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L'Hoest's Monkey Safari
This private guided safari is designed for primate lovers – it incorporates 3 nights in Nyungwe Forest National Park where chimpanzee tracking is a huge attraction which also gives you the chance to see L'Hoest's monkey, Ruwenzori colobus monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey and silver monkey amongst others; follow this by 4 nights tracking mountain gorillas and the engaging golden monkeys in the Volcanoes National Park.
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Depart London Heathrow on your scheduled overnight flight with British Airways to Nairobi, and connect through to Kigali Airport, Rwanda's capital. |
Arriving in Kigali, you are met by your private guide and 4WD before driving to Nyungwe Forest National Park - usually stopping in Butare for lunch and to visit the national museum there. Nyungwe Forest is an enormous tropical forest which harbours about 275 bird species and 13 primates. Forest walks last from one to seven hours (!), depending you your energy, but can be hugely rewarding.
Spend 3 nights at the… |
| ORTPN Resthouse (full board & activities) |
| This very basic but friendly lodge is on the edge of Nyungwe Forest park, and often frequented by inquisitive vervet monkeys. Trekking to see chimpanzees can be pretty strenuous but great fun, but more relaxed guided walks are also possible – and the most common primates are grey-cheeked mangabeys, Ruwenzori colobus monkeys, silver monkeys and l'Hoest's monkeys. |
After breakfast, drive northwest from Nyungwe to Kibuye, a small town on the shores of Lake Kivu. The forested hills which line the shore are covered by eucalyptus and pine trees, and Kibuye has a very laid back and peaceful ambiance. Spend 2 nights here, with stunning views across the lake from … |
| Bethanie Guesthouse (full board) |
| Take time here to explore the town, go on scenic walks, visit its historic church or pop into its bustling market (busiest on a Friday). You can also take a boat trip out to nearby Napoleon's Island; home to a colony of fruit bats, and visit Amahoro Island at sunset, where you can enjoy a sun-downer at an unexpected beach bar! |
From Kibuye, a scenic road gently weaves through hills to Volcanoes National Park, which protects the Rwandan side of the Virunga Mountains, and the forest-clad volcanoes which were made famous by Dian Fossey's study of gorillas.
Due to the altitude, gradient and, at times, thick foliage, tracking to see the gorillas can be challenging, however your time in Nyungwe Forest will have helped you to acclimatise. Spend a total of 4 nights at… |
| Mountain Gorillas Nest (full board & activities) |
| In an ideal location fairly close to the park headquarters, Gorilla's Nest has en-suite facilities with hot showers. The amenities are fairly good and the restaurant is notable for its large, pre-trek breakfast buffet. |
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After an early breakfast, spend your first morning tracking the endangered golden monkeys. These enigmatic primates are endemic to the region and live on the lower mountain slopes in bamboo thickets. They can be a bit harder to track down than the gorillas, but it is a good introduction to life in the Volcanoes National Park. |
| Mountain Gorillas Nest (full board & activities) |
| In the afternoon, use your free time to explore the local villages, or the nearby lakes of Burera or Ruhondo, or just to relax and watch birds around the lodge. Your guide and 4WD are, as always, at your disposal for excursions if you want them. |
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Another early morning sees you meeting at the park's headquarters for a briefing on the etiquette of visiting mountain gorillas. An experienced park ranger will lead you to one of the habituated groups of gorillas, where you have one amazing hour to observe these delightful, human-like primates. It is a breath-taking experience that you will never forget! |
| Mountain Gorillas Nest (full board & activities) |
| Again, you can decide what to do during the afternoon, with your guide and 4WD available for your use. |
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On your second morning's tracking, you visit a different troop of mountain gorillas. The location of the gorilla groups vary, as does their altitude, and the ease of the treks to reach them. However, the exertions of the longer walks dissipate once you find yourself sitting amongst a group of such intelligent, playful and engaging primates. |
| Mountain Gorillas Nest (full board & activities) |
| In the afternoon, recover from the morning's hiking – or make a plan with your guide to explore the local area further. |
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After so many early wake-up calls, lie in for your last morning! You will then be driven for about 2 hours through lovely hills, past villages, to Kigali. Here you may have time to visit the moving Genocide Museum, or to have a quick look around town, before being driven to Kigali Airport. Once there, your guide leaves you to continue your return journey home: fly to Nairobi in time to catch your British Airways flight back to London. |
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You will arrive at London Heathrow early in the morning after an amazing and moving experience in Rwanda. |
| From |
To |
Cost |
| 1-Jan-2008 |
18-Jul-2008 |
£3,285 |
| 19-Jul-2008 |
18-Aug-2008 |
£3,584 |
| 19-Aug-2008 |
14-Dec-2008 |
£3,285 |
Notes:
• The prices shown are based on two people travelling together and sharing double or twin rooms.
• Because this is based on a private vehicle and guide, the costs for this trip will reduce if more than two people are travelling. Conversely, they would increase substantially if only one person is travelling alone.
• To upgrade from Gorilla's Nest to another lodge in the Volcanoes National Park, apply the following supplements:
To Virunga Lodge (all year) £284
To Sabinyo Silverback (Apr–May) £170
To Sabinyo Silverback (Jan-Mar; Jun-15 Jul; Nov-Dec) £310
To Sabinyo Silverback (16 Jul-Oct) £358
All supplements are per person sharing per night. |
This itinerary includes:• Economy flights plus UK airport departure taxes. • A private guide and 4WD vehicle for the duration of your safari. • Permits and park fees for one morning to track chimpanzees and one morning to track Ruwenzori colobus monkeys and walk in Nyungwe Forest; plus two mornings tracking gorillas and one morning to follow golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. • A comprehensive pack of information covering the places that you'll be visiting. • Current park fees for Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park • A complementary copy of the Bradt Travel Guide to RwandaThis itinerary excludes:• Rwandan domestic departure taxes. • Laundry • Tips and gratuities, which are optional. • All drinks, including tea and coffee
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