(RNXAS 001) Gorillas in the mist >>4 Days Gorilla Tracking  Rwanda Safari

Day 1 Kigali *Ruhengeri -Kinigi

Upon arrival at Kanombe Airport , you are met and driven to your hotel. This 2Hrs drive takes you through the beautifully terraced hilly countryside of Rwanda to Ruhengeri the base of trekking and gorilla tracking.  Brief stopovers are provided on the way for photography.  Overnight Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge /Kinigi Guest House(B/L/D)

Day 2 Rwanda-Gorilla Tracking - trekking  &  hiking in   Volcanoes National Park( Parc des Volcans) 

An early morning breakfast is followed by a drive to Kinigi park headquarters for group, guide allocation and briefing. This is followed by a drive to the trailheads where hiking and trekking up the hills to the bamboo zone begins.  Hiking, trekking and tracking gorillas may take 2-3 hours.  Sight and stay with the Gorillas for one hour. Descend to your hotel for lunch.  In the afternoon visit Lakes Burela and Ruhondo community.  Return to Kinigi in time for dinner. Overnight Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/ Kinigi Guest House (B/L/D) (This tour of Lakes  possible if guests finish tracking  on time at no extra cost).

Day 3  Gorilla  Tracking Rwanda , Trekking & Hiking in  Volcanoes National Park (Parc des Volcans)

After breakfast, drive to Kinigi Park headquarters for  guide, group allocation and briefing.  This is followed by a drive to the trail heads where hiking/ trekking begins.   Gorilla Tracking begins upon sighting of the previous night's nests.  Stay with the gorillas for an hour and return to the base hotel for lunch. In the afternoon drive to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu.  Overnight Kivu Sun Serena Hotel  (B/L/D)

Day 4 Ruhengeri/Gisenyi - Kigali-Home

After breakfast drive to Kigali .  Have a city tour followed by lunch.   In the afternoon transfer to the airport for home flight.

COST SUMMARY IN USD:

We have three price options based on your choice of accommodation.  The options are 1)BUDGETat Kinigi Guest House,  (2) MID RANGE at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, (3) LUXURY at Sabyinyo Silverback Community Lodge. All prices are on full board basis.  Prices are for one person in a single room and per person sharing for 2,3 or 4 persons for each of the property (option).  SRS-Single room supplement does not apply to a single traveller.  Please feel free to seek clarification.

Option 2 Mid Range

(Gorilla Mt. View Lodge FB)

Option 3 Luxury

(Sabyinyo LodgeFB)

4582.00

Validity of the price:  The above price is valid for Bookings made between Nov 2009-May 2010 for travel between Nov 2009-Jan 2011.

Green Season for Sabyinyo Lodge falls between 01 April-31 May when prices are lower than above.

To book or enquire about this safari: >>Email us rnxploresafaris@gmail.com

 The price include the following:

• Accommodation cost per person sharing on full board basis.

• All Meals at hotel-  Meals indicated as B-Breakfast; L-lunch; D-Dinner

• Transportation on 4WD fully fuelled and chauffeured

• Driver’s Allowance’s allowance

• 2 Gorilla permits per person

• Park Entrance fee

• Use of ranger guides while tracking

• Complementary tour of Lake Kivu on day 2 if you finish tracking on time.

• All government taxes

• Complimentary tour of Genocide memorial of Gisozi the last day if time allow.

• Plenty of mineral water during your tour.

• Evacuation cover- This cover by AAR  It covers you for 15 days while in East Africa-  Kenya, Uganda , Rwanda , and Tanzania

The price does not include the following

• Tips& Gratuities to guides, drivers and hotel staff

• Beverages

• Extra meals

• Optional tours

• Air fares

• Visa fees

• Travel Insurance-guests are advised to take a comprehensive travel insurance prior to arrival.

Gorilla Permits: In theory, gorilla permits are non transferable and non refundable.  However we do transfer  permits and refund permit amounts to our guests. We guarantee this.

REQUIREMENTS

Please remember to bring the following with you for Gorilla Trekking,  Hiking & tracking safari

• Hiking boots-not mountain climbers-anything hardy above the ankle is okey

• Gloves 

• Water proof container for your camera

• A warm cardigan

• If you desire to wear a headgear, a base ball cap is recommended

• Long trousers and long sleeves are ideal

• Enough film.

• Tracking golden monkeys
• Hiking Bisoke 1 day
• Climbing Karisimbi 2 days
• Tours of Lake Burela & Ruhondo 1/2 day
• Tour of lake Kivu 1/2 day
• Visit to Dian Fossey Grave
• Visits to local communities

Golden monkey tracking, Visit to Diana grave Hiking Bisoke and Climbing Karisimbi starts at 07:00 Hrs at Kinigi Park Headquarters.

The activities will require an extra day.  Please book with us in advance.

Encounter with Rwanda gorillas  and tracking tips.

1.  Gorilla tracking and Submissiveness

When you encounter gorillas, you are required to portray total submissiveness.   Do not look at them straight in the eyes and avoid standing over them.    If the male gorilla charge at you, crouch down.  Gorillas have freedom 

of way. Do not drum your chest.

2.  Gorilla Tracking/ Gorilla  Photography/Photograhic Safaris

Flash photography is prohibited.  Tourists are allowed normal photography and filming for domestic use.

Special Photographic and filming safaris may be organized for particular groups. These will include those who want to film specifically for commercial use and documentaries.  These will require accreditation cards unlike normal tourists.

3.  Health of the Gorillas

There are currently approximately 700 mountain gorillas in the wild.  Thus these animals are classified as endangered species.  Gorilla tracking if unchecked can endager the life of gorillas.  Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is restricted to 8 persons per day per group.   That makes a total of 56 permits per day.

• Avoid tracking gorillas if you suffer from contagious disease.  In case you develop a sever case of flu, your money will be fully refunded if you make this known in advance. However if you attempt to track and       fail for whatever reason, or if the guides discover that you cannot    track due to disease, you do not qualify for any refund. 

• Do not sneeze towards them

• Do not spit in the forest or defecate carelessly.  If you need to the guides will help you with a matchet to dig a hole to bury your waste. 

4.  Environmental consciousness

Gorilla tracking is a clean activity.  Leave  only your steps in the national park.  Do not litter and if you spot any litter, collect it and take it down with you.

5. Gorilla Hiking, trekking and Tracking gorilla in Rwanda and Uganda- the facts

How hard should one prepare for gorilla tracking in Rwanda?  The facts below will help you to answer this question.

• Gorilla Trekking, hiking and tracking takes place at altitudes of 3000 metres-this means that moderate/ average physical fitness is what is necessary and not athletic fitness.

• Trekking, hiking and Tracking gorillas is conducted by patient, qualified and knowledgeable ranger guides with wide experience in natural history with particular attention to gorilla behaviour

• Trekking hiking and tracking is conducted at a moderate pace with plenty of stops for resting, fielding questions further briefs etc.  Competitive hiking is discouraged as the aim of the guides, porters       and rangers is for all the group members to make it to the gorillas      and back to the base.  Believe it or not, the slowest hiker/ trekker     will determine the pace of the trek.

6.  Eating while tracking gorillas

You can carry your picnic but do not eat in the vicinity of the gorillas.

7. Chest beating

Please do not imitate the male gorilla chest beating. It may take that as a challenge and charge after you which can result in severe injuries.

8. Age Limit:  Only people of 15 years and above can track gorillas.