Rwanda Discovery Safari
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Rwanda Discovery Safari from $ 11 DAY/10 NIGHT LAND ONLY 4799* Experience all of Rwanda’s highlights in just one trip! Travel from the capital city of Kigali to the wilderness in Akagera. per person based on Enjoy a true jungle experience in Nyungwe Forest where you can track the chimpanzees, unwind at the shores of the double occupancy beautiful Lake Kivu. Your safari ends with the ultimate highlight: a meeting with Africa’s mountain gorillas! Plus gorilla permits from $1050 per person INCLUSIONS • Airport transfer to/from Kigali Airport • Two nights Volcanoes National Park at Mountain • Ground transport per private 4WD vehicle Gorilla View Lodge • English speaking driver/guide • 26 Meals: 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners • Three nights Kigali at Mille Collins Hotel • Bottled mineral water in the vehicle • Two nights Akagera National Park at Akagera Game • Entrance fees and ranger fees for national parks Lodge • Activities and excursions mentioned in the program • Two nights Nyungwe Forest National Park at • Permit for chimpanzee tracking Nyungwe Top View Lodge • AMREF Evacuation Air Ambulance insurance • One night Lake Kivu at Serena Lake Kivu (B,L,D) ITINERARY: Day 1: Kigali - Welcome to the Land of the Thousand Hills! Upon arrival at Kigali Airport you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Day 2: Kigali - Full day in the vibrant capital city of Kigali, where you can enjoy a guided city tour and visit some interesting, historical sites. Learn more about Rwanda’s heart-rending history at the Genocide Memorial Centre and visit the Nyamata Church. You will also have the opportunity to stroll at the colorful markets or buy traditional African handworks at the Craft Village. Day 3: Akagera National Park - After breakfast you will transfer to the eastern part of the country, Akagera National Park. After checking in at your accommodation you will go for an afternoon game drive for a first introduction with Rwanda’s wildlife. Day 4: Akagera National Park - Early in the morning you will follow the tracks in search of elephants, lions, buffaloes and a variety of birds. Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon experience the park from a different perspective with a scenic boat trip along Lake Ihema. You will float quietly past herds of hippos and huge crocodiles lying lazy on the shores. Day 5: Kigali - Enjoy another morning game drive before heading back to Kigali. Afternoon is at your leisure. Day 6: Nyungwe Forest National Park - After breakfast transfer towards the southern part of the country. En route stop to visit the Royal Palace Museum in Nyanza, the Rwanda National Museum in Butare and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon continue to the mysterious rain forest of Nyungwe, a true birders paradise and renowned for its many species of primates. Day 7: Nyungwe Forest National Park - A full day to enjoy the magical surroundings of Nyungwe Forest National Park! In the morning we will go for an exciting primate walk in search of the habituation chimpanzees. Afternoon at leisure. Day 8: Lake Kivu - From Nyungwe Forest continue to Lake Kivu for some relaxation. Enjoy lunch in the romantic town of Kibuye, before checking in at your accommodation in Gisenyi. Day 9: Volcanoes National Park - In the morning visit the nearby Hot Springs of Bralirwa or go for a boat ride on the lake, while exploring the small islands and rich birdlife. After lunch you will have a short drive Volcanoes National Park. Day 10: Gorilla Tracking - Today make a beautiful hike through the green landscape and hills of the Virunga Volcanoes. Spend a magical hour with the endangered mountain gorillas while your guide will explain more about the family and their behavior. In the afternoon visit the village Iby’Iwacu, where reformed poachers showcase the traditional Rwandan way of life. Day 11: Depart - Have a relaxed breakfast and enjoy the beautiful scenery before transferring back to Kigali. TERMS AND CONDITIONS: *Prices are ‘from’ per person, based on double occupancy in US$. Single supplements apply. Advertised price valid for departures Nov 1, 20 - Dec 31, 20. Seasonal surcharges apply to other date ranges. Cancellation penalties apply please check our terms & conditions for full details on each offer. Black-out dates may apply. Prices for these packages were effective on (6/19/20) and may differ when you book your travel and are not guaranteed until full payment is received and processed. All pricing is strictly subject to availability. All prices, itineraries and routing are subject to change without notice. Please call for current pricing. California CST: 2076233-40 Washington ID: 601 684 531 LA-1282498 Book now: Africa Answers 866.427.2540 [email protected] www.africaanswers.com Rwanda….Gorillas in the Mist, and more ABOUT RWANDA Rwanda is a lush country of endless mountains and stunning scenery, and nowhere are the mountains more majestic than the peaks of the Virunga volcanoes in the far Northwestern Rwanda. In Volcanoes National Park, the volcanoes form a natural frontier with Uganda, and hidden among the bamboo and dense jungle of their impressive slopes are some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas. It is the opportunity to encounter these human-like creatures at close quarters that continues to draw visitors to Rwanda. The Chimpanzees of Nyungwe are also a huge draw. But there’s so much more to Rwanda than primates. The shores of Lake Kivu offer some of the best inland beaches on the continent. Deep in the southwest, Parc National Nyungwe Forest is the most extensive montane rainforest in the region, and Kigali is safe and sophisticated. WEATHER/WHEN TO GO: is widely spoken by those in the travel and hospitality industries. Although it’s regarded as a year-round activity, the best time to visit Rwanda The inhabitants of Rwanda belong to three different ethnic groups: Hutu for a gorilla trek is during the short dry season from mid-December to early (84%), Tutsi (15%), and Twa (1%) (a pygmy people). Rwanda is one of the few February or over the long dry season months of June to September. These Sub-Saharan African countries where the native language (Kinyarwanda) is periods offer the easiest hiking conditions and the lowest malaria risk. spoken by all ethnic groups of the country. The best time to go to Rwanda for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe CURRENCY: however is during the two rainy seasons - mid-February to early June and Rwanda’s unit of currency is the Rwandan Franc but we recommend bringing mid-September to mid-December - as the apes are easier to locate. Food US Dollars (post-2003 bills only). Do any necessary banking in Kigali as few is harder to find in the dry seasons and the chimp families often range far opportunities exist outside the capital - bureaux de change establishments into the forest interior. usually offer the best exchange rates. DOCUMENTATION: Credit cards - notably MasterCard - are accepted in some of the upmarket US citizens are required to have a passpor t that is valid for 6 months beyond hotels and restaurants in Kigali but not in many other places. their return date, and with at least 2 blank visa pages. Visas are not required MEDICATIONS: for US citizens entering Rwanda for less than 90 days. Citizens of other countries should contact us for requirements. Malaria meds are always optional, but malaria is present in Rwanda. You will need to discuss with your doctor the best ways for you to avoid getting A yellow fever certificate is mandatory for all travelers over the age of 9 sick with malaria. months. Yellow fever certificates are required for entry to Rwanda. Travelers who LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE: have questions about yellow fever shots should take their itinerary to their Kinyarwanda, also known as Rwanda or Rwandan, is a dialect spoken by travel clinic for a final determination. some 12 million people in Rwanda, where it is the official language. English Book now: Africa Answers 866.427.2540 [email protected] www.africaanswers.com.