Gorillas in Rwanda

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Gorillas in Rwanda takes you through the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” and it provides a superb East Africa Safari experience. The locals are welcoming, and you can track the Safari Rwanda gorillas and enjoy beautiful lakeside views of Rwanda, the nation of 1000 lakes. This midrange tour has been created to bring you up close and personal with the most major tourist attractions in this intriguing country with a rich history. Your Rwanda Safari hotels will be the greatest mid-range selections on the market. Sight View Safaris has been to all of them.

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Activities In This Adventure Traveling African Safari

gorilla-and-chimpanzee-african-safari-trekking

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Wildlife in Akagera N.P.

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Chimpanzee Trekking

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Relaxing views over Lake Kivu

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Gorilla trekking permit included!

The story of your African Safaris Tours!

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Day 1

Welcome to Rwanda

Our guide will meet you at Kigali Airport and bring you to your accommodation; however, depending on your arrival time, you may be able to visit some of Kigali’s craft markets to browse among the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, sculpture, musical instruments, leather, and fabrics on offer. Prepare to put your bargaining abilities to the test! Today’s activities and purchases are entirely your responsibility. Journey Time: 15 minutes from the airport Accomodation: Heaven Boutique Hotel – Villa Queen room

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Day 2

Game drive in Akagera N.P.

After an early breakfast, you will be transported to Akagera National Park, where you will have lunch (exclusive) and then go on a long game drive in the park later in the afternoon. In the north-east of Rwanda, Akagera National Park encompasses 2500 km2 of savannah west of the Kagera River. The park is home to a diverse range of animals, including over 500 distinct bird species. Elephant and buffalo herds emerge from the forest to drink at the lakes, and you may come across a leopard, a spotted hyena, or perhaps a lion. Giraffe and zebra roam the savannah, and the park is home to over a dozen different varieties of antelope. Journey Time: 3 hours Meal Plan: Breakfast & Dinner Accomodation: Akagera Game lodge

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Day 3

Boat safari and back to Kigali

After an early breakfast, you will embark on a boat safari on the Akagera River in search of water birds such as cormorants, fish eagles, and kingfishers. After lunch, you will be taken to Bugesera area, south of Kigali, via a magnificent countryside that is not commonly visited by visitors. A genocide memorial church will be visited in the little village of Nyamata. Then, in Kigali, visit the Genocide Memorial to learn more about this historical tragedy. Journey Time: 4 hours to Kigali Meal Plan: Breakfast Accomodation: Heaven Boutique Hotel- Villa Queen room

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Day 4

Travel to Nyungwe Forest

After an early breakfast, we will proceed to the famed Nyungwe Forest, followed by a lunch stopover in Butare (exclusive). Nyungwe Forest is one of East and Central Africa’s largest woods. The forest is rich in flora and wildlife, including 13 primate species such as colobus monkeys, mangabeys, blue monkeys, and, of course, chimps. Nyungwe Forest is also a popular destination for birders. With around 310 recorded bird species, 26 of which are endemic, this is one of Africa’s most important – and yet little known – bird-watching sites. Journey Time: 6 hours Meal Plan: Breakfast & Dinner Accomodation: Top Hill view lodge

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Day 5

Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe forest

After an early breakfast, you will head to the chimp trekking track in either the Cyamudongo or Uwinka portions. The overall population of the two groups is a healthy 80 people. You will never forget this thrilling up-close contact with humanity’s closest kin. Then return to the resort to relax or participate in an optional activity that you can discuss with your guide. Journey Time: 1 – 2 hours each way Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accomodation: Top Hill view lodge

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Day 6

Waterfall hike and optional Canopy walk

Optional activity The canopy walk costs $100 per person. You may go on East Africa’s only canopy walk. This hike takes place above a steep gorge that cuts through the enormous forest. The walk, which lasts around 112 hours, takes you past some stunning greenery and animal habitats, and you’ll have the opportunity to spot blue monkeys and unusual birds that live in the top levels of the forest canopy. Later in the afternoon, go on an exhilarating waterfall hike to experience the magnificent Nyungwe forest. This hike takes between 3 and 6 hours round way, depending on how often you stop to look around and whether you drive a little further or walk from the ORTPN headquarters. The first section of the trail follows the road to the vehicle park before diving into the woodland. You’ll have to cross several streams before descending to the base of the modest, delightful waterfall. The path is frequently visited by monkeys, and the steep slopes allow wonderful views into the canopy. After that, head to your hotel for dinner. Journey Time: 45 minutes each way Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accomodation: Top Hill view lodge

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Day 7

To Kibuye on Lake Kivu

After an early breakfast, you will travel to Kibuye on the eastern coast of Lake Kivu. If you have time, you can go to Ndaba Falls or have a tour around Kibuye. In the afternoon, you can rent a boat and go island hopping. Today’s activities are entirely at your own expense. Rwiza Village is a simple lodging built on a magnificent location in traditional African design with excellent service. We chose this resort for these reasons. It is feasible, however, to upgrade to a more luxurious Moriah Hill resort. Every accommodation has a balcony with a view of the lake. Sign up for this premium when you make your reservation. Journey Time: 3-4 hours Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accomodation: Rwiza Village

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Day 8

To Volcanoes N.P.

After an early breakfast, you will be taken to Musanze, a northeast town near the Virunga Volcano range. This lovely region serves as the starting point for gorilla tracking. There will be a lunch break. Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge is located on the outskirts of town. The big rooms make you feel at home. In the evening, there will be a campfire and entertainment from local dance groups. Journey Time: 4 hours Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accomodation: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

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Day 9

Gorilla Tracking

Get up early! You travel about 30 minutes into the park from the resort to the Office Rwandais de Tourisme et Des Parc Nationaux (ORTPN). The ORTPN’s head ranger will divide you into groups based on your interests and fitness. Your driver/guide will take you as near to the starting site of your tracking as feasible from the ORTPN office. Every day, you will track the Gorillas of one of the habituated groups, which can tolerate the presence of people for a short amount of time. Prepare for a thrilling trek through forested slopes, tangled vines, bushes, and bamboo before reaching the gorillas. Your guide will point out gorilla activity remnants such as excrement, nests, and chewed bamboo shoots. The time it takes to trace the gorillas might range from 30 minutes to 8 hours! You will be given a maximum of one hour with the gorillas once you have been located. Meeting a mountain gorilla is an emotional and humbling event. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up up and personal with Rwanda’s own “Gorillas in the Mist.” Note: Sight View Safaris purchases the permits in advance but is unable to reserve a specific gorilla group as it is for the head-ranger to decide this in the morning. Journey Time: 30 minutes by car, tracking time varies Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner Accomodation: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

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Day 10

Departure

After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred by your driver/guide back to Kigali in time to catch your departure home. Gloomily, this is where you say goodbye to Rwanda. Note: This is only possible when your flight departs from Kigali at 3 p.m. or later. If you need another night in Kigali, we will be happy to make a booking for you. Journey Time: 2.5 hours Meal Plan: Breakfast

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Services Included In This Safari

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Transport in a 4WD landcruiser (depending on the number of persons);

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All fuel for the tour;

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English speaking driver/guide;

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Accommodation as listed in the programme;

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Meals according to the programme;

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Park-entrance fees according to the programme;

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All activities described in the itinerary;

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1 chimpanzee permit per person (value US$ 90);

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1 gorilla permit per person (valueUS$ 1.500).

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Services Excluded from This Safari

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International flights;

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Entry visa Rwanda;

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Personal (medical/travel) insurance;

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Tips and gratuities to your driver/guide, hotel staff, etc;

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All activities that are not mentioned in the programme or activities that are mentioned as optional;

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A porter for during the gorilla trackings (someone who carries your daypack);

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Government Taxes and any increment in park fees;

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All expenses of a personal nature (e.g. laundry, souvenirs etc.).

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Your African Wildlife Safari Details

Services

The Continuous Quest for Quality Safaris

At Sight View Safaris, we stand out at aiding you to get your Safari planned. Not just any Safari, yet outstanding Safaris filled with life-enriching and inspiring experiences.

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Best in Class Stay

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Activism

When you book your Uganda Safari Vacations tour with Sight View Safaris – to any of our destinations – Sight View Safaris will donate 50% of its profits got from the tour and support the projects of its charity organization that supports Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Single H.I.V Infected and Affected Mothers, Left out Youth, Abandoned Elderly people standing on their 2 own feet by attaining vocational skills and formal education, so as to improve on the standards of living, so with this strategy, you transform indirectly the poor dependents people to inter-dependent, making this world safe for the next generation.

What Sight View Safaris Offers to You

We pride ourselves on the rigid procedures we take in supplying the safest and highly trusted travel products at the very best rate to our customers.

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African Safari Rwanda Deals

Examples of Itineraries

Please take a look at our sample African Safari below for inspiration. Every Safari you take can be tailored to meet your individual needs. You can choose any number of days. You can choose any departure date. Feel free to choose any experience.

Gorilla Tracking & Visit Rwanda

This excursion is ideal for individuals who want to save time while still getting close to the gorillas….

3 Days

$2800/person

SHOW DEAL

Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

Throughout this Gorilla Trekking Rwanda tour, you will encounter Safari Rwanda gorillas, be driven to….

3 Days

$3900/person

SHOW DEAL

Chimpanzee & Gorillas Trekking in Rwanda

You will be able to meet friendly people and embark on safari Rwanda gorilla tracking and chimp….

7 Days

$6000/person

SHOW DEAL

Discover Rwanda Safaris

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Visa prerequisites

All travellers to Rwanda must have a passport valid for at least six months. Visas are required for all visitors except citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong, Kenya, and South Africa. Tourist visas with multiple entries can be obtained at your local Rwandan embassy or consulate. Visas are normally valid for three months and can be extended in Kigali on a month-to-month basis.

Medical requirements for Rwanda

Before traveling to Rwanda, you must obtain a document demonstrating that you have got a yellow fever vaccination. Furthermore, your health practitioner must document all required immunizations on a certified vaccination certificate. This document must be carried with you at all times during the tour. Malaria prevention medications should be taken by all visitors. We also recommend that you pack mosquito repellent. For the most up-to-date requirements, immunizations, and personal suggestions, always see your doctor or pharmacist!

Normally you need the following vaccinations but please always consult a doctor

-Yellow Fever (you must have this can even be checked on arrival, especially when flying within East Africa)
-DTP
-COVID19

Hepatitis

For Malaria you need to take tablets, Malarone or Lariam. Malarone is mostly used (please always consult a doctor).
Hygiene is not at the same standard as in your home country, so we advise you to bring a disinfectant cream with you. Always drink bottled water instead of tap water.

On arrival

When you arrive at the airport, our guide will be waiting for you. During safari, we use specially designed safari vehicles that allow us to have the best possible view of the wildlife. Luggage space is limited in safari vehicles (and small planes). It is therefore advised to travel with light bags, as heavy suitcases would overburden the plane and may be difficult to transport.

Money information

Money can be withdrawn from an ATM in the majority of cities. Travelers Cheques are not generally accepted, and paying by credit card is difficult or impossible outside of cities. The US dollar has typically been the preferred hard money. We recommend bringing several dollars for everyday costs and tips, and dollar bills should be no older than ten years old.

Currency Information

The Rwandan Franc is the country’s currency. Please check the most recent exchange rates before departing for your trip. This will serve as a guideline. Please keep in mind that you will get a higher exchange rate in larger cities.

AMREF Flying Doctors

We recommend that you apply for a Flying Doctors membership. If necessary, the membership enables a speedy and dependable air evacuation as well as medical assistance. AMREF Flying Doctors provides two covers (Annual and Tourist). You can pick from Maisha Silver (Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar), Maisha Gold (Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi), and Maisha Platinum (Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar) (Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Ethiopia). Please visit the AMREF Flying Doctors website for additional information and to join.

Language in Rwanda

Rwanda’s official languages are French and English, and the local tongue is Kinyarwanda.

When to visit Rwanda

Rwanda is open all year and can be visited at any time. However, mountain hikes, gorilla tracking, and other forest walks are more difficult during the rainy seasons (March – May and October – November). The rainy season is thought to be the greatest time to visit Rwanda for birders. It rains more frequently during the rainy season, although not every day and not all day.

What Should You Wear in Rwanda?

Daytime temps range from pleasant to hot, so pack plenty of light clothing. Evenings are chilly, especially at high altitudes (areas around Volcanoes National Park and the Virungas), so bring a sweater or two. Mountain hikers will be exposed to alpine temperatures and should dress appropriately. For woodland walks, good walking shoes and sturdy clothing are essential. Because of the dense flora and thorns, gardening gloves come in helpful during gorilla tracking. Remember to pack a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a waterproof jacket. We recommend that you avoid wearing black or dark blue clothing on safari (because they can attract tsetse flies). We recommend that you dress appropriately if you are going on a community stroll or visiting the locals. Women, for example, may wear long skirts and a blouse that conceals their shoulders. We also recommend that you avoid wearing purple clothing. Following the 1994 Genocide, Rwanda “adopted” purple as the official color of mourning.

What to bring during Rwanda Travel ?

A valid passport is required (valid for at least three months after re-entry), and visa requirements for all countries you intend to visit should be confirmed before you travel. We recommend that you bring binoculars and field guides with you to make the most of your visit to the game reserves and national parks. Wildlife photography will necessitate the use of a zoom lens (70-300 or more). Please bring plenty of memory cards with you. Toiletries and other necessities can be purchased in towns, and a torch (flashlight) can be extremely beneficial.

Rwanda Electricity

We recommend that you bring an international adaptor for your electrical equipment. The Western European system is applied in Rwanda. Most lodges allow you to charge your batteries.

Driving in Rwanda

Driving is done on the right side of the road in Rwanda. Visitors who are unfamiliar with African roads are encouraged to travel in a 4WD vehicle driven by a knowledgeable driver/guide rather than self-drive, and all of our guides are properly educated in “Defensive Driving.”

Stopover Points

Please keep in mind that washrooms along the road are not always up to European standards, such as squatting toilets, no flushing toilets, or a lack of toilet paper. T.I.A. stands for This Is Africa, as the people say.

Facilities and accommodations

When traveling on a medium to low budget, bathroom facilities and accommodations may be more basic. Keep in mind that water reserves in eco lodges are limited, and in most cases, there are no plugs in the room, but you can always charge your electronics at the reception.

Tipping

Tipping is always graciously accepted. In hotels and restaurants, it is customary to leave a tip of 5-10%. Tipping guides, drivers, and carriers is always appreciated. Indication: USD 1-3 for carriers and USD 5-15 for your driver/guide each day, depending on group size, number of days, and your pleasure.

Need More Information ?

The Lonely Planet and Bradt Travel Guide are the most detailed guidebooks for Rwanda. For wildlife, the best guidebook is ‘Watching Wildlife East Africa’ from the Lonely Planet and The Bradt ‘East African Wildlife’. For birding, the best guidebook is ‘birds of East Africa’. It is advisable to get the most updated copy.

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Meet Some Happy Safari Travellers

Sight View Safaris, thank you again for a brilliant safari and stay in Uganda. Everything scored on A plus. The Ugandan people are a joyful and welcoming…….

Martin and Stella

Canada

When traveling to Uganda, there are many choices for safari companies but the service and experience provided by Sight View Safaris cannot be matched……

Isabella and Gary

USA

We went on safari with Sight View Safaris in August 2015. We cannot rave enough about what a fantastic experience this was. The most memorable experiences of my life…..

Amy

Australia

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