxation: Surrounded by majestic mountains with soothing sandy beaches and gently pounding waves, Lake Kivu is a perfect place to take a break and relax. Here you can sit back in the shade of giant trees, enjoy local food and reflect back on your gorilla trekking experience.

Gisenyi offers excellent view of the lake and the Virunga volcanoes massif. With its waterfront and sandy beaches, Gisenyi is a wonderful place to relax with the feel of tropical beach resort with captivating air.

On this day and depending on time, we offer you a Value Added Package with the following:

• Visit water springs and learn the geographic make up of volcanic chain.
• Visit our local projects in the area and interact with project members.
• Visit local artisans and local women weaving associations, and experience home basketry weaving and see how your visit makes a difference in their lives.

Overnight camp at Lake Kivu camp ground (B, L, D)

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park en-route along Gisenyi, Lake Kivu, and Kibuye
Kibuye is the most attractive of the lake ports, with a series of interwoven and undulating hills. It’s among Rwanda’s hidden treasures, with lush green hills and a peaceful breeze.

During this journey, you will see interlocking landscapes and varying land use practices. You will see the natural beauty of Lake Kivu with its islands, oddly shaped peninsulas and the huge Ijwi Island that is rich in the cultural history of the Rwandan people.
Overnight at Uwinka camp ground (B, L, D)

Day 6: Trekking chimpanzees
Nyungwe National Park is the only destination in the world where you can see more than five primate species in a single location including rare species such as chimpanzee, mountain monkeys and the angolan black and while colobus monkeys. Nyungwe presents a unique phenomenon in primate tourism due to its huge concentrations of habituated primates whose troops can include 400 to 500 individuals. As an avian hub for birders, Nyungwe is the best place to partake in bird watching.
Overnight at Uwinka camp ground. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Trek colobus monkeys
Trek colobus monkeys in Nyungwe National Park the only place in the world where you can see a colony of more than 500 individuals in the wild.

On this day (depending on trekking time), we offer you a choice value added package from the following:

• Participate in tea harvesting in the neighboring local communities.
• Visit the tea factory and learn about the production processes of one the highest quality tea produced in East Africa.
• Visit local artisan groups to learn and participate in this and other local community income generating projects. This is also an opportunity to buy local crafts products.
• Listen to a presentation on the ecology of Nyungwe National Park and the ongoing conservation efforts including the dynamics of coexistence of park/wildlife and local people.
• Watch cultural dances performed by one of the local community dance groups.

Overnight at Uwinka camp ground. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Transfer to Kigali and various cultural sites
Transfer to Kigali. En-route, you will stop at the town of Butare and visit the National Museum which provides insight into Rwandan history and culture. Along the way to Kigali, you will also visit the famous Kings palace in Nyanza which offers a rich insight into Rwandan pre-colonial history. Your final stop is at the art museum at Rwesero Nyanza. Along the way from Nyungwe to Kigali, you will pass through magnificent hills and cultivated country side.
Overnight at Serena Hotel Kgali (B, L, D)

Day 9: Transfer to Kigali and departure
Kigali City tour: Kigali named by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda in 1907, is Rwanda’s capital. Kigali is the main administrative and economic centre of Rwanda. With an ever green feel of fresh air, it is the cleanest and safest city in the region. Kigali’s face is her fortune; it is this dramatic beauty from which its name is derived. There are, however, other factors; Kigali is a city that delights the mind as well as the eye of any visitor. It is the city where the past lives comfortably with the present.

You will have the opportunity to see the following:

• Visit an artisan shopping centre for local arts and crafts shopping.
• Visit the Kigali Museum and learn the history of Kigali’s and Rwanda’s pre-colonial and colonial period as well as the colonial masters in Rwanda.
• Visit the city and see first hand the post genocide development and expansion of Kigali.
• Visit the 1994 Kigali Genocide Memorial site.

** Safari ends-Transfer to the airport **