Travel Answers (Formerly Travel2)
Each day in Rwanda is a revelation.
Spending time with the primates of Rwanda is such a moving experience that many people consider it transformative. The face-to-face encounter with a mountain gorilla is a moment of awe and connection, leaving an indelible mark on all who experience it.
An encounter with chimpanzees, however, is a much more lighthearted – and slightly chaotic – affair. These noisy, fast-moving acrobats swing and leap from branch to branch, loudly announcing their presence to all.
This journey of enlightenment starts in Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant capital where you will learn about Rwanda's cultural heritage, your first insight into the country's compelling story. Bustling markets and lively streetscapes reflect the dynamism of urban life, while poignant memorials serve as reminders of Rwanda's tragic past.
One of the first surprises is the food; Rwandan cuisine tantalizes the taste buds with its array of flavors and influences. From hearty brochettes grilled to perfection to colorful bowls of ibirayi (vegetable stew), dining in Rwanda is a culinary adventure in itself.
At Volcanoes National Park you will embark on a gorilla trekking adventure. Led by experienced guides, trekkers traverse the dense forest, senses heightened by the anticipation of encountering these gentle giants in their natural habitat. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way.
Once the gorilla family is located, you will have an hour to observe and photograph the gorillas. Looking into the eyes of a gorilla, you will see emotion, intelligence and curiosity – this is a true exchange. Fortunate trekkers will see beautiful golden monkeys in the forest as well.
Your chimp trek occurs from your lodge in Nyungwe Forest, a 5 hour drive from Volcanoes National Park. Again, you will trek to the chimp’s territory where you will spend time both watching and photographing their antics. Following your trek, you will enjoy another night at your lodge before returning to Kigali for your onward flight.
Please note trekking permits are not included in package price.
Vacation Inclusions
- All transfers in private vehicle
- Bilingual drivers and guides throughout
- 5 nights Luxury accommodation
- 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Featured Destinations
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Extending across almost 386 sq mi/1,000 sq km, Nyungwe is the largest remaining tract of montane rain forest in East Africa with a checklist of around 280 bird species, including 26 regional endemics, and an astounding variety of trees, orchids and butterflies. The most conspicuous of its 13 primate species include the agile Angola colobus monkey, which occurs in troops of several hundred individuals, and the handsome L'Hoest's monkey. The park also supports a significant population of the common chimpanzee. A number of guided and self-guided hikes are available, from chimpanzee-tracking in the hills to hiking a lovely waterfall trail ideally suited to bird-watchers. Traditionally home to several Batwa tribes, Nyungwe is also the country's last substantial relict of this type of biodiverse habitat. It lies 85 mi/135 km southwest of Kigali.
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Destination Guide
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Volcanoes National Park (Parc National Des Volcans)
Volcanoes National Park (Parc National Des Volcans)
This park, 15 mi/25 km east of Gisenyi, protects the Rwandan portion of the spectacular Virunga Mountains, which straddle the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Virunga is not a mountain range in the normal sense of the word but rather a chain of isolated freestanding volcanic cones strung along a fault line in the Rift Valley. Sometimes also referred to as the Birunga or Bufumbira Mountains, the chain is composed of six inactive and two active volcanoes, all of which exceed 9,840 ft/3,000 m in altitude. The tallest are Karisimbi (14,783 ft/4,507 m), Mikeno (14,553 ft/4,437 m) and Muhabura (13,537 ft/4,127 m). Few national parks in Africa can be explored on foot, but this park north of Ruhengeri offers a reward worth the hike through its dramatically beautiful, albeit rough terrain: the chance to observe a family of mountain gorillas, the rarest—and largest—of the four gorilla subspecies. About 700 mountain gorillas live in the wild (roughly half of them in Rwanda), and naturalists have habituated seven of the 20-odd families in this park to the presence of tourist observers. Many people regard visiting these gentle giants (up to 485 lbs/220 kg) in their natural habitat to be the single most-extraordinary wildlife experience in the world. The park can be accessed on organized gorilla-tracking tours, which are limited to seven groups of eight people daily. Gorilla-tracking permits cost US$500 per person in cash (including park entrance fees but not transportation and lodging) and should be booked as far in advance as possible. Other activities include a visit to a habituated troop of golden monkeys (an endangered bamboo-eater whose range is essentially restricted to the Virungas), as well as day or overnight hikes to the various volcanic peaks and a day trip to Dian Fossey's grave at her former research center high in the misty mountains. As a precaution, armed soldiers accompany each tour.
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Destination Guide
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Kigali
Kigali
Even in the best of times, Kigali, Rwanda's capital city, didn't have much for visitors to do, other than visiting its food market in the town center, enjoying the views (the city is built on a series of steep hills) or taking a walk. These days, the market again bustles with activity. However, prices of imported goods are very high in this landlocked capital, where almost everything, apart from local produce, must be flown in or shipped from the distant coast. Visitors can buy local arts and crafts in Caplaki, a tourist market.
The city's most compelling and disturbing landmark is the Gisozi Genocide Museum situated on a site where at least 250,000 residents of Kigali were killed during the 1994 genocide. Another site is the Natural History Museum, housed in the former residence of the German explorer and zoologist Dr. Richard Kandt.
Kigali was established in 1907 as a small colonial outpost.
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Destination Guide
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