African Safari to Rwanda

Day 2 - Kigali This morning at 10:00am, your private driver and guide will collect you from your hotel to show you Kigali.Located at Rwanda's geographical heart, the rapidly growing City of Kigali is not only the national capital, but also the country's most important business centre and main port of entry. Kigali City, which started in 1907 under German rule as a small colonial outpost with little link to the outside world, is now 100 years old. Today, Kigali City has come of age as the capital of Rwanda and made phenomenal strides. It is a city that has not just survived, but has prevailed and grown into a modern metropolis. Although (like all of Rwanda) it saw difficult and hard times through the genocide in 1994 and as power changed hands subsequently, Kigali now has a pleasant, buoyant air and is among the safest and friendliest of African capitals. Kigali City is blessed with a moderate high altitude climate that belies its tropical location, and is conveniently located within three hours drive of the main tourist sites. The Rwandan capital provides both a comfortable and welcoming introduction to this land of a thousand hills and an ideal springboard from which to explore this magical country. The main shopping and commercial area is around the Mille Collines Hotel, with the government district on the neighbouring Kaciyiru hill. The markets, the handicrafts, the Muslim quarter and the Genocide memorial are some of the main places of interest. Some of the activities you can do are (and we recommend you talk with your guide about your desires: Kigali Genocide Memorial Center. Longstanding ethnic tension between the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi people of Rwanda came to a peak on April 6, 1994. The airplane transporting Rwandan Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down and ignited one of the worst genocides in world history. In a period of approximately 100 days, somewhere between 500,000 and 1 million people, approximately 85 percent population of the Tutsi population of Rwanda, were murdered. Men, women and children were murdered by any weapon available, and women often were raped and humiliated prior to their death. The Kigali Genocide Memorial Center opened in April 1994 and is home to the graves of more than 250,000 victims. The center has three distinct areas, including an exhibition of the Rwandan genocide, a memorial to the children lost in the genocide and an exhibition of genocidal violence around the world. One seldom visited monument in Kigali's backyard is the Presidential Palace Museum, the palace of former President Habyarimana, also known locally as Habyarimana's house. In case you are one of the five people in Rwanda who are unfamiliar with that name, Habyarimana was the president of Rwanda whose plane was shot down in April 1994, the event that sparked the Rwandan Genocide. Today the palace is a museum where visitors can see for themselves how the former president lived. Kigali Hand Craft Market. Cooperative des Artisans Rwandais is one of the better craft shops selling locally produced carvings, cards and paintings. Prices are generally fixed, but small discounts may be offered. It is one of a number of craft shops located near the main post office in the centre of town.    

Virunga | Volcanoes

Day 4 - Parc National des Volcans For those interested in seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat Rwanda offers one of the best locations for Gorilla trekking. In the Park National des Volcans in Rwanda there are eight families of Mountain Gorilla living on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes that you can trek to see. For many, seeing gorillas in the wild offers a wildlife experience of a lifetime. Gorilla treks take place in the morning and depart from the Park Headquarters at around 07:30am. Prior to departure you are given a briefing by park staff, assigned a gorilla family to visit and rangers to guide you. The treks take place on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes and clients should be in good physical condition as some of the trek can be physically demanding. The treks normally start in the cultivated land on the base of the volcanoes and then you are guided up into the beautiful dense misty forests. The trek normally lasts between 2 and 5 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family and a maximum of eight visitors is allowed per gorilla family. Once you reach the gorillas you are permitted to stay for one hour to view them. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years. A maximum of 64 gorilla permits are issued per day and during high season these sell out far in advance, it is therefore important to book gorilla permits as early as possible.    

Nyungwe Forest

Day 7 - Nyungwe Forest National Park Today at around 9:00am, you will drive to Nyungwe Rainforest, about 6 hours drive. On your journey, you will stop at the old Royal palace in Nyanza. You will continue passing beautiful rolling hills and tea plantations. The Nyungwe rainforest is a protected area and because it was one of the very few places on the African continent that did not freeze over in the ice age, it features a huge amount of biodiversity and more than half of all the animals in the continent are represented there.   Nyungwe Forest Lodge Designed to integrate into the surrounding environment, the Nyungwe Forest Lodge perches on a tea plantation at the edge of the rainforest. Relax mere steps away from hiking and tracking the abundant primate species that call the forest home. Each of the 24 rooms faces the verdant forest, best enjoyed from the privacy of your own balcony. Inside your cabin, a wood burning fireplace is just one of the comforting amenities at your fingertips. Find crisp bedding, fine wood finishes and a modern en suite bath with an inviting bathtub that overlooks the room and the picture windows. Thoughtful blackout shades and superior insulation in the rooms further contribute to the guests' comfort. Sightings of the forest's 13 different primate species are not uncommon mere feet away from your balcony. At the main lodge, unwind next to one of several cozy fireplaces in the many vignette lounges scattered throughout the main lodge. The spacious bar and dining area feature floor to ceiling windows and a modern decor accented by traditional Rwandan arts including Imigongo paintings crafted from all natural materials such as fruits, cow dung and clay soil. Sample teas plucked fresh from the plantation at the cozy tea lounge and delight in the gourmet dishes served in the dining room. From the fresh cheese plates and fruit skewers to the sumptuous dinners, the presentations and tastes are impeccable. Embark with skilled local guides on nature walks, birding expeditions and the most popular activity, primate tracking. Over 25 percent of Africa's primate species can be found in the varying terrains and climate within Nyungwe Forest National Park and though sightings are not always guaranteed, the trek through the lush forest only enhances the thrill of stumbling upon a troop of monkeys. Species found here include L'Hoest's monkey, owl-faced monkey, blue and golden monkeys, black and white colobus and the chimpanzee. Room: 1 x double on all inclusive basis for 3 nights