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Download our 2012-2013 Antarctica brochure for our wonderful new program of expedition cruises to the Great White Continent and beyond. Or request a print copy to be sent by mail.
Outside Magazine’s Trips of the Year
Outside Magazine picked our Larapinta trek, a bushwalk in central Australia with veteran Trip Leader James Fuss.
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Gorilla Tracking In Rwanda's Parc Des Volcans
One of the World’s Most Thrilling Wildlife Experiences
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $1695 |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4 days |
| Arrive: | Kigali, Rwanda |
| Depart: | Kigali, Rwanda |
| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Wildlife & Natural History |
| Trip Level: |
explain
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Our Trips using this Extension
East Africa Private Journey
Mountain Gorilla Safari
Out of Africa
Serengeti Wildlife Safari
Tanzania Private Journey
The Great Serengeti
Join your ranger-guide for the heart-pounding experience of tracking and observing the mountain gorilla clans that reside in the spectacular montane forests of Virunga Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, researcher Dian Fossey’s base for 13 years.
Day 1
Kinigi, Rwanda / Parc National des Volcans
Upon arrival in Kigali, Rwanda, you are met for a morning city tour, including the Genocide Memorial Centre, a moving memorial to those who lost their lives in the genocide of 1994 that split the country apart. Afterward, a spectacular 2.5-hour drive brings you to Kinigi, headquarters of the Parc National des Volcans. The drive brings you through awe-inspiring scenery with the towering green shapes of the 12,000-foot Virunga Volcanoes dominating the landscape. Overnight at the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (or upgrade to the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge).
Days 2-3
Gorilla Tracking
Enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of tracking and quietly observing the mountain gorilla clans that reside in the park’s montane forests, researcher Dian Fossey’s base for 13 years. The hiking terrain ranges in altitude from 3,800 to 8,500 feet and preserves one of the largest natural forests in East Africa. The tracking can be tough-you begin early in the morning and hike through dense forests at moderate altitudes for three to six hours, depending on where we find the gorillas. The hiking is on moderately steep and thickly forested terrain, and the climate is hot and humid. But the rewards are tremendous and the rigors forgotten as soon as you spot a gorilla family and become absorbed in watching these gentle creatures. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (or Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge) on Day 2, late afternoon return to Kigali on Day 3, with overnight at the Kigali Serena Hotel on Day 3.
Day 4
Nairobi / Depart
Transfer to the airport for a midday flight to Nairobi.
Extension Costs
Prices are for 2012
At Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
$1695 per person, double occupancy (3-4 people)$1895 per person, double occupancy (2 people)
Single supplement: $500
Solo traveler: $2995
Gorilla Trek Permits: $1500 for two treks (subject to change)
At Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
$2895 per person, double occupancy (3-4 people)$3195 per person, double occupancy (2 people)
Single supplement: $650
Solo traveler: $4295
Gorilla Trek Permits: $1500 for two treks (subject to change)
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Days 1 to 2 (2 nights), Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda
This lodge has a great location and it’s an ideal base for gorilla tracking, just a 15-minute drive from park headquarters. The simple bungalows are built in a lovely setting on the lower slopes of Mt. Sabyinyo and offer a private bathroom with hot-water shower, a wood-burning fireplace, and a veranda. Electricity is provided by generator. A special touch: the staff puts a hot water bottle in the guest beds at night to help with the chilly night air.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Optional Upgrade)
Days 1 to 2 (2 nights), Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda
With a stunning location at 8,000 feet on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes, Sabyinyo has stone-built bungalows that each have a bedroom, sitting ...
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Kigali Serena Hotel
Day 3 (1 night), Kigali, Rwanda
The Serena is a large, well-appointed business hotel in the commercial heart of Kigali with air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, and an excellent ...
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Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.