This short tour combines wonderful wildlife experiences with breathtaking scenery and the inspiring spirit of the Rwandan people.  Spend a day trekking in the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes and get up close and personal with a mountain gorilla family.  Also enjoy a guided walk in Nyungwe National Park, a high altitude rainforest with around 380 bird and 86 mammal species.   With luck your guide will be able to show you Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys, Black and White Colobus and much more.  If you are looking for an adventurous holiday with unique wildlife experiences, look no further than here.

Nyungwe National Park.  After an early breakfast enter the Nyungwe Forest Reserve in search of primates.  Nyungwe Forest Reserve, extends across the majestic hills of southeast Rwanda. This forest reserve is the largest mountain forest remaining in East Africa. Of the larger mammals, primates are the most visible, with 13 recorded species representing 25% of the African primate checklist, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, grey-checked mangabey and red-tailed monkey. Nyungwe is also home to more than 275 bird species.  The trek will last until around 1pm. Enjoy lunch at the guest house before driving to Kibuye. Dinner and overnight in Kibuye.

Gorilla Trek to Kigali.  After breakfast at the lodge, the group will report to the park office for gorilla trekking formalities. Afterwards there will be a short drive to the edge of the Volcanoes National Park for briefing by the park's guides.   

Gorilla permits allow visitors to spend up to one hour with a family of gorillas each day.  In order to safeguard the gorillas, only 6-8 people may visit each day.  In the interests of the gorillas, people with colds, flu or other contagious diseases will not be permitted to trek. 

Gorilla trekking may be very strenuous and walking boots are recommended.  The area is often shrouded in mist and frequent downpours are common at all times of year.  A waterproof jacket can be very useful. 

Accompanied by your guides and trackers you will follow simple pathways into the cloud forest.  The terrain is hilly and can be muddy and slippery, however the views of the Virunga mountain range are spectacular and more than make up for the tough inclines.  As you walk, you may see signs and tracks of other animals as well as enjoying bird, monkey and insect sounds of the jungle.  

Following their spore and night nests, your guides will lead you to the gorilla group. Some gorilla groups may be a 5 hour walk away from base camp, whilst other groups can be located within an hour.  It is difficult to predict where the gorilla group might be and this adds to the excitement and unpredictability of the trek. 

After encountering a gorilla family your guides will settle you down and enable you to watch the group interactions.  Visitors are not allowed to get closer than 5 metres to the gorillas, but sometimes the gorillas themselves forget this and come very close indeed! Family groups are generally made up of several females, their playful young and one or two mature silverbacks.  Young gorillas are extremely entertaining and enjoy showing off their climbing, tumbling and play-fighting antics.  Mothers watch on and silverbacks generally maintain a respectful distance whilst keeping a protective eye on their family.  Depending on their daily pattern, gorillas may be encountered resting in a sunny or shady spot or on the move as they travel from one feeding patch to another.   Whatever else they are doing, gorillas are usually also eating and it is fascinating to watch them in the giant salad bowls which make up their habitat.

Photographing gorillas is allowed, but flash photography is prohibited.  Anyone wishing to use a video camera must pay for a special permit.

After enjoying your gorilla trek you will return to the lodge for lunch.  In the afternoon, if time permits visit the twin Lakes Bulera and Ruhondo before proceeding back to Kigali.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible, but please note that Africa does not run like clockwork, therefore do not expect the streamlined travel arrangements associated with some other continents. Things do not always go to plan; there will be times when you will need to be patient and philosophical about your travels. Conditions in Africa can vary dramatically; however we always try to use the best facilities available. Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect.

Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

Note that there is no pre departure meeting for this tour.

Please bring the following items on Day 1:

1. Passport

2. Vaccination Certificate

3. Travel Voucher

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

Vaccinations:

You must have an International Certificate of Yellow Fever Vaccination if arriving into Rwanda from certain countries.   

Compulsory Inoculations:

Yellow Fever if you are arriving from an infected area. Please refer to your GP or Immunization Clinic.

Strongly Recommended:

Diphtheria, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Meningitis, Hepatitis A & B, Yellow Fever.

These may vary from country to country, please consult your GP or local Travel Clinic.

We also recommend:

- A dental check-up prior to travelling.

• Do not take unnecessary valuables with you.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room in Africa, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care.
• Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.

For many tipping is a means of supplementing their wage and is a normal part of payment for goods and services. Be sure to keep small denomination notes or coins on you to avoid embarrassment. Sales and service taxes are imposed in some restaurants and bars.

Bargaining is also expected and in all markets prices are inflated to accommodate such a practice. Rule of thumb is to cut the offer in half and work upwards. This can sometimes be hard work but do not let yourself be intimidated by stallholders, you can always say no and walk away.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many lodges there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where this is possible.

Contrary to expectations it does get cold in Africa. Southern Africa, particularly South Africa and Namibia get quite cold at night between June and August. Mount Kilimanjaro will be cold at night all year round, due to the extreme altitude. You will need to bring your warmest clothes.

Personal Effects:

Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music cassettes/CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs or allergies can also be catered for however the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs. Please note we will attempt to provide for these special requests, however they cannot be guaranteed - please ensure the tour leader is aware of any special requests.

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you.

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com