Exclusive and enchanting, this is a safari of East Africa’s new primate experiences. Intimate encounters with legendary primates have evolved as you may now become part of the habituation process as you engage with the incredible wildlife. Spend hours with researchers alongside a troop of semi-habituated gorillas, as well as a day with chimpanzees as part of your safari adventure.
Arrive into Kigali International airport (either from Entebbe or connecting flight), meet and transfer to your Kigali Serena Hotel. The elegant Kigali Serena Hotel is perfectly situated within one of the city’s most vibrant boulevards. Here, guests are welcomed into a gleaming granite atrium, adorned with fantastic Rwandan artworks, where they are then ushered to contemporary rooms that feature air conditioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, a satellite television, and a lovely ensuite bathroom.
The hotel offers a wonderful selection of dining options; from the Milima Restaurant that overlooks the sparkling swimming pool to the Sokoni Restaurant that has become a popular meeting place for both locals and travellers alike. In the evenings retreat to the hotel’s convivial lounge where two bar areas await.
Breakfast, and then depart for a full morning city tour and a visit to the Gisozi Genocide Museum. Thereafter drive via Milles De Collins hotel where the movie “Hotel Rwanda” was filmed. Drive to the Virunga Mountains that are shared byRwanda, Uganda and the Congo. These mysterious mountains are home to the mystical endangered mountain gorillas. You will check in at the Virunga Lodge. Set on a stunning hillside, the magnificent Virunga Lodge boasts panoramic vistas of the Virunga Volcanoes and the beautiful lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera. Each of ten luxurious bandas named after the Rwandan lakes features a spacious bedroom with a cosy fireplace, as well as a private terrace with sweeping views of the breathtaking surrounds. Those in need of relaxation can revel in the comfort of the main lodge or spend some time in the Dian Fossey Map Room. Each guest will enjoy the opportunity for a relaxing complementary massage. Adventures include tracking gorillas and golden monkeys, hikes to the top of the volcanoes, scenic walks through the picturesque villages surrounding the lodge or day trips to the lively towns of Kigali or Kampala.
The unique opportunity to see gorillas in their natural habitat is unforgettable, some even say life changing. Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up bamboo-covered slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour just a few feet away from the gentle creatures. The Virunga Mountains that straddle the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are home to around 480 mountain gorillas, more than half of the world’s entire population; the rest live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. In Volcanoes National Park, the Rwandan part of the Virungas, ten gorilla groups are currently habituated for gorilla safaris, more than anywhere else in the world. Look into the eyes of a large silverback gorilla and he'll look back with a thoughtful, intelligent gaze, mindful that you're another individual. Any apprehensions or nerves you might have had during your trek will melt away the minute you see your gorilla family. Gorilla-trekking safaris offer a magical encounter that transcends any other “wildlife” experience known.
After breakfast transfer back to Kigali. You may wish to enjoy a city tour including a visit to Gisozi genocide memorial site. The will be ready to transfer you to the airport for your departure flight to the next destination.
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