We begin in the capital Kigali, named by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda in 1907. There should be time this morning for a short tour of the city including a sobering reminder of recent history with a visit to the 1994 Genocide Memorial site. We then head north by road towards our base at Ruhengeri and the expansive fertile lands of the Parc National des Volcans. Towering some 15,000 feet above the surrounding jungle, and covered with a rich blanket of green rainforest, the verdant slopes of the ‘Virungas’ encompass evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath and provide a rich haven for the rare and magnificent mountain gorillas. Named after the range of stunning peaks that rise up along the northwestern border of the country, the park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area and was home to the late Dian Fossey during her extensive research on the mountain gorillas, before her untimely death in 1985. Today it provides us with a staggeringly beautiful base from which to explore this most serene and diverse of habitats.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Lunch, Dinner
Today affords us an opportunity to experience one of nature’s truly unique encounters, as we set out with local guides in search of the rare mountain gorillas. Unfortunately mountain gorillas (as opposed to lowland gorillas) are one of the world’s most endangered species, with only some 600-700 left in the wild, these lush and forested slopes providing ideal habitats for the family groups. These magnificent animals live in small troops, each within its own defined boundaries and each with several females and their young being led by a single dominant male – the magnificent ‘Silverback’. Distinct from their cousins who live in the open plains and lowland forests of West Africa, Rwanda’s mountain gorillas are normally found at an altitude of between 1520m and 3650m, with a number of groups living within the Virunga Massif. Following trained trackers our day’s hike will be determined by the movements of the family we are following, so please be aware that finding them in the dense mountain undergrowth is not an easy task and will sometimes involve steep climbs through thick untracked vegetation. However, few wildlife experiences on earth can compare with the first meeting with these gentle giants and, as David Attenborough once so eloquently put it, “There is more meaning and understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than any other animal I know”. After our close encounter we drive to nearby Iby’iwacu cultural village, home to a community based tourism initiative aimed at conserving the natural environment and providing environmental solutions to the ongoing problems of human expansion in the area, with particular emphasis on poaching and poverty. Our visit will introduce us to community projects that have seen local people re-embrace their culture and become empowered, through a new awareness of conservation and sustainable tourism, to take a far greater role in their futures and those of the gorillas with whom they share these misty mountains. The village has become a platform from which the local communities have embraced new ideas, combining tradition, conservation and cultural lifestyles as a means of supporting the communities, rather than resorting to the wholesale slaughter of the gorillas that over the years have seen these noble animals reduced to the small numbers that we see surviving today. During our time in the village we will have an opportunity to interact with the locals with an option of joining in with traditional dancing and drumming and listening to the songs regailing Rwanda's history. You may also be able to observe community initiatives such as basket weaving and wood carving, and sample a taste of traditional and delicious food. In the evening we can experience a 'gitaramo' campfire in a replica of the King's hut. This is a chance for you to immerse yourself in the local lifetyle and habits of rural Rwanda. Our overnight village stay will be in simple but comfortable mud huts.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Before returning to Kigali we visit the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo. Flanked by steep hills, the lakes are separated by a strip of land thought to be an ancient lava flow from Mount Sabinyo. The area provides stunning enhanced by the outlines of the Virunga mountains to the west. Finally we make the jounrey back to Kigali where our tour ends. Note: Accommodation is provided for our ex- London clients prior to the early morning return flight.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
