This safari starts with a visit to Omwami's palace in Nyanza,
continuing to the locally revered hot springs of Rugarama near Nyungwe
Forest in South West of Rwanda, the largest afro-montane forest in
Central Africa. With over 10000sq.km in size, Nyungwe - the
undisputed giant in Central Africa – is rich in birds, butterflies,
over 300 bird species including albetine endemic species and a
habituated families of chimpanzees, monkeys and
other primates.
A visit to this forest is a very rewarding experience.
Proceed to Gisenyi, where Ross Carr's orphanage with
thousands of orphans is found. Explore Gisenyi and enjoy the lake
breeze from Lake Kivu. Continue North, to Ruhengeri at the base of
Parc Des Volcans as our base to explore this part of Rwanda;track
mountain gorillas,visit local communities including
the Batwa pigmies, an animist community that was recently
resettled. For those who wish, visit genocide
memorials as well, in Gisenyi, Butare and Ruhengeri. Back to Kigali,
the Capital, an attractive city spread over many hills for which
Rwanda is prominent. Enjoy local dances and see local cultures. The
City has a pleasant, buoyant air and its peoples are some of the
friendliest in the world.
SAFARI ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN KIGALI
Arrive Kigali. Met by our experienced safari guide. Greet and
transfer to hotel.
[Approximate driving time: 30 minutes] Diner (D) is included in the
package. O/N: HOTEL LE GARNI.
(D).
Day 2: KIGALI - BUTARE.
After breakfast you will depart for Butare the second largest city of
Rwanda and is regarded as the intellectual city of Rwanda. It hosts
the National Museum, several academic (University) and research
institutions. On your way to Butare you will visit Nyanza (currently
Nyabisindu) the former Mwami's palace (King's palace) and the seat of
the feudal monarchy. The palace has been reconstructed to its 19th
century state and shows a traditional dome that can be compared with
the Kabaka's palace of Buganda. You will visit the National Museum
which is one the well set-up if not the finest ethnographic museum of
East Africa. It's a good source of information on the cultural history
of Rwanda and the region.
The National Museum in Butare was donated in 1989 by the Belgium
government and gave back a part of the ethnographic collection
acquired during the colonial period. The design and concept of the
museum was realized in co-operation with the Royal Museum for Central
Africa of Tervuren, Belgium. The modern building has different
sections and displays a wide collection of monochrome pictures,
traditional artefacts and objects, tools and different craft products.
Ethnographic objects are grouped together according to theme giving
excellent information on the daily life. Traditional ceramics and
basketry are still manufactured and belong to the finest handicrafts
of the region. The National Museum remained surprisingly untouched
during the civil war of 1994.
Overnight:BUTARE RESORT
DAY 3: BUTARE CULTURAL VISIT
Visit the Botanical Gardens. Visit the locally revered hot springs in
Rugarama. Lunch at Butare and later we will travel to Nyungwe Forest
NP. Your driver-guide will stop at the Uwinka offices to have the last
update on the presence of the semi-habituated groups of chimps and
colobus monkeys. This will help you to prepare your activities of the
next day.
O/N: GISAKURA GUEST HOUSE
DAY 4: NYUNGWE FOREST
Early morning visit to Nyungwe Forest. In Nyungwe Forest NP: guided
nature walk or primate treks. Of a particular interest are the large
social groups of Angolan Colobus (Colobus angolensis), which may be
over 300 individuals. These are the largest troops of this species
known in the world! Nyungwe forest counts 25% of the African
Primates!
Overnight: GISAKURA GUEST HOUSE
DAY 5: NYUNGWE FOREST- KIBUYE
Drive via Kibuye on the stunningly beautiful Lake Kivu
through beautiful countryside, crossing valleys full of agricultural
produce. Kibuye which is one of the three resort towns on Lake Kivu is
the most beautiful. Arrive in time for lunch . After Nyungwe, most
participants will welcome that relaxing moments on the shores of Lake
Kivu! Take a boat out on the lake to see the various islands. Swim in
the refreshing, bilharzia-free waters of the Lake or stroll about in
the nearby villages rambling across a number of hills. Rest of the day
at leisure.
O/N: MOLIA HILL RESORT KIBUYE
Day 6: KIBUYE - GISENYI
After breakfast, either drive to, or you will have an enjoyable
speed-boat trip to Gisenyi (on payment of a $200pp boat supplement +
visa fees $110). The trip is not only an encounter with local people;
fishermen, fishing villages but also with the residents of Idjwi
Island (Congo) who are rowing long distances in their dugout canoes to
visit the Rwanda markets.
You will be picked up in Gisenyi for lunch and if time allows we make
arrangements to cross the border to Goma (Optional). Goma was
devastated by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano. The visit shows
the fantastic capabilities of the local population to overcome this
natural catastrophe!
The Nyiragongo volcano (3470 m) erupted on the 17th of January 2002
and destroyed part of Goma town. Most of Goma's 400 000 inhabitants
escaped the advancing lava flows crossing the border into neighboring
Rwanda. The eruption destroyed the homes of 120 000 people and caused
between 70 and 100 victims.
Idjwi is an island in Lake Kivu, belonging to the Democratic Republic
of the Congo. At 40 km in length and with an area of 285 km², it is
believed to be the largest inland island in Africa, and the eighth
largest in the world. Idjwi is roughly equidistant between the DRC and
Rwanda, with 10 to 15 kilometers separating its western shore from the
DRC mainland and a similar distance between its eastern shore and the
coastline of Rwanda. The island's southern tip, however, lies only 1
kilometer from a promontory of the Rwandan coast.
Overnight:SERENA KIVU SUN.
Day 7: GISENYI – KINIGI
Visit Ross Carr's Imbabazi Orphanage. Stroll about at lake and visit
other local villages. Imbabazi Orphanage was founded by Mrs Rosamond
Halsey Carr in late 1994 at Mugongo to care for the genocide orphans.
Rosamond Halsey was a young American fashion illustrator when she
married an adventurous hunter-explorer, Kenneth Carr. Together they
journeyed to then "Congo Belge" (now Congo DRC) in 1949 but where they
later came to a pungent divorce. Kenneth left but Rosamond stayed in
Congo until 1955. From there on she moved to northwest Rwanda where
she stayed for the next 50 years. She witnessed all Rwanda's
historical events, including the vinegary genocide of 1994. She is the
author of "Land of a Thousand Hills: My life In Rwanda."
Lunch and we drive to Ruhengeri and Kinigi for an overnight at your
hotel. O/N: HOTELl La PALME.
Day 8: GORILLA TRACKING.
After breakfast you will report at the ORTPN headquarters where your
driver-guide will accomplish the necessary formalities for you. You
will meet your ranger guide(s) for a briefing about the greatest
animal experience ever. Then we will drive you to the slopes of one
of the Virunga volcanoes for your trekking.
After the trekking, lunch at your hotel or at Ruhengeri and in the
afternoon, if time allows, an excursion to explore the beautiful lakes
in the region: Lake Bulera & Ruhondo. An excellent view of the Virunga
chain of Volcanoes can be seen while there depending on weather
conditions. Overnight at your hotel.
O/N: HOTEL La PALME.
Day 9:RUHENGERI-KIGALI
Morning at leisure or we can undertake any of the following activities;
visit the Batwa pygmies; or do one of the
other options (at extra cost):-
An excursion to the top of the Bisoke volcano (3.711 m) of which the
distinctive feature is a beautiful crater lake!
Or an excursion to the grave of Dian Fossey and the former Karisoke
Research Center. The excursion will provide excellent background
information and this is a wonderful site to see.
Or a visit to the Golden Monkeys: the little-known Golden Monkey
(cercopithecus mitis kandti) is listed as "endangered", the newly
habituated groups of about 40 individuals are the only ones in Africa.
The Kabatwa troop is located not so far from the Park Headquarters and
the Musanga troop lives near the Karisimbi volcano and has a much
longer walking distance.
Or visit local communities and visit to the surrounding communities.
See other local Dian Fossey projects. A visit to the Batwa pigmies and
other local communities.
Lunch.
Transfer to Kigali for overnight at your hotel. [Approximate driving
time: 3 hours] O/N: HOTEL LE GARNI
DAY 10: KIGALI VISIT-DEPART
Go for a tour of the city (optional) including a visit the markets,
the handicraft shops and the Genocide Memorial Center at Gisozi, which
takes a few hours. It's a touching visit! Time permitting, visit the
Nyabugogo market, and the
Franco-Rwanda cultural center,visiting craft shops.
In the evening transfer to the airport for flight back home.
PRICE:
PER PERSON SHARING U.S.D 3090
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT U.S.D 490.
INCLUDES:All ground transport,all fuel,all
meals;Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner,one day gorilla tracking,entrance to
Nyungwe and all activities like tracking monkeys,entrance to the
museum,visit to the kings palace,the services of an English speaking
driver guide,visit to local communities in Ruhengeri,bottled mineral
water in the vehicle,visit to the genocide memorial.
EXCLUDED:Items of a personal nature like tips,drinks other than
bottled water in the vehicle,tips,telephone calls etc.
CONTACT US ABOUT THIS SAFARI.
