Rwanda - Primates, Nature & Landscapes

In the morning, you will be taken to seek one of the habituated troupes of Chimpanzee. An experienced guide and tracker will lead you through the forest in search of these elusive apes.

Rainbow Tours' specialists Craig and Derek have both observed the Chimps high up in the canopy during three-hour early morning walks.

Other primates seen during the same walk were Grey-cheeked mangabey and many l'Hoest's monkeys (pictured here). Smaller mammals present include the very vocal albeit seldom-seen Tree hyrax

In the afternoon, you can be taken to a different spot to seek what is the largest known barrel of Rwenzori colobus, which usually allow a reasonably close approach

A very scenic drive takes you to Karongi, on the shores of Lake Kivu. Stay overnight at the Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel, all meals included.

Longish drives on un-made roads may not appeal to everyone, but they do offer the opportunity to see life as it has been lived for centuries, virtually unchanged. This is a scenic route and provides the opportunity to see the people at work - cultivating bananas, cassava, sorghum, beans, rice, potatoes, and even coffee in their steep, tiny fields. In addition there are several massive tea plantations (pictured), villages, innumerable tiny brickworks, and surprises around every corner. Lake Kivu forms the border between Rwanda and the Congo. It's a beautiful and mysterious lake, alive with traders and fishermen in their dugout canoes.

Today's activities include the Napoleon Island hike.

Today you head north-east, parallel to Lake Kivu, to Rubavu to overnight at the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, all meals included. This beautiful drive (3-4 hours) is largely on unmade roads and takes you through an area of intensive subsistence farming, as well as the remains of the Gishwati Forest. Gisenyi is a somewhat faded lakeside resort - and also a border crossing point into the Congo.

The shoreside is lined with crumbling colonial villas. Today, it is enjoying a renaissance as it boasts its first international standard hotel - the Kivu Serena It is a pleasant hotel, right on the lakeside, with its own private pool.

Today's activity includes a night fishing experience on Lake Kivu.

Relax at your hotel or explore some of the area with your private driver-guide, before the 2 hour afternoon drive to Musanze at Parc National des Volcans. Stay three nights at Ingagi Lodge, all meals included.

Well located for the main activity which draws tourists to PNV, Gorilla tracking, this lodge provided excellent service.

You will be taken to visit the Gorilla Guardians' village.

Optional second excursion to seek and spend time with one of the resident, habituated family groups of Mountain gorilla.

A second Rwanda gorilla permit is US$1,500.

Alternatively, a guided birding/nature walk in PNV is US$ 75 pp or, you could track the Golden monkeys (pictured) for which the permit costs US$120.

< p>We personally highly recommend a second gorilla trek for the following reasons:

a) The experience is so intense that the hour you are permitted to spend with the Gorillas, feels like 5 minutes.

b) Although chances of seeing the Gorillas exceed 90%, nature cannot ever be guaranteed. So its wise to have a backup day to avoid disappointment, rare as that may be.

c) Just in case you have any communicable human illness (eg colds or flu) on your first day, you will not be allowed to visit the Gorillas since they have no resistance to human illnesses.

You will be transferred by your private driver-guide to Kigali where you have the use of a day room at Heaven Boutique Hotel. This evening, you will be taken to the airport to check in for your overnight flight*** home.

*** This itinerary is based on low season KLM international flight schedules. We will be pleased to quote based on other carriers, if you wish.