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Explore 6-Day Gorilla And Chimp Trekking In Rwanda for 6 days with Golden Rwanda Safaris Ltd and discover unforgettable experiences - Photo 2

6-Day Gorilla And Chimp Trekking In Rwanda

Country:

Rwanda

Flight:

Not included

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Tour id:

142312

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  • Operator:

    Golden Rwanda Safaris Ltd

  • Length:

    6 days

  • Group size:

    50 pax

  • Age:

    15 to 80

  • Difficulty:

    Difficulty levels:
    • Relaxing
    • Easy
    • Moderate
    • Serious
    • Heart-pumping

Itinerary

During this safari you have the opportunity to track the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda twice whilst staying in the rustic luxury of Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, affording some of the most dramatic views in the region. Following your time with these amiable primates you spend a morning at the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project learning about the trials and tribulations that they face on a daily basis in the fight to save mountain gorillas.

Tour program

Day 1

Gorilla And Chimp Trekking In Rwanda

DAY 1: Arriving Kigali

Arriving in Kigali was such a surprise, I’m not sure what texpected but the “first-worldness” of Kigali was a great surprise! A modern airport, tarred roads and international standard hotels, with quickly visited the Marriot on the way through and it is the standard of any 5 star big city hotel! A little further on is the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre that can accommodate up to 5000 delegates. An inspiring mix of progressive third-world charm and modern investment.

Kigali Genocide Memorial, the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the genocide of 1994. Although this is a very emotional experience, I found it very inspiring as it forms the foundation almost for how I perceived Rwanda. In just over 20 years, how far they have come and the inspiring individual stories that form the foundation for their regeneration.

Departing Kigali, head out towards Volcanoes National Park. About a 2 and half hour drive along tarred roads and surrounded by people wearing brightly coloured Kitenge cloth, many cycling up the steep hills with giant bunches of bananas or potatoes. Just about every square inch of Rwanda is intensively farmed.Automatic word wrap

Will spent the night at the Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, just outside Kinigi very close to the park headquarters, perfect for the early morning departure for gorilla trekking. A really great relaxed lodge with a beautiful swimming pool area, lovely for an afternoon relaxing.

Start point

Kigali City, Rwanda

07:00

Day 2

Gorilla Trekking

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking

An early start to park headquarters where welcome dancers and hot coffee await. meet your guide for today, and find out which gorilla family will be tracking. then have assigned the Giraneza Group. have to drive to your where to start our trek before meeting up with your porters and heading up into the mountains!

The first part of the trek is through the cultivated fields surrounding the national park before the path narrows and begin the steep climb up the mountain. Now you will really happy I and decided to take a porter as the path gets steeper. Luckily for the gorillas are nearby and after only about 1 - 2 hours climb the trackers will be waiting for you with the good news that your gorillas are just on the other side of some dense bush you are only allowed to take your cameras with you and after some packing and re-packing leave your bags in the care of the porters and climb through the bush to meet your Group!

you can first meet the big silverback who is enjoying a nap sitting in the sun, just carries on his sun bath. After a flurry of photographing, initial excitement… Guide will calls your on to meet the rest of the family, one of the young females is feeding her baby, the sun just shining through the thick under growth and illuminating this very private moment; it feels like are intruding. Guide gently ushers us along so you don’t put too much pressure on any one member of the family. There is another female with a baby close by, they are playing happily, the mum holding her baby up by its foot until starts giggling silently and breaks away from mum and carries on exploring. The baby is very curious of us and keeps getting closer to look at us, with mum keeping a close eye! He is trying to climb up a branch with little success and eventually has to be pulled back into his mum’s embrace to keep him from going too far. There is a rustling in the bush and big silverback is ambling through the thick bush to join in the family fun, he lies down and starts grooming the female while she plays with their baby.

How fast an hour goes… Guide calls time up and we snap a few last second photos and head back down the mountain. We thank Guide back at the car and hand out the appropriate tipping to him, the porters and the trackers.

Back to Five Volcanoes for lunch. When we arrive they are there waiting to take your muddy boots and gaiters to clean while have your lunch and recover a bit after an exciting morning.

your evening stop today is Virunga Lodge. you may arrive too late to see the view but from the steep climb from the parking lot to the lodge while looking forward to seeing it in the morning! A delicious dinner and some South African red wine by the open fireplace is very welcome after a day of life changing experiences.

Day 3

Dian Fossey Hike

Back to Park Headquarters this morning to meet your guide for the Dian Fossey Hike today. Starting your walk from the same place you did for the gorilla trekking you head back up the same mountain (again, very thankful for having a porter). you pass where we saw the gorillas yesterday and have a hopeful look around to see if they are still there, but they have moved on, when you reach the saddle between the volcanoes the trees get much bigger and you start walking through a swampy area, your feet sinking in up to the ankles. But the trees are spectacular! Huge and covered in ferns and moss this ancient forest is completely magical. Dian definitely found the most magnificent place for her base. When you have caught our breath… Guide will starts telling you the story of Dian Fossey, An American zoologist who established the Karisoke Research Foundation here in the 1960s and through her research inadvertently started the gorilla habituation process here. She studied them over two decades until she was found murdered here in 1985, presumably by poachers but no one was ever caught or prosecuted for her death.

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Today the remains of Karisoke act as a monument to her. you will move on to visit her grave further up the mountain, she is next to her beloved gorillas who are also buried here. As guide will explains, Diane was not popular in Rwanda when she was working here because her work to protect the gorillas interfered with others’ more profitable intensions.

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you will spend some more time in this beautiful forest looked over by the volcanoes before a reluctant walk down the mountain.On the way down my boot decided to fall spectacularly apart! you don’t think the sucking mud higher up had done it any favours. Guide and the porter will on it immediately and managed to create a temporary fix with a vine.

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This afternoon you visit The Gorilla Doctors, their Executive Director will be waiting to give you a quick overview of what they are about. for the last 15 years and is one of first veterinarians to embrace the One Health concept for gorilla conservation. This approach recognizes that the health of domestic animals, wildlife and people are all linked together with the environment. The organisation is working to ensure the long-term health and survival of the mountain gorilla and the human and animal communities that share their habitat.

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They also work to monitor the health of the gorillas and care for any injured or sick gorillas. About 73% of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif are habituated for tourism or research purposes and they monitor the effects this has on the population including the spread of diseases. Gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases. Our visit is cut short when he receives a phone call that he needs to travel across the border tonight to treat an injured gorilla!

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Late this afternoon we head to our lodge for the night, Five Volcanoes., this will love at first sight. you will absolutely love this lodge, your boots are taken away to be cleaned and promise to have mine fixed in the village overnight. The fire is already lit in the main lounge area with coals on metal bowls outside on the patio to keep you warm while we enjoy the last on the sunset over the Park As the darkness settles will head back inside to the cosy lounge for a delicious dinner.

Day 4

Nyungwe National Park

Dawn wake up to watch the sunrise over the lakes and the mountains, and you early wake up well rewarded. The orange sun gently creeps over the mountains and slowly illuminates the lakes just as your morning coffee arrives at the cottage perfectly timed for a moment’s contemplation of the vista.

your boots are fixed!. After this fantastic discovery you head to breakfast on the outside patio around restaurant. The chairs are covered in the local ‘kienge’ fabric giving a wonderful splash of colour to the dining area.

After a leisurely breakfast head south towards next stop, Nyungwe Forest. Following the curves of the hills and watching the passing parade of everyday life in Rwanda see Lake Kivu in the distance where will be stopping for lunch. Cormoran Lodge, a system of wooden decks over hanging the lakes edge, a comfortable option to explore the green waters of this huge lake from. A quick lunch later and are on the way again.

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Arrival at Nyungwe Forest Lodge is through fields of tea plantations, this elegant lodge looks out across the fields and on to the forest. The fireplaces are roaring in the main lounge area, a perfect spot to relax on this rainy afternoon to look out towards the forest that we will be tracking chimpanzees in tomorrow. Automatic word wrap.

DINNER IS ANOTHER ELEGANT AFFAIR IN THEIR STYLISH DINING ROOM.

Day 5

Chimpanzee Tracking

Early to the park headquarters to meet guide and porters. According the guide, the reason we need to go so early is to catch the chimpanzees before they leave their nests and move off for the day, making them a lot harder to find. you will mercies for tired legs, but the forest is thick and you have to climb between the tightly clustered trees to find your quarry.

The hooting of the chimps come to you long before find them, following the sounds of their morning wake up calls find them still in their overnight nests slowly waking up. High up in the trees they are calling to each other and squabbling over breakfast. A mum holding a small baby is making her way from tree to tree looking for the fruit of the wild fig trees. Sadly they seem set on staying up in the trees and you will only get to watch them from afar before we have to head back to headquarters.

Your next forest adventure this morning is the canopy walk, only a short drive away and still part of the same forest. start the steep climb down the gorge, your guide Automatic word wrap

will be telling you about every plant and insect that we come across until you reach the start of the canopy walk. A 200m walkway suspended 60 metres above the forest floor.

From this vantage point we could see every tiny flower on the tree tops including rare orchids only found here which are highly endangered. As you head out into the centre of the suspended walkway, the magnitude of the forest unfolds and you can see right down the valley and across what looks from here like a never ending blanket of green. Our guide tells us that this forest is the largest protected mountain forest in Africa.

Back to Nyungwe Forest Lodge for some R&R tonight and to make use of their beautiful swimming pool looking into the forest.

Day 6

Time to Say Goodbye

Sadly today you head back to Kigali for your respective flights and bid this beautiful country farewell until another time!

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.  ...............................END OF YOUR TRIP WITH GOLDEN RWANDA SAFARIS..........................

End point

Kigali City, Rwanda

18:00

Thank you for booking Golden Rwanda tours and Travel services.

We appreciate your booking and look forward to welcoming guests to Rwanda.

The following terms & conditions apply to services offered by Golden Rwanda Tours and Travel Agency Ltd. Once a quote has been issued, the terms & conditions will automatically apply. Non-adherence to our terms & conditions may result in a withdrawal of contract rates and release of bookings.

Payment Terms

Payment terms are as follows:

• 10% non-refundable deposit upon receipt of invoice (or value of permits if higher)

• Final balance due 30 days prior to arrival

• Safari bookings within 30 days of arrival – full payment due upon receipt of invoice

• Gorilla permits can only be purchased upon receipt of deposit and are subject to availability

• If payment is not received in accordance with our terms and conditions, we reserve the right to cancel the booking and release the rooms

• All rates are subject to increase without notice due to factors beyond our control such as, but not limited to, Government levies, taxes and fuel increases.

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Cancellations or a reduction in services are charged as follows:

• Cancellations received more than 30 days prior to arrival – Deposit forfeited

• Cancellations received between 30-10 days prior to arrival – 50%

• Cancellations received less than 10 days prior to arrival – 100%

• No refunds are given for any unused services

GENERAL

Golden Rwanda Tours and Travel Agency Limited (the company) organizes luxury accommodation bookings to any Hotel and Lodges in Rwanda. Bookings may be organized either online or we do it on your behalf. 

Please read the Terms and Conditions and the Travel Notes carefully as together they set out our respective obligations and form the basis of your contract with us. In these terms and conditions, “you” means all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date) and “we” and “us” means Golden Rwanda Tours and Travel Limited. These terms are amended from time to time due to changing circumstances; the terms at the time of booking are the terms that are valid.

Conditions in Africa are not the same as those in developed countries and standards of service, medical facilities, safety and security may often be lower than those in your home countries. Please note that it is the laws and regulations of the country in which services are provided which apply to your holiday arrangements and not those of your home country.

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ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

The descriptions, information and opinions given by us in respect of national parks, animal sightings, accommodation, itineraries, gorilla permits and security are given in good faith, based on the latest information available to us. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information provided. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions caused by matters beyond our control.

CANCELLATIONS BY US

Occasionally we have to cancel confirmed bookings. We always endeavor to avoid canceling, but we must reserve the right to do so. We shall not cancel your confirmed holiday less than 30 days before departure unless you fail to make all payments due in full and on time or we are forced to do so as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care. If we cancel your safari holiday (except where you have failed to make payment or as a result of force majeure) we shall offer you the choice of purchasing an alternative holiday from us of a similar standard to that originally booked if available.

If the chosen alternative is less expensive than your original holiday we shall refund the difference but if it is more expensive, we shall ask you to pay the difference. Alternatively you are entitled to a full refund of all monies you have paid to us save that paid for gorilla and/or chimpanzee permits which can only be refunded if the refund has been made available to us. Except where we cancel for reasons other than those mentioned in this clause, we shall have no further liability to you. We regret we cannot pay any expenses, costs or losses incurred as a result of any cancellation.

If we cancel for a reason that is not mentioned in this clause, we shall pay a maximum compensation of $50 depending on the circumstances. We reserve the right, without prior notice, to terminate the holiday of any person in your party if, in our opinion or in the opinion of any other person in authority, the persons concerned behave in such a way to cause or be likely to cause danger, annoyance or distress to any third party or damage to property. In this situation, the person(s) concerned will be required to leave the accommodation or other service immediately. We shall have no further responsibility towards such person(s).

No refunds will be made and we shall not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

CANCELLATIONS BY YOU

Should you or any member of your party be forced to cancel, you must advise us or your travel agent in writing. A cancellation is not effective until we receive a copy of your written notice. To cover our estimated loss caused by the cancellation and as we may be unable to resell your holiday, cancellation fees, excluding insurance, will be levied per person as per the above payment terms. If a refund is made to a customer arising from a cancellation, amendment or error by the customer, Golden Rwanda tours and Travel Agency reserves the right to charge the customer any bank or credit card service provider charges incurred.

COMPLAINTS

Complaints must be reported immediately to our representative and to the supplier of the service(s) in question, who will do their best to resolve any problem. If you remain dissatisfied, a written report should be submitted to the Head of Operations as soon as possible after the incident and not later than 20 days after completion of your holiday, to enable us to investigate them fully. Regrettably, liability for any complaints not notified in accordance with this procedure cannot be accepted.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Golden Rwanda tours and Travel Agency sells only Tour and Travel Services. It does not sell international flights and is not bonded to do so. International clients who do a safari with Golden Rwanda tours and Travel Agency and are booked through Tour Operators or Travel Agents should check the relevant bonding arrangements made by that company for their travel.

FORCE MAJEURE

We regret we cannot accept liability or pay compensation where the performance or proper performance of our obligations is prevented or affected by any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, border closures, unexpected government acts, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disaster, extreme weather conditions, fire, technical and/or mechanical problems to transport, road closures, disease and all similar events beyond our control.

PRIMATE PERMITS

Only when payment has been received can permits for gorilla tracking in the relevant National Park be purchased. Getting a gorilla and/or chimpanzee permit is not a guarantee of seeing a gorilla and/or chimpanzee. Local conditions sometimes mean that access to the gorillas is made impossible at short notice.

We are unable to accept liability for any circumstance that might lead to gorilla and/or chimpanzee viewings being cancelled, whether it is closure of the National Park or borders; absence of the gorillas and/or chimpanzees; security changes. Refunds are at the discretion of the relevant authority and we cannot accept liability for them.

We shall use our maximum endeavors to obtain a refund and if a refund is paid by the relevant authority, we shall pass it on to the client.

INSURANCE

Your attention is drawn to the section in the Travel Notes regarding insurance. It is a condition of booking that you must have, and must demonstrate to your travel agent or us at the time of booking that you have, appropriate insurance for the type of holiday being taken with us. Such insurance should fully cover personal injury, medical expenses, death, repatriation in the event of accident or illness or death, cancellation or curtailment of the holiday by either side and loss of damage to, or theft of the clients’ personal property. Activities with a greater inherent risk, such as mountaineering, animal tracking on foot, white-water rafting should be covered.

JURISDICTION

The principal company is incorporated in the Republic of Rwanda and it operates under the laws of Rwanda. Your contract with us and matters arising out of it will be governed by the laws of Rwanda.

LIABILITY

We shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that (a) all component parts of the holiday are supplied as described in the brochure and to a reasonable standard; and (b) our employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors exercise due care in carrying out our obligations under the contract. We accept responsibility for what our employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors do or do not do (provided they were at the time carrying out work authorized by us).

If any part of your holiday is not provided as advertised and to a reasonable standard, we shall pay you appropriate compensation if your enjoyment of the holiday has been affected and you have followed the complaints procedure set out in these terms and conditions. This acceptance of responsibility is subject to the clause relating to “Force Majeure” above and these Terms and Conditions generally. Our maximum liability in respect of complaints (except where death, personal injury or illness results, or where claims relate to loss or damage to possessions or luggage, which are dealt with below) is limited to an amount equal to the cost paid by or on behalf of the person affected for the relevant services.

The maximum amount will only be payable where the person affected has derived no benefit from the holiday and none of the services contracted have been provided. Liability for loss or damage to luggage or personal possessions (including money) will be compensated to a maximum of US$20 on the basis that the client is assumed to have taken out adequate insurance cover in respect of such losses at the time of booking.

We will take all due care to prevent your death, injury or illness being caused by the animal or insect life of the destinations. It is your responsibility to take proper medical and practical precautions in this regard and your attention is drawn to the section in the Travel Notes relating to Health. Medical advice should be sought well before traveling. Subject to these Terms and Conditions, we accept responsibility should you or any of your party suffer death, personal injury or illness as a result of any failure to perform or improper performance of the contract by any of our employees, agents, suppliers or sub-contractors (provided they were at the time carrying out work authorized by us) except in the following situations.

We will not be liable where any failure to perform or improper performance was due to: (I) the acts or omissions of a third party not connected with the provision of the holiday under the contract and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; (ii) an event which we or the supplier of the relevant services could not have foreseen or avoided even with all due care. Any claim must be notified to us in accordance with the complaints procedure set out above.

Any person to whom any payment is made (and their parent or guardian if that person is a minor) must assign to us and our insurers any rights they may have to pursue any third party in connection with the claim and provide all necessary assistance to us and our insurers that be reasonably required.

QUOTATIONS/BOOKINGS/PRICES

Please ensure that the quotation given with details of number of clients, dates, accommodation, transportation, permits, park fees and all other services to be provided is clear and accurate before confirming the booking in writing. All references to quotations in writing shall include reference to correspondence by electronic mail. The price of your chosen holiday will be confirmed at the time of booking. We reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices and will do so as soon as we become aware of any such error.

Once the price of your holiday has been confirmed, subject to the correction of errors, a surcharge will only be payable if transportation costs, taxes, accommodation costs or gorilla permits increase in total to over 2% of the holiday price. If you are required to pay more than 10% of the original holiday price, you will be entitled to cancel your holiday with the full refund of all the money paid to us except fees paid for gorilla permits. Should you decide to cancel under these provisions, you must exercise your right to do so within 20 days of notification to you of the surcharge. We reserve the right to increase or decrease the prices of unsold holidays at any time.

SAFARI TERMS

Prices INCLUDE airport transfers; accommodation; meals as stated; the services of an English-speaking driver/guide and a safari vehicle; porterage of two items of baggage per person; boat trips; park fees; gorilla and chimpanzee permits where appropriate.

Prices EXCLUDE airfares to Rwanda, entry visas, airport taxes and gratuities as well as personal expenditure such as drinks and laundry at non-Hotels. In Kigali the prices include bed and breakfast only.

On safari the prices cover full board. The company reserves the right to vary the safari services agreed with the client in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as road closures, bad weather, problems with national parks or hotels, security considerations. In such cases alternative arrangements will be made as circumstances permit.

TRANSPORTATION

Every effort is made to ensure that vehicles are provided in a roadworthy condition but no liability can be accepted for breakdown, or any damage or delay. Our guides are instructed to follow our code of conduct for Guides (available on request), which you must not ask them to break in any way. In the event that a Guide does not follow the code, please inform the Sales Manager. Company vehicles must only be driven by the company’s Guide whose decision on all matters, such as the route taken, is final. You will be liable for any damage caused to a vehicle by any interference by you with the vehicle, including legal costs.

Tour Details

Accommodation

  • Five Volcanoe Boutique Hotel
  • Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Transport

All transportation

Additional Services

  • Park fees(For non-residents)
  • Gorilla permits(One per person, non-resident)
  • Chimp permits(One per person, non-resident)
  • All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)

Additional Services

  • International flights(From/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips(No tip expected)
  • Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
  • Some meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinks

Guide

A proffessional Guide/Driver

Good to know

Currency

RWF

Rwanda Franc

Rwanda

Plugs and adapters

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Plug type J

Faq Tour

How can I book a tour?
You can order a tour on our website by selecting the desired dates and clicking the “Confirm dates” button. You can also contact our sales department by phone or email.
Which payment options are available?
We accept credit cards, bank transfers and other popular payment methods.
Can I change or cancel my reservation?
Yes, changes or cancellations are possible, however penalties may apply depending on the time before the tour starts.
What documents are required to participate in the tour?
You will need a passport with a valid visa (if required) to visit countries along the tour route.
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