Virunga Mountains – 1 Night

After an early morning breakfast at the hotel we visit the Genocide Memorial which is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994 through education and peace-building. Hereafter we head to Hotel Des Mille Collines which was inaugurated in 1973 as the premier grand hotel of the country. It became a shelter and light of hope in the darkness for a terrified crowd of up to 2,000 people who were saved by the hotel opening its doors in 1994 during the genocide After lunch we depart for the +-4 hour drive to the town of Kinigi near the entrance gate and headquarters of Volcanoes National Park. This park is the home to half the endangered mountain gorillas left, golden monkeys as well as five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountain chain. After arriving and before heading to Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, we will visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village where the villagers have convinced a group of ex-poachers to turn their back on their former lifestyle and create a traditional dance group that performs for visitors on a cultural village tour. This evening dinner will be in Le Bambou’s in-house restaurant. Choose from a varied selection created out of fresh produce sourced from the farms of the local communities around Kinigi. They also have their own garden where fruits and vegetables are grown.

Trekking to see the golden monkeys is another highlight of Volcanoes National Park. The Golden Monkey is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the “Blue Monkey” and is endemic to the high altitude forests of the Volcanoes National Park area. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive and often spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor. After spending +- 1 hour with the monkeys we will head back to Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge for lunch before heading to the borderpost with Uganda.

Accommodation 

Accommodation – Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge – View Property

Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge is in the perfect loaction for all your activities in the Virunga mountains and the surrounding areas. The rooms in the beautiful gardens are spacious and the food and fireplace always create a feeling that you are at home.

Activities Included
Golden monkey trekking
Cultural village visit

Activities Optional
Gorilla trekking
Visit Diane Fossey’s grave
Batwa Pygmies

Lake Mutanda- 3 Nights

Day 2

After returning in the late morning we will have lunch at the lodge before starting our 3- hour journey to Kisoro in Uganda. Lake Mutanda is a little-known jewel hidden in the mountainous landscape of southwestern Uganda. It is one of the most scenic lakes in Africa located in a dramatic landscape of lush and verdant sprawling highlands. Its fresh clear water is dotted by at least 15 islands lush with trees, shrubs and many bird species. This amazing scenery is set against a stunning backdrop of the cloudy peaks of the Virunga Mountain Volcanoes. Ideally located between Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks and overlooking the lake is the unrivalled location of the colourful Chameleon Hill Lodge. With exquisite views of Lake Mutanda below and beyond and with the Virunga Volcanoes as a backdrop, the lodge is surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery and could not be more idyllic. Other activities at Lake Mutanda is canoeing, visiting local villages or exploring the beautiful area on the back of local motorbike

Day 3

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 because of its rich diversity in flora and fauna and is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. This morning after an early rise and breakfast you will be transferred to Bwindi forest (+- 1 hour away) for your Gorilla trekking. Trekkers will ensure that we will find one of the Gorilla groups which can take between 45 minutes and 2-3 hours. We will spend a maximum of 1 hour with the group and the experience of being so close to these beautiful and peaceful animals will stay with you forever. We will return back to Lake Mutanda at around lunchtime. The rest of the afternoon is for you to relax and obviously scan through all the photos that you have taken for that perfect shot. Other activities on the lake and surrounding area is also possible. This evening we will enjoy dinner on the veranda of Chameleon Hill Lodge for a last sunset over Lake Mutanda.

Day 4

We have added this day at Lake Mutanda just in case of the small possibility that you have not found your Gorilla family the day before and need to trek again. You won’t regret spending another day at Lake Mutanda and even just to relax and take in the beauty of your surrounds will be good. Another option is a guided tour that combines a boat excursion, village walk and an optional ride on a Ugandan “Boda Boda” motorbike across the magnificent Lake Mutanda region. Visit 2 islands en route, interact with the locals and get dusted on an adventurous motorbike ride. Dinner this evening will be at the lodge.

Accommodation 

Accommodation – Chameleon Hill Lodge – View Property

The quirky Chameleon Hill Lodge in Uganda overlooks Lake Mutanda and faces the beautiful Virunga Volcanic range. A very relaxed atmosphere in a breathtaking rainforest setting, this lodge features comfortable standard accommodation and serves delicious meals. Eat food and stunning vistas. This one of the kind wilderness lodges brings to light the many bright colours in the different building like these of Chameleons.

Activities Included
Gorilla trekking
Boat ride Lake Mutanda

Activities Optional
Motorbike scenic drives
Birding
Cultural village visit

Kigali – 1 Night

This morning after breakfast we make our way slowly back to Kigali. Lunch will be at Hotel Muhabura in Ruhengeri where Dianne Fossey spent many nights when she came down from her gorilla camp. Perched atop an ideal vantage point across the garden city of Kigali, Urban by CityBlue is just 15 minutes from the airport and almost all other areas of Kigali. Depending on our arrival time we will visit The Caplaki Handicrafts Market (the perfect place to browse for Rwandan souvenirs) or the Kimironko City Market where all types of colourful and tasty food are sold. This evening have a farewell dinner and sundowners at the unmissable rooftop bar, Sky Lounge, overlooking the city of thousand hills.

Accommodation 

Accommodation – Urban By City Blue – Kigali – View Property

Perched atop an ideal vantage point across the garden city of Kigali, Urban by CityBlue is just 15 minutes from the airport, the new International Convention center, and almost all other areas of Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, “the Land of a Thousand Hills”.

Activities Included
Caplaki Handicrafts Market
Kimironko City Market

Activities Optional
City night tour