Days 1-2: Jul 1-2
Kigali/Akagera National Park/
Parc National des Volcans This
morning, tour Kigali and visit the Gisozi
Memorial Museum's exhibition of the
Rwandan genocide. Later, travel by
helicopter to eastern Rwanda for an
aerial view of the Akagera National
Park, home to all of the "Big Five"
(lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and
rhino). Land at Sabyinyo Silverback
Lodge, located amid the foothills of the
Sabyinyo volcano. You are welcomed
by a traditional dance troupe.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge B L D
Day 3: Jul 3
Parc National des Volcans
Learn about the golden monkey of
Parc National des Volcans during a
morning briefing. Viewing this primate
species is much different than observing
gorilla. They love to chatter and play
hide-and-seek. A large part of their day
is spent climbing the vegetation and
feeding on bamboo leaves and shoots.
After watching the golden monkey,
visit an ex-poachers village where you
learn about fire making, archery and
traditional medicine.
The next day,
you are briefed on the behavior of the
mountain gorilla in preparation for
your trek, considered to be the pinnacle
of African wildlife experiences. After
being assigned a gorilla family, begin
your tracking with your expert guides,
who rely on field reports as well as their
own experience to find the gorilla. Once
you locate the family, you may stay
with them for an hour to observe them
in their natural habitat - more than
enough time to experience the familial
bond between human and gorilla.
Return to your lodge for lunch and a
performance by a local dance troupe.
Afterward, meet with a veterinarian who
discusses his work with the mountain
gorilla.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge B L D
Days 4-5: Jul 4-5
Parc National des Volcans/
Lake Kivu Observe a different gorilla
family this morning. After lunch, drive
to the resort town of Gisenyi, located
on the shores of Lake Kivu, a beautiful
high altitude lake that forms the border
between the Congo and Rwanda. The
remainder of the day is at leisure to relax
at the pool or beach.
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel B L D
Day 6: Jul 6
Lake Kivu Rwanda has some
of the best coffee growing conditions
in the world. Visit the COOPAC coffee
cooperative that produces specialty
coffee from the Arabica bean. It is
located on the steep slopes of northern
Rwanda's volcanic mountains, where the
rich soil, high altitudes and abundant
rainfall give the bourbon coffee trees
that dot the slopes above Lake Kivu the
best environment to yield the highest
quality Arabica beans. COOPAC has
been Fair Trade certified and currently
COOPAC specialty coffee is distributed
in Rwanda, the USA and France. This
evening, enjoy a special barbecue
dinner on the beach.
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel B L D
Day 7: Jul 7
Lake Kivu/Imbabazi
Orphanage/Kigali This morning,
drive back to Kigali. En route, stop
at the Imbabazi Orphanage, founded
by Rosamond Halsey Carr in 1994.
Imbabazi, which means "a place where
you will receive all the love and care a
mother would give," was established by
Carr in response to the 1994 genocide
and has provided refuge and hope to
hundreds of Rwandan children. Pause
for lunch in Carr's gardens before
you return to Kigali for your farewell
dinner in one of the city's most popular
restaurants.
Kigali Serena Hotel B L D
Day 8: Jul 8
Kigali/USA or CanadaBoard
your homebound flight or continue to
Tanzania.
B
Day 9: Jul 9
Jul 9-14: From the location of the
Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra
to the lion cub practicing the art of the
hunt, Tanzania is a world where nature
creates the rules. Fly to Arusha to begin
your exciting safari in Tanzania. Spend
two days viewing game in the Serengeti
National Park, one of the world's largest
wildlife sanctuaries. Go on morning
and afternoon game drives through
some of the park's 10,000 square miles
that support every type of animal found
in the region. Spend two nights in a
lodge near the Ngorongoro Crater, a
giant caldera that is one of Africa's
most fascinating wildlife areas. View
flamingo and other birds sharing the
shallow water of the lake with hippo,
their massive heads skimming the
surface. You are also likely to see cattle
and Maasai herdsmen who continue
to coexist with wildlife as they have for
centuries.
Optional Extension to Tanzania