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5
Days: Tour to Gisenyi for Gorilla tracking in Rwanda.
Rwanda, with its beautiful, rolling mountainous
landscapes, was best known for Gorillas in the Mist, as the home of
Dian Fossey and the endangered mountain gorilla and as Africa’s
premier gorilla tracking destination. Following the tragic events of
1994, it has been identified with genocide.
Day 1:
On arrival in Kigali, you will be met and assisted by our
driver-guide who will drive you to Gisenyi (3 hours) to stay two
nights at the Kivu Sun, on the shores of Lake Kivu, at a half-board
basis.
Day 2:
Gisenyi is a somewhat faded lakeside resort which is also a border
crossing point into the Congo. The shoreside is lined with crumbling
colonial villas. Today it is enjoying a renaissance with its first
international standard hotel, the newly-opened Kivu Sun. It is a
pleasant hotel, right on the lakeside, with its own private pool.
There is plenty to see and do here: take a boat on the beautiful
lake; visit the Imbabazi Orphanage where you can still find the
founder, glamorous Rosamund Carr, now in her late 80s; take a drive
into the ancient Gishwati Forest; or, when the border is open, cross
into the Congo to visit Gomo, site of the volcanic eruption two
years ago.
Day 3:
An early start for the drive (2 hours) to Kinigi at the Parc
National des Volcans for the first gorilla trek. On arrival at
08h00, you are met by staff from ORTPN Park Headquarters who brief
you on conduct during gorilla tracking. Then trackers lead you into
the forested slopes to seek one of the groups of Mountain Gorillas.
Reaching the gorillas can be quick, or it can take a few hours.
Return for lunch at Mountain Gorillas Nest Lodge where you
overnight, all meals included. In the afternoon visit the panoramic
twin volcanic lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
Day 4:
You have your second Gorilla tracking today. If you are reasonably
fit, then we advise you track the Susa group on the second
expedition.
In the afternoon, you are driven to Kigali (2½ hours) to stay
overnight in Hotel Milles Collines, breakfast included.
The Milles Collines is famous as the sanctuary which saved many
hundreds of people during the genoicide. It is largely unchanged. It
has a super pool and rooftop restaurant, and will soon become
internationally renowned with the imminent release of the feature
film, 'Hotel Rwanda', which is set in the hotel during those
terrible times.
Day 5:
You have a Kigali city tour today and visit the Genocide Memorial
Museum before you transfer to the airport for your onward
international flight.
Kigali is a small capital city, without many landmark buildings, The
city tour includes the old town (Nyamirambo) and Muslim quarter, the
new handicraft village and other shops, the Batwa pottery and dance
centre and the Gisozi Genocide Memorial. The memorial is very moving
– the tour takes a couple of hours - and will be of interest to
anyone who has spent some time in this enchanting country.
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