Volcanoes & Gorillas

The chance to experience the gentle majesty of mountain gorillas and primates up close in their own environment is undoubtedly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Volcanoes & Gorillas is an ideal taster of Rwanda’s beautiful scenery and famous wildlife. Unmissable.

Guide

Volcanoes & Gorillas is escorted by an English speaking driver/guide throughout and a local guide during the trek. Extensions are not escorted but assistance is provided by our local representatives.

MEAL PLAN → Breakfast, lunch and dinner breakfast on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5 (no dinner on Day 2 from Jan01 2012). All inclusive at Voyager Beach Resort, breakfast and dinner at Serena Beach Hotel.

ACCOMMODATION → Is in three or four star hotels in Kigali, and either a three star guesthouse on the mountain (Standard option) or a four star mountain lodge (Deluxe option). On occasion it may be necessary to use alternative accommodation due to local availability or road conditions.

TRAVEL TIPS → Gorilla permit payments of approx. £1200 per person are required in advance and are non refundable (included in the holiday cost shown). The Gorilla habitats are tropical rainforests amongst the volcano peaks with an altitude between 11,500 to 14,500 feet. Trekking can be arduous and uncomfortable due to high humidity levels and altitude with treks of up to two or three hours before your first encounter. It is essential that participants are of a good level of fitness. Layers of clothes, waterproofs, and good walking boots are mandatory. Further advice on packing essentials and tips on Gorilla trekking will be provided with your holiday.
GROUP SIZE → Maximum 7 passengers when trekking.

NB → Minimum age 15 years.

DAY 1 → Kenya Airways overnight flight to Kigali via Nairobi.

DAY 2 → On arrival you are transferred to the Laico Umubano Hotel (Standard option - for 2011 it will be the Lemigo Hotel) or the Kigali Serena Hotel (Deluxe option) where you will receive a detailed briefing of your trek and meet your guide before dinner (not included from Jan01 2012) and overnight. Time permitting a guided tour of Kigali town and the genocide museum may also be included this afternoon.

DAY 3 → After an early breakfast drive approx. three hours through beautiful countryside to Ruhengeri, the main base town for gorilla trekking. A short briefing by the National Park guides follows then you enter the park in search of these magnificent creatures. Home to around 270 habituated mountain gorillas, the park is dominated by bamboo forests, grasslands and giant lobelias. After hiking up mountain paths for an average of two hours, spend a maximum of one hour with the gorillas. Just watching and being close to a huge silverback is enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end for the rest of the day! Lunch is taken at the base of Mount Sabyinyo with an attractive alpine façade. If time permits a short visit to the beautiful Bulera and Ruhondo lakes follows before returning for dinner and overnight at either Gorillas Nest Lodge (Standard) or Governors' Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Deluxe).

DAY 4 → After breakfast re-enter the park for a second trek visiting a different gorilla family. The Rwandan side of the park is home to seven families ranging in size from 13 to 30 members. After lunch return to Kigali in the afternoon where you will stay overnight at Laico Umubano Hotel (for 2011 it will be the Lemigo Hotel) or Kigali Serena.

DAY 5 → Day at leisure then overnight Kenya Airways flight via Nairobi to Heathrow.

KENYA COAST

After this wonderful tour why not recuperate with a few days of blissful relaxation on the Indian Ocean coast, easily accessed via Nairobi and offering great value for money.
DAY 5 → After arriving in Nairobi connect with your domestic Kenya Airways flight to Mombasa for three nights at the Voyager Beach Resort in a Standard gardenview room (Standard option) or the Serena Beach Hotel & Spa in a Garden room (Standard option).
DAY 8 → A final day on the coast before your Kenya Airways overnight flight via Nairobi to Heathrow.