This is the shortest but most rewarding trip into the astonishing jungles of Africa! Mix and mingle with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, the two most endangered primates in the world.
Arrive in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, check in at the Kigali Serena Hotel, a relaxed yet elegant five-star hotel that is ideally located in one of Kigali’s most charming avenues. It is built around a polished granite atrium that showcases the very best of Rwanda’s cultural art. You will receive a full briefing of your safari from our guide. After this brief starter, you will be left alone to relax in your room. You are free to enjoy the hotel’s inviting amenities, most of which are free of crowds; the swimming pool, health club and coffee experience.
After breakfast, visit the Kigali Genocide memorial museum, one of the museums that were established to commemorate the victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide. This is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi tribe in Rwanda. It honors the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994. This dark tour will make you appreciate how this relatively small country has quickly recovered from its painful history.
After this sobering moment, go for lunch at Hotel Des Mille Collines, that was featured in the Hollywood movie ’Hotel Rwanda’ in 2004. After lunch, drive on a smooth road that meanders through the rolling hills to Kinigi Town, gateway to the Virunga Mountains. You will be checked in at the most luxurious camp- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. It is set in serene gardens, with stunning views of the Virungas, a collection of active and dormant volcanoes. This cozy lodge is built out of stone and tile build, and consists of a main cottage and 8 sleeping rooms. The main lodge, with mustard colored walls, large Mediterranean style tiling and beautiful windows. Fixed to the walls, looking out over the slopes, are giant sized masks, which add a real sense of mystery to the experience. Inside, and characterized by beautifully maintained wooden floors, white walls, low slatted ceilings, a mix of slumber seating, open log fires and African prints, the shared areas include a bar, library, games room, verandah, dining room and seating areas.
The Parc National des Volcans is part of the Virungas which are shared between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; the only habitat to just over 1000 surviving mountain gorillas. Make a short drive to park headquarters this morning where you will meet your gorilla trekking guides. Ranger guides to be exact. They will give you a brief talk on the procedures and etiquette of gorilla tracking before you set off to the dense rain forest. In an effort to give you an 80% probability of seeing these majestic primates, a team of trackers will be in the forest ahead of your departure. Their task is identifying where the gorillas were seen the night before and pursuing them to a point/climax—where you will be able to connect. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery makes the effort worthwhile in addition to the ultimate reward of getting a close-up with the gorillas; a profoundly moving wildlife encounter. Return to the lodge and relax as you watch the sun burry itself over the horizons; Virunga volcanoes.
Have an early breakfast and return to the park headquarters where you will meet the park guide ahead of a guided trek to the forest—to observe rare golden monkeys. These old world monkeys are active throughout the day and mostly live in the bamboo zone of this mountainous park, not so far from its foot. A golden monkey trek operates similarly to the early morning gorilla treks. Groups are limited to eight travelers, and once you meet up with the golden monkeys, you will have one hour to spend with them and return to the lodge for lunch, refresh and transfer to the airport for departing flight.