11 Days Rwanda-DR Congo Primates and Cultural Tour

DAY 01:  Arrival

On arrival at the Kigali Airport, you will be met by our safari guide who will transfer you to Kigali town for dinner and overnight at Step town hotel for budget, , Chez lando for mid range, Kigali Serena for luxury.

DAY 02: Kigali City Tour

After your breakfast at the hotel you will do a city tour in Kigali Town, visit the Genocide Sites and the Reconciliation Village in Bugesera; you will also visit Gisozi Memorial Site and wind up the day by visiting more genocide memorial sites and the reconciliation village in Bugesera. Dinner and Overnight at the hotel

DAY 03: Pastoralist Heritage & Imigongo tour

The tour takes you to the pastoralist village where you observe and participate in the tradition cattle grazing; you wil then go for Imigongo tour for art and design. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

DAY 04: Ethno Botany Tours

Acquire traditional skills and methods used in identifying diseases and the traditional remedies. Go into the field with traditional healers and learn on how the seeds, leaves, barks, roots and fruits can be used to cure a number of diseases by mixing or not mixing them. Insects, lianas, lichens etc all play a significant role. Afternoon; visit to a local home where local women share their experiences in making traditional dishes.

 

Dinner and overnight at the lodge

DAY 05: Gisenyi

After breakfast you will transfer to Gisenyi – visit the fishing village, Gisenyi town, solid field lave from Nyiragongo Mountain that erupted in 2002 and finally the hot springs. Relax at the beach. Dinner and Overnight at Bethan for budget or mid range

DAY 06: Banana and Sorghum beer production

After breakfast you will visit the Banana and sorghum areas that are some of the staple Food products in Rwanda and they are used in different ways i.e as food, local beer/drinks and very important in the cultural practices most especially during our traditional weddings ceremonies, settling of disputes between community members, bonding relationship between different families etc. Rwanda has more than four different species of banana plants and each species of banana plant has got unique uses and values practically, the visitors will learn and understand while in the field. Sorghum production is quite complicated but made simple to experience and really a thrilling experience. Dinner and Overnight at Muhabura hotel for budget, Le bambou for mid range,mountain gorilla view lodge for luxury.

DAY 07: Golden monkey trekking and optional activities in Parc Nationale Des Volcanoes

Early morning you will have breakfast at the Lodge and then later be transferred to the Park Headquarters of Parc National des Volcans. You will meet your ranger guides here who will briefly guide you on how to behave while in the forest searching for the Golden monkeys and also will let you know more about their behaviors and ways of life before you set off.
After the briefing you will enter into the forest and search for these endangered rare Golden monkey species. This is once a life adventure and an opportunity one should never miss in life. Some time the Terrain is rough and muddy and this means that you as trekkers, you have to be strong enough and also physically fit. The activity will take like 4 to 6 hours and therefore you are advised to go with your packed lunch. Return back to your lodge for relaxation. Drive back to Kigali after trekking and overnight at Step town hotel for budget, Chez lando for mid range, Kigali Serena for luxury.

DAY 08: Transfer to Butare

After breakfast you will transfer to Butare – visit the Basilica of Kabgayi, the ancient King’s palace at Nyanza, National Museum and Butare “the intellectual town of Rwanda”. Drive back to Kigali and overnight at the Step town hotel for budget, Chez lando for mid range, Kigali Serena for luxury

DAY 09: Transfer to Bukima in Congo

The driver will pick you very early in the morning from the Hotel in Kigali and he will brief you on the safari. You will then transfer to Bukima in Congo and the journey takes 4 hours to arrive to Goma town where you will have lunch stop. He will continue driving after lunch to Bukima where you will spend overnight. Dinner and overnight
Main Destination: Virunga National Park-Congo

Accommodation: Mikeno lodge or Bukima Tented camp.
Meals: Lunch & Dinner (Breakfast Not Included)
Drinks: Drinking Water

DAY 10: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park-Congo

After your early morning breakfast, your guide will drive you to the Park Headquarters for briefing and joining others for briefing before heading into the Virunga forest for your gorilla trek. This trek can last for between 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of mountain gorilla family you are allocated for trekking on that particular day. Once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them while observing their behavior, taking photographs and then after the one hour encounter with the gorillas you return to the Park Headquarters to end the trek.
Accommodation: Mikeno lodge or Bukima Tented camp.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner (Breakfast Not Included)
Drinks: Drinking Water

DAY 11: Departure to Kigali to End the tour

After your breakfast, you will be driven back to Kigali for your post-tour accommodation or you may choose to fly out of Kigali on the last day of your tour. Since you will use the same route back, you will have another stop at the Rwanda-Congo border crossing for photo moments, buying souvenirs or to just relax before continuing to Kigali to end 11 Days Rwanda-DR Congo Primates and Cultural Tour