On this African journey ,you will have an opportunity of visiting two countries;Rwanda and Tanzania.In Rwanda,you will have a chance of tracking the extra ordinary mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park made famous by George Schaller and Dian Fosseys film and book"Gorillas in The Mist",explore the history and culture of Rwandan people.Visit Kigali, the modern capital city of Rwanda, as well as the genocide memorial at Gisozi (depicting Rwandas dark recent history), explore local markets, tour the king's palace (reminiscent of the old Rwanda before colonialism), visit Ross Carr's Flower Farm and orphanage, see the sights of Lake Kivu in Gisenyi, continue to Ruhengeri/Musanze to visit local communities.
From Rwanda take a short flight to Arusha in Tanzania which will be a springboard for a visit to the world famous Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro crater the "8th wonder of the world"

Price:Per person sharing: $ 4450
Single Supplement: $650.

Included:All ground transport,gorilla tracking in Volcanoes national park,visit to Karisoke research station,Rwanda cultural tour,city tour of Kigali,game drives in lake Manyara national park, Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro crater,all accommodation and meals,park entrance fees,visit to Ross Carr flower farm,airport transfers,an English speaking driver guide and bottled water in the vehicle.
Excluded:Air flights,airport tax,tips ,drinks.

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda!

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your safari guide from Advantage Safaris Africa and transferred to your hotel for your first orientation/safari briefing.
Later in the day, visit Kigali city, a local market, and the Genocide memorial of Gisozi depicting Rwanda's recent dark past.
Overnight:Des Mille Collins Hotel.

Day 2: Kigali to Nyanza to Huye (formerly Butare)

After breakfast, travel to Nyanza and visit the King's Palace, seat of the former feudal monarchy. The palace has been reconstructed to it's 19th century state using local traditional materials, and is one of the most magnificent traditional structures in Africa today. The resident cultural guide will describe the cultural, political and social organization of society before the advent of Christianity and other recent religions in this area. Later, travel to Gisenyi passing through a beautiful rural countryside with terraced hills and village life.
Overnight:Lake Kivu Serena Resort

Day 3: Visit the Shores of Lake Kivu-Ross Carr Orphanage in Musanze.

Rosamond Halsey was a young American fashion illustrator when she married an adventurous hunter-explorer, Kenneth Carr. Together, they journeyed to the former republic of the Belgian Congo in 1949 but they later divorced. Kenneth left, but Rosamond stayed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until 1955. From there, she moved to northwest Rwanda where she stayed for the next 50 years. She witnessed a big part of Rwanda's historical events including the 1994 civil war. She is the author of "Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life In Rwanda." The resident guide will give us a story about the life and times of this lady, her relationship with local people and Dian Fossey the famous gorilla conservationist. For those who have watched the movie "Gorillas in the Mist," some of the scenes in this movie were shot on location here on this property. After visiting the orphanage, we continue to Musanze on the foothills of Volcanoes National Park.
Overnight:Gorillas Hotel Musanze.

Day 4: Gorilla Tracking.

Today's activity may be the most exciting and challenging of our entire expedition. The mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park are part of a worldwide population of just about 800 individuals. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to one of the 8 habituated family groups that live in this mountain park. For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild. The gorillas are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals. Experienced guides will accompany us on our tracking, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides and trackers will use their knowledge of the gorilla's habits and information from the previous day to locate the groups' whereabouts. Because of this, time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 8 hours before returning to the hotel. Once the gorillas are located, our group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the world's truly memorable experiences-a look into one of these magnificent creature's eyes brings home the poignant fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that our presence here contributes to ensuring their continued survival. The hour is often over all too quickly, and we slowly make our way back to our lodge to recount the days adventures.
Overnight: Gorillas Hotel Musanze

Day 5: Karisoke Research Center, Golden Monkeys, Cultural Experience

This morning, there are various options on offer: we can track golden monkeys, visit Mt. Visoke or visit the Karisoke Research Center. This afternoon, continue exploring the cultural highlights of this area and visit the Iby Iwachu Cultural Center for cultural dancing and an informative experience about traditional local medicine. This cultural group was formed by pygmies and ex-poachers and we shall listen to their side of the story after abandoning the illegal practice.
Overnight:Gorillas Hotel Musanze

Day 6: Return Kigali - Arusha - Tanzania

This morning, have breakfast at the lodge and later travel back to Kigali. If time permits, do some shopping and continue for your flight to Arusha in Tanzania.
Overnight:The African Tulip

Day 7:Arusha - lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast depart for lake Manyara national park where you will enjoy a game drive in this wilderness park of global significance.Animals in the park include;buffalo,girafee,elephant,impala and hippos.Lake Manyara is also famous notably for its tree climbing lions.
Overnight:Lake Manyara Serena lodge.

Day 8 Lake Manyara - Serengeti National Park

This morning you are off to the famous Serengeti national park,home of the great annual migration.You will travel through spectacular scenery in the crater highlands.The Serengeti landscape depicts the mythical image of an Africa of large spaces,profound blue sky's dotted with clouds,cool sunrises and fire red sunsets.The park is inhabited by more than 2 million large mammals including,;wildebeest,zebra,Thomsons gazelle and others.Predators include ,lions,cheetah and hyenas which are drawn by the abundance of of prey which migrate throughout the park.Present also are many smaller animals like rock hyrax,bat eared fox,mongoose,honey badger,jackals,monkeys baboons.Along the way,you will visit oldpai gorge where Dr Louis and Mary Leaky made their discovery of the first man who walked the earth.After a short lecture describing the archeological digs and geology of the gorge we visit the museum.After enjoying lunch,continue to Serengeti.
Overnight:Seronera Wildlife lodge.

Day 9.Serengeti wildlife

Today we wake up early for a game drive to spot animals when they are still active and to have a fantastic sunrise in front of us.The sunrise in the African savannah is one of the most beautiful experiences one can have.After the game drive return to the lodge for lunch.
In the evening,we enjoy another game drive. Overnight:Seronera Wildlife lodge.

Day 10 Serengeti - Ngorongoro Crater

This morning we travel to Ngorongoro with a game drive as we exit the park. We make several stops to take photographs and view animals.Our destination today is Ngorongoro crater referred to as the 8th wonder of the world with walls 2000 ft high and a crater floor that spreads for 102 sq miles.The crater is a virtual Noah's ark,inhabited by almost every specie of wildlife indigenous to East Africa including the rare black rhino.In fact the crater has the greatest concentration of wildlife on the planet.It contains a river,several swamps,a soda lake full of flamingos,a forest and open plains.The large bull elephants that reside have extremely large tusks due to the rich mineral content of the volcanic soil and its grass.They are the most incredible elephants you will ever see in your life.
Overnight:Rhino Lodge.

Day 11 Ngorongoro Crater Arusha - Depart

This morning we descent down the crater floor for a day of wildlife viewing in one of the most incredible places on earth.In the afternoon,we travel to Arusha for flight back home.
ZANZIBAR EXTENSION »