14-DAYS IN RWANDA NZIZA-SUPER LUXURY

Proposed itinerary

Day 01 Arrival in Kigali Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by a Palast tours & travel representative
You will be transferred to Radisson Blufor overnight.
Balance of the evening spent at leisure with dinner under own arrangements.

Day 02Kigali/Nyungwe National Park

After breakfast, join your guide on a City Tour of Kigali including the Kigali Memorial Centre.
Afterwards, you will drive south to Nyungwe National Park (6hrs).
Lunch is enroute on your own account

Nyungwe rain-forest National Park in southern RWANDA is one of the most beautiful and the largest remaining stretch of montane forests in East Africa. It is home to a wide variety of mammals and 13 species of primates including Chimpanzees and large troops of Angola Colobus Monkeys that inhabit her fairytale world of ancient trees, bushes and shrubs species some dating back to the ice ages; all grown over steep and fertile green valleys and ridges surrounded by beautiful tea plantations. Amidst her well maintained hiking trails, guests enjoy regular guided Forest Hikes down to stunning valleys with beautiful waterfalls; Track the semi-habituated family of Chimpanzees at dawn as they de-nest, or track large troops of Black & White Angola Colobus Monkeys in Gisakura or down in the valleys below. Nyungwe is also a bird lovers’ paradise with numerous species including many endemics recorded. A guided Bird Walk from Uwinka will return many species ticked. The adrenaline pumping Nyungwe Canopy Walk, a foot-wide suspension bridge hang over huge pylons across two ridges at 80m above a deep valley’s ground is the only one of its kind in East and Central Africa. With your specialist guide, enjoy stunning views over the forest canopy extending as far as the Virunga volcanoes; and learn about unique canopy species of plants, mammals, birds and butterflies as the bridge sways in the breeze and your heart threatens to pop-out, still amazing anyway. At the adjacent tea plantations, we offer cultural encounters meeting and mingling with local peasant farmers as they harvest tea, an activity they eagerly welcome our guests to participate in as they share their stories. In the evening, you may partake of the tea tasting ceremony offered at Nyungwe Forest Lodge. There is so much to do and love in Nyungwe forest National Park, one of Rwanda’s best kept secrets.

You arrive at One&Only Nyungwe housein time for dinner and overnight.

ONE&ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE– BLD

Day 03 Nyungwe Forest National Park / Chimpanzees tracking and Canopy walk

Arise at dawn with coffee/tea and cookies then at 04.30hrs: transfer to Cyamudongo forest (35kms/1½hrs) with your specialist park/guide for a morning Chimpanzee Tracking.

Our object is to catch the 35member habituated family as they de-nest at day break. Chimpanzee tracking entails hiking in steep and sometimes wet and muddy conditions in the thick vegetation of cyamudongo. Participants are advised to pace themselves and follow the guide’s advice.

Upon sighting the chimpanzees (60% chance), you will spend time observing them as they go about daily life; up in the trees or down on the ground, feeding, or grooming, mating, sparring, trammel beating or just howling and screeching as they do so powerfully.

At the ready, you will hike back to base where your driver/guide will be waiting to transfer you back to lodge. Usually, guests are back around 11.00am for a late breakfast.
In the afternoon, you will return to the Park office for the Nyungwe Canopy Walk experience.

On arrival at the park offices, you will be met by your specialist park guide for a briefing, then hike down the steep slope to the beginning of the canopy walkwaywhere you climb the massive pylons by stairs onto the bridge.Elevated across a valley and over the forest canopy (over 70m at the valley’s lowest point), this single file, foot only 200m long swaying bridge, the only one of its kind in east and central Africa, allows you to observe and learn about unique forest canopy features and creatures including flowers, shrubs, insects, monkeys, other small mammals as well as birds and butterflies. From its vantage point on a clear day, one can enjoy splendid and extensive views across most of the forest even to Lake Kivu and the Virunga volcanoes.

The rest of the afternoon you will spend it at leisure enjoying the breathtaking view of the hills and mountains
Dinner is at the lodge

ONE&ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE– BLD

Day 04 Nyungwe National Park / Visit waterfall

This morning you will visit the waterfall deep inside the forest, an experience not to miss.
Afterwards, you will have a deserved lunch and rest in the lost paradise.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy the facilities of the lodge, where you can have a massage, sauna, gym, etc
Dinner is at the lodge

ONE&ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE – BLD

Day 05 Nyungwe Forest National Park – Kibuye

After breakfast, check out and drive to Kibuye(4hrs) on the shores of Lake Kivu.

Kibuye is a typical Rwandan town; totally clean and spotless, well organized, great weather, stunning views, hospitable people; and relaxing. Sitting on shores of Lake Kivu, Africa’s 6th largest and one of her most gorgeous lakes .

With lunch en-route, you will arrive at Moriah Hill resort in the afternoon.
You have your time to explore the beauty of the lake
Dinner is at the resort and overnight.

KIVU LODGE –BLD

Day 06 Hiking Congo Nile Trail

Early in the Morning you will start hiking the congo nile trail with packed lunches
You will be back in the afternoon, for the time to relax and enjoy the relaxing air.
Dinner and overnight at your resort

KIVU LODGE –BLD

Day 07 Driving to Volcanoes National Park

In the morning, you will be drive to Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda encompasses the Rwanda section of the Virunga Volcanoes, a series of eight volcanic mountains which sit astride the border triangle between Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo and include the still active Nyiragongo and Nyakagezi located in DR Congo. Situated 115kms/2½hrs drive north-west of Kigali and encompassing five of the volcanoes, the park’s 160km² of bamboo montane forest are habitat for the rare and critically endangered Mountain Gorillas of which only approx. 800 members remain in the world! Immortalized in the movie “Gorillas-In-The-Mist” depicting the life and times of American zoologist Dian Fossey who spent almost 20yrs in the 60s to the 80s studying the gorillas, they inspire great human curiosity owing to their being massive wild animals that genetically, socially and physically so closely resemble humans. Other mammals include the beautiful Golden Monkeys, a variety of antelopes, hyenas, bushbucks, and some buffaloes and forest elephants, as well as over 170 species of birds. Of the many gorilla families, 10 have been habituated and opened for controlled Gorilla Tracking, one of the most popular tourist activities. Other activities in and around the park include Golden Monkeys Tracking, guided Hikes up several of the Volcanoes as well as scenic tours and cultural tours in the outlying areas.

Lunch enroute on your own account
You will arrive at Singita Kwitonda LodgeLate in the afternoon
dinner and overnight at the Lodge

SINGITA-BLD

Day 08 Gorilla Tracking In Volcanoes National Park

Arise early for breakfast then at 06.30hrs: transfer to the National Park HQs for your Gorilla Tracking adventure. After registration, participants are divided into groups of 8, allocated a gorilla family to track and a specialist Gorilla Tracking Guide to lead them.

0700hrs: Briefing by your guide then drive to the trail head from where the trekking begins. Your guide will lead you, first, through local homesteads and small scale pyrethrum farms then into the forest and up the volcanoes through interspersed bamboo forest and grassland with stunning views in the footsteps of the rare yet critically endangered Mountain Gorillas. And he/she never seems to run out of interesting stories about the forest, conservation, the vegetation and the gorillas and other of this forest’s inhabitants.

Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for one unforgettable hour as they go about their daily life – feeding, playing, resting, sleeping, raising their young; almost oblivious of your presence but definitely curious, especially the little ones who sometimes come rather close. It is a magical and breathtaking experience.

But the hour is always over too soon and you hike back to base where your Driver will be awaiting to transfer you back to the lodge for a deserved shower and lunch.
Later, enjoy aa tour of the Ibyi’Iwacu ex-Poachers Village for a Rwandan cultural experience.

Situated in Kinigi at the foothills of the Sabyinyo Volcano, ‘ex-Poachers’ as it is popularly referred to, is an award winning conservation initiative where former poachers were persuaded to desist from poaching and instead come together to form this replica of a Rwandan traditional village with a king’s palace and four traditional huts where they showcase aspects of Rwandan culture, traditions and customs and earn a living as conservationists. On arrival at the village, guests are welcomed with cultural drums, song and dance then led by a village guide through the various exhibitions including traditional rural life, cookery and foods, weaving, grinding, fire-making, a traditional healer with a herbal and spiritual medicine’s ‘laboratory’, archery, javelin, a blacksmith and architecture, Rwandan kingship, palace life and coronations as well as the villagers’ previous life as poachers and their new found passion in conservation and how they have benefited. At the end of the tour, you will have an opportunity to learn a few steps and moves in the very captivating Rwanda cultural dance as well as buy some local curios and crafts including the popular agaseke (traditional baskets), calabashes, hammocks, traditional wooden crockery, dancing bows, arrows and beautiful drums of all sizes.

You will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

SINGITA – BLD

DAY 09 Golden Monkeys Tracking- In Volcanoes National Park/Kigali

After breakfast transfer back to the Park HQs for a Golden Monkeys Tracking experience.

The beautiful Golden Monkeys are considered the little sisters of the Mountain Gorillas with whom they share the Virunga Volcanoes; suffering the same threats ranging from human encroachment, habitat loss, poaching and snares as well as wars and together are listed on the IUCN Red List of endangered species. A primate species of the Old World Monkeys and endemic to the Virunga Volcanoes and KahuziBiega in eastern DRC, they are a relatively big monkey, similar to the blue monkey but with a beautiful Golden-Orange flowing cape on the back and rear as well as contrasting black limbs and face more reminiscent of the Colobus Monkeys. They live in social groups of up to 30 or 40 members feeding on fresh bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, branches and insects and tend to sleep in the same location high up the bamboo trees day in and day out.

After registration and briefing by your guide, 0700hrs: you will proceed to the trailhead where the trekking into the forest begins. Our guests visit/track one of the two habituated families, in groups of maximum 8 persons; Your guide is always at hand to tell all the amazing stories about the monkeys – they know some of them by features and name – their place in the eco-system, their proclivity to being poached as well as why should be conserved.

Upon sighting the Golden Monkeys, you will spend a fascinating hour in their presence as they go about their daily life. They are ample fun to see, and also excellent to photograph although it can be a little difficult even as they jump from tree to tree.

After the hour is over, you will hike back to base where your guide will be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge for a shower and lunch; the excursion normally last 3 to 4hrs round trip.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

(At an extra cost) you may proceed on optional activities of your choice, including:

Visiting Buhanga Eco park,
Musanze Caves,
Ex-poacher’s village,
Kayaking/canoeing on Mukungwa River, etc.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge

SINGITA – BLD

Day 10 Volcanoes National Park/ Hike Bisoke

This morning you will hike the Bisoke volcanoe where on the top you see the breathtaking crater lake.
Afterwards, you will have a deserved lunch and shower
In the afternoon, you will go for canoeing in Mukungwa River, another way to explore better the beauty of Volcanoes, where you see from the waters the five Volcanoes
Dinner is at the Lodge

SINGITA-BLD

Day 11 Volcanoes National Park/Kigali /Akagera National Park

In the morning, you check out, drive back to Kigali and then have lunch on own account
Afterwards, you will continue driving to Akagera National Park
Check in at Magashi camp. You will still have time to relax before dinner
Dinner and overnight

MAGASHI CAMP- D

Day 12&13 Akagera National Park

Full day spent in Akagera with morning and afternoon game viewing and bird watching drives in search of lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, many species of antelopes, hyenas, giraffe, zebra and even leopard although it is quite elusive.

Optional activities at extra charge:

Guided nature/bush walks and
Boat ride on Lake Ihema.

MAGASHI- BLD

Day 14 Depart

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kigali and then continue to the airport for your international departure flight.

END of Palast Tours & Travel service – BL – Urugendo ruhire

NON – COMMISSIONNABLE COST (USD) FOR THE ITINERARY

2020

Per person sharing in a double/twin room

(cost of permits to be added on PP)

Based on 1 pax USD 18786.67 PP

Based on 2pax USD 16697.49PP

Based on 4Pax USD 15652.91PP

Mountain Gorilla tracking permits USD 1500 PP

Chimpanzees tracking permit: USD 90 PP

Canopy walk permit : 60 USD

Upgrade available in upon request on each destination

INCLUSIONS:

Meet & Greet at the airport with
Airport/airstrip transfers;
Ground transportation safari-customized 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser;
services of courteous and professional English-speaking Driver/guides;
Mineral water in the vehicle;
Gorilla tracking Permits-once (shown separately- to be added on PP sharing cost);
applicable Park Fees as per your itinerary
Accommodation as shown
Meals as shown (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch and D = Dinner);
Medical Emergency Evacuation Cover and applicable Taxes.

EXCLUSIONS

Intercontinental flights
Entry Visa fees
Items of a personal nature like crafts and curios shopping, laundry, bar drinks;
Tips and gratuities for your Driver/guide, Tour Leader, Hotel or Restaurant Staff, other Guides and Rangers; International airport departure taxes, any other items not shown or expressly mentioned as included.

BOOKING/PAYMENT POLICY

1. A deposit equivalent to 25% of the Tour Package Price is required to confirm a booking or the cost of Gorilla permits if applicable
2. The full balance is due 45 days before the tour start date.
3. Full payment is required to confirm tours booked < 35 days before their start date.

CANCELLATION POLICY

For any bookings cancelled and/or reduced in number after confirmation, the following Cancellation Policy applies:

> 60days before start date – US$ 150 booking handling fee is charged
60-36 days before start date – 20% of the applicable invoice amount
35-16 days before start date – 50% of the applicable invoice amount
15-03 days before start date – 75% of the applicable invoice amount

02-0 days before start date – 100% of the applicable invoice amount/No Show