| Full
Itinerary
Day 1
NAIROBI
Clients met on arrival in Nairobi,
either from their flight from the Masai Mara, or at
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport off an international
flight. Transfer by road to the Norfolk Hotel
for an overnight stay.
Day 2
PARCS de VOLCANS
Early breakfast before departing for
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to catch flight
to Kigali, Rwanda. An hour flight to Kigali. Alternatively,
clients can be met on arrival from international arrivals,
Tanzania, South Africa and Europe. On arrival clients
will be met by driver and private vehicle and driven
to Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. The roads are good and
the journey to Ruhengeri will take approximately two
hours. On arrival a late lunch will be served in the
main lodge, with its scenic vistas of the Virunga Volcanoes,
of the Parc National des Volcans. Afternoon at leisure
to settle in and acclimatize and perhaps an afternoon
guided bird walk in the surrounds of the lodge. Dinner
and overnight at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
Day 3
GORILLA TREKING
An early breakfast, served in the
lodge, before departing by road to the Parc National
des Volcans headquarters. Here you will be allocated
to a guide for one of the habituated Mountain Gorilla
families and a safety briefing. You will then be taken
by vehicle to a starting point, to commence your gorilla
trek in the forest. The amount of time spent walking
is dependant upon which family of Gorillas you are allocated
to and where they are to be found on that day. Once
the family is sighted you will spend a maximum of one
hour with the Gorilla family. After this phenomenal
wildlife experience, return to your vehicle on the edge
of the forest, returning to Sabyinyo Silverback lodge
for lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight
at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
There are currently 30 permits issued
daily for five different gorilla families on three of
the park's seven volcanoes. At the forest's edge each
morning around 7 a.m., park rangers assemble these 30
enthusiastic travelers and instructs them regarding
the visit. (Note the early morning start when making
your decision about where to stay the night before.)
Visitors are required to maintain a distance of 20 feet
from the gorillas (although that is often up to the
gorillas), to remain silent, to move slowly and to assume
certain precautionary positions in the event of a charge.
The rangers know the various gorilla
families well, and they know where they were the day
before you arrived. It is then a simple matter of going
to that spot and picking up their trail. The object
is to meet up with the family about mid-morning, a traditional
time when they cease feeding and rest for about an hour.
The risk is that they have moved far from their location
the day before.
Some gorilla families are found in
a half hour or less, at lower elevations. But there
are known cases where the trek lasted for as long as
nine hours and into elevations as high as 11,000'. The
average trek takes 2-3 hours and usually finds the family
at around 8,000'. The trek through the highland jungle
can be arduous. Hackers with machetes lay a trail in
front of you, but it is makeshift and not intended to
last. Most trekkers find they are using every muscle
in their body: including pulling themselves with the
arms through some of the thicker jungle.
When a gorilla family is found, the
ranger positions everyone and the hour's experience
begins. This, too, is as varied as the animals themselves.
Often juveniles are very active, not needing the rest
that the aggressively feeding adults require. Close
encounters with visitors are frequent, although discouraged,
but rarely aggressive or violent. Nonetheless, these
are extremely powerful animals, and our disclaimer will
remind you of this.
Day 4
GORILLA TREKING
Early morning breakfast prior to
departing for your second gorilla trek, with the possibility
of visiting a different Gorilla family. Return to Sabyinyo
Silverback lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, relax
or take a drive to the bustling market town of Ruhengeri,
nearby, or visit the beautiful lakes of Kivu, Burera,
Ruhondo and Karago. There are also the genocide memorials
and community and conservation projects, to be visited.
Return to Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
for dinner and overnight.
Day 5
KIGALI / NAIROBI
Depart after breakfast for Kigali
in time for your return flight to Nairobi. Arrival in
Nairobi for onward arrangements.
US Dollar
Prices per person sharing
| People
|
|
Mid Season |
High Season |
2 |
3934 |
4624 |
4918 |
Single Supplement |
NIL |
222 |
256 |
It is possible
to extend this safari stay in Rwanda to include visits
to the Nyungwe Forest and Akagera National Park or to
continue on safari in Tanzania or Kenya.
We can assist with further onward arrangements within
East Africa.
ANY
DATES SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
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