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Mountain Gorilla Extension to the Virunga Mountains, Rwanda
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| Young Mountain Gorilla with Silverback |
Companion Safari: This Rwanda Gorilla Trek is an optional extension immediately before our safari to Kenya.
Cost: $3100. Review cost details.
Leaders and Outfitters: Origins Safaris based in Nairobi and Kigali with their resident guides.
Deposit: $1000 (this includes a non-refundable fee of $500 for Mountain Gorilla permits).
Itinerary updated: December 2007
| (times are approximate) | |
| August 6 | Fly to Nairobi Overnight in Nairobi at the Mayfair Holiday Inn |
| August 7 | Fly Nairobi to Kigali Lunch in Kigali Afternoon city tour and visit genocide memorial sites 90 minute drive to Ruhengeri Dinner and overnight Gorilla Nest Lodge |
| August 8 | 0700 hours: breakfast 0800 - 0830 hours: Volcano Park Formalities 0830 - 1600 hours: Gorilla Trek (1 hour visit only) Lunch, dinner and overnight Gorilla Nest Lodge |
| August 9 | 0700 hours: breakfast 0800 - 0830 hours: Volcano Park Formalities 0830 - 1600 hours: Gorilla Trek (1 hour visit only) Lunch at Muhabura Hotel 1630 - 1800 hours: drive to Kigali Dinner and overnight Novotel Umubano, Kigali |
| August 10 | Breakfast Afternoon flight Kigali to Nairobi and transfer to the Mayfair Hotel Lunch and dinner on your own Begin Kenya Migration Safari |
August 6 - 7, Wednesday - Thursday: Flights via Nairobi to Kigali, Rwanda.
Arrive at the Nairobi Airport where you will be met for your transfer and overnight in Nairobi on Wednesday at the Mayfair Holiday Inn. Meals on your own today. Depart from the Mayfair in Nairobi Thursday morning at approximately 7 am for a flight to Kigali on Kenya Air from the Nairobi Airport. Gain one hour from Nairobi time, two hours ahead of GMT. You will be met by an Origins Safaris representative and have lunch at the Kigali Novotel Hotel followed by an afternoon visit to the genocide memorial before proceeding to Ruhengeri and the Virungas. This is a fascinating visit to the memorial with an important statement about Rwanda's past, but it is not for the faint-hearted. The intention is to show Rwanda's commitment: Such atrocities will never happen again. The drive to the Gorilla's Nest Lodge is about 90 minutes in a roomy Landcruiser. After dinner at the Gorilla's Nest, enjoy a good night's sleep in preparation of the highlight tomorrow with Mountain Gorillas.
Lodging: Gorilla's Nest Lodge
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| Mountain Gorilla |
August 8, Friday: Gorilla Trek
After breakfast, drive to the Virunga National Park Headquarters. There will be plenty of porters available and eager to help you carry your photo equipment and water. Most of the ranger/guides speak English. They speak French as their second language and have learned English to answer questions from the many English speaking visitors who arrive to experience Mountain Gorilla trekking.
This is one of the most exhilarating and moving wildlife experiences you can have. Normally you get very close to these giant primates, observing them observing you. Their almost human movements, innate dignity and social interaction make a unique connection for everyone fortunate enough to have this experience.
Mt. Visoke, at 3,711 meters (12,172 feet), is the third highest peak after Karisimbi and Muhabura, and is the mountain with wonderful native forest where the gorillas reside. At present only thirty people a day can spend just one hour with these gorillas. The maximum number of tourists visiting any habituated group is eight people. The trek to find gorillas can be quite short, but on most days an hour or two or three of rough hiking each way is necessary. Dress warmly, as the weather can be cool at this altitude.
From park headquarters drive to the entrance of the forest on Mt. Visoke, and walk up to the forest through the local shambas planted with potatoes and pyrethrum. The guides will already know approximately where the troop is located that you will be visiting. Each visit is by permit and limited to one hour with a professional Gorilla tracker in charge who will coach you in the safety rules and body language required to come close to the Gorilla troops. The average time to reach the troop is about sixty minutes, but can be up to three hours or more and can be relatively steep climbing through dense vegetation to reach the group. You may climb through several vegetation zones; bamboo, luxuriant hagenia and hypericum forest, with twisted gnarled trees covered in soft emerald mosses, lichens and epiphytes. The guides stay on the trails until close to the troop, then cut trail to get close. As you get closer to the troop, the guides will point out signs that lead them straight to the gorillas. The rangers might show you some wild celery or some giant blackberries that the gorillas love. They definitely will show you the different species of stinging nettles that the gorillas eat, but warn you not to grab hold of a stinging nettle.
One of the troops is the "Amahoro group," named after the dominant silverback. A silverback is a Gorilla that has reached maturity, generally between the ages of 13 to 15. The "Sousa group" is the largest and normally the most distant to reach, since they like to live higher on the mountain than other groups.
When you are very close, the guides will tell you to leave your bags and take only your cameras. The lead guide will edge forward grunting as he goes to announce your arrival to the group so as not to startle the gorilla. Normally the silverback is lying in thick vegetation lazily watching. One or more females are often close by and are unperturbed by your appearance. Your guides will cut a path through the tangle of vegetation to try to see them. Frequently they are in open glades, which makes photography very rewarding. One of the most entertaining experiences is to watch the young Mountain Gorillas having a great time, play fighting, climbing trees and wrestling. The hour of viewing will pass very quickly.
Ruhengeri is at the base of the Virunga Mountains and Kinigi is where our aptly named lodge, "the Gorillas Nest," is situated, two kilometers west of the Kinigi Park Headquarters. The lodge is in a lovely rural setting and ideally situated to the park headquarters for each morning's registration process. There is no electricity in Kinigi, so the lodge operates a generator. Each public room overlooks green lawns and a semi-circle of twenty double rooms and two suites. The rooms all look outwards into the Eucalyptus forest, pyrethrum farms and shambas (farms) beyond. The Lodge is well constructed, but utilitarian: with grass thatched roofs in traditional Rwandese style - not the "rustic luxury safari" style of East and Southern Africa. Nearby is a traditional Rwandese homestead for visitors to visit in the afternoon after Gorilla trekking. All meals included. Return to the lodge and after dinner enjoy a performance of traditional Tutsi dancing.
Lodging: Gorilla's Nest Lodge in Kinigi
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| Silverback |
August 9, Saturday: Gorilla Trek Continues
Your grand 'Gorilla' finale will dawn today. Have breakfast at 7 am. As yesterday, you will enter the forest and find the Mountain Gorillas with the skillful guidance of your rangers. Maybe today you will see the largest silverback in the Virungas, named Guhonda, surrounded by the younger members of the group playing boisterously and noisily.
The climb again begins through the lush terraced farmland of the lower volcanic slopes. As the slopes become steeper and rockier, the vegetation becomes thick and tangled; the guides must use their machetes to help clear a path. Huge trees, clinging vines and undergrowth add to the challenge of swift streams and slippery red mud underfoot. Usually at around 8,000 feet. in elevation signs of the huge animals become apparent. Damage to the bamboo trees is an obvious sign as the gorillas relish the young tender shoots and break older stems to suck the sap. The smell of gorilla may waft by in a stray breeze or, if one is really near, it is strong and unmistakable. The sounds you may hear can be loud crashes or dull reverberating thuds. They range up to 8,500 feet.
You will certainly have some great memories, as we do of all our Mountain Gorilla treks, since we started doing them back in the 1980's. On one of our Mountain Gorilla treks, Ted was not watching his soft leather lens cover, which one of the babies snatched from behind him. The youngster proceeded to chew it up while running round and round the silverback. The ranger was not able to retrieve the cover before it was in shreds. Gail had the ultimate experience once when a silverback walked by her and stopped to grasp her knee, gently holding it for over a minute. The ranger lifted the silverback's powerful hand off her knee with a walking stick and Gail kept her eyes down, gazing in amazement at the hand on her knee, so as not to make eye contact with this amazing male gentle giant!
After lunch at the Muhabura Hotel in Ruhengeri, drive back to Kigali. All meals included today. Overnight at the Novotel Umubano in Kagali. This hotel is a newly renovated four-star hotel of international standard (services and food) comparable to a Novotel anywhere in the world. The hotel with 100 rooms has a lovely pool and tennis courts.
Lodging: Novotel Umubano Hotel
August 10, Sunday: Flight to Nairobi to join Kenya Migration Safari
The flight to Nairobi departs in the early afternoon to connect with the afternoon flight from Kigali. You will have a few hours in the morning in Kigali to do an optional city tour or just relax on the grounds at the Novotel. The people who work with Origins Safaris in Kigali will work on how best to fit in an optional morning excursion if you choose to do so. Lunch and dinner are not included on Sunday. You will be met in Nairobi for your transfer to the Mayfair Holiday Inn to meet up with Gail and Doug this evening.
Lodging: Mayfair Holiday Inn
The Mountain Gorilla: Mountain Gorillas were made famous by Dian Fossey who dedicated her life to their future and immortalised them in the film Gorillas in the Mist. There are no more than 668 Mountain Gorillas remaining in the world today, of which 355 live in the Virunga Mountains (extinct volcanoes). In the past, poaching and habitat destruction were the main cause for concern. However with publicity, tourism and education regarding the plight of the Mountain Gorilla, the authorities have been able to halt this rapid decline.
There are few animals in Africa about which so many legends circulate. Their enormous size, extraordinary strength and the fact that they live in mysterious forests of luxuriant vegetation have contributed to their mystique. The Mountain Gorilla troop consists usually of a dominant male and up to five or more females and their young. It is basically a stable family with the young only leaving after they reach sexual maturity. Females join another group while young males remain solitary until they have an opportunity to form their own troop. This primate is of impressive dimensions; some males (such as Guhonda, the silverback of Sabinyo Group that you may visit) attain over six feet in height and weigh more than 440 pounds. The head is massive and the huge jaws are equipped with powerful teeth. Far from being an aggressive animal, as the legends claim, the gorilla is gentle and peaceful in its habits. It is only when threatened that he adopts an intimidating attitude in which he howls in a most frightful way and beats his chest with his fists. Should visitors find themselves in his presence at this moment, they will be advised to assume a submissive, non-threatening attitude. Once his confidence has been restored, the gorilla goes on about his business accepting the intruder.
It is estimated that there are about 170 gorillas on the Rwandan side of the park. They are very sociable animals, living in groups of three to thirty. Being sedentary, they are continually looking for food in a living space that is comparatively restricted. They are active only during the daytime and build nests in which they pass the night. The females and young occupy nests built in trees, while the males seem to prefer nests on the ground. Their food consists mainly of leaves, buds, tubers and sorts of wild celery from the umbelliferous family.
Gorilla Viewing Rules:
Rwanda: Country Introduction: A tiny landlocked republic in Equatorial Africa, Rwanda lies on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift and the watershed between Africa's two largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo. Often called the "land of a thousand hills," Rwanda is a mountainous country with a moist, temperate year-round climate. The main tourism destinations are:
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa. French, English and Kinyarwanda are the most widely spoken languages and the population of about eight million people is largely Christian with some Muslim and Animist communities. In 1962, under Prime Minister Gregoire Kayibanda, Rwanda gained independence. Ten years later Major General Juvenal Habyarimana came to power. His death in a plane crash in April 1994 unleashed the genocide in which about one million Rwandans are thought to have been killed. Nearly twice as many fled into exile.
Political and social stability returned to Rwanda in 1999 with the new Government of National Unity. In 2001 and 2002 US Citizens were the single largest nationality trekking in the Virungas. US, British and Australian Citizens account for 50% of all foreign visitors to the Gorillas.
Since 1999 the number of visitors to the Mountain Gorillas has increased by 100% per annum. Now, with an excess of 6500 permits issued every year, tourism has returned to pre-civil war levels. Only thirty Gorilla permits are issued per day, 365 days per year, with a total of 10,950 permits now available annually. There is room for tourism growth without disturbance to the Gorilla population and sightings are virtually guaranteed. The biggest threat to Mountain Gorillas is habitat loss to agriculture.
Destination Information: Kigali: Kigali has been the capital of Rwanda since 1965. An attractive city, it spreads over a number of hills and although it saw some difficult times through the genocide in 1994 and as power changed hands subsequently, it now has a pleasant, buoyant air. The main shopping and commercial area is centered around the Hotel Mille Collines, with the government district on the neighboring Kaciyiru hill. The markets, the handicrafts, the Muslim quarter and a new genocide memorial under construction in Gisozi are some of the main places of interest.
Volcano National Park: Situated in the north west of Rwanda, these magnificent mountains are one of the last refuges of the Mountain Gorilla species (Gorilla gorilla berengei). Situated in the north west of Rwanda Volcano National Park, it borders Virunga National Park in the Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. This volcanic massif is densely forested: from 8,500 to 11,000 feet (2,590 to 3,350 metres) primary forest is dominated by Hagenia trees growing 30-60 feet (9-18 metres). Hagenia have twisted trunks with low branches covered with lichen out of which parasitic and epiphytic orchids often grow.
Reservations: Please contact us to assure space availability and to let us answer your questions. Then, fill out our reservation form, and mail it to us with your deposit:
Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
20800 Kittredge Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
Toll Free: (800) 527-5330
Local: (408) 741-5330
Fax: (408) 741-0358
Email: info@cheesemans.com
Costs, Payments and Cancellations: Upon receiving your deposit, we will send trip materials, including a travel guide with trip essentials, reading list, species lists, and maps; and assist you with booking the international flights. The final payment amount depends on how many people are in the extension group since there is a discount for more people. Within six months of the trip departure date, the full deposit of $1000 is non-refundable and non-transferable, (due to the non-refundable pre-paid fee for the gorilla permits). There are no refunds given after the final payment date.
| Cost per Person | |
| Trip cost | $3100 |
| Single supplement | $300 |
| Payments Due | |
| Deposit | $1000 |
| May 1, 2008 - final payment | remaining balance |
Included: Transfers and airport assistance as per itinerary. All accommodation and meals as per itinerary. All land transportation in 4x4 safari vehicles. All gorilla trekking permits per person. English-speaking rangers/trackers on gorilla treks. English speaking chauffeur. International flights round-trip from Nairobi to Kigali.
Not Included: Airport taxes. Visa fees (Rwanda visa not required by US and UK Citizens) Personal beverages, tips and all other personal expenses. Porterage. Temporary Flying Doctor Evacuation (US$50 per person)
Transport and Leadership: Doug and Gail Cheeseman will not lead the gorilla trek. They have had many wonderful Mountain Gorilla treks and hope that you will be able to experience this special encounter with the "gentle giant," which will be led by guides from Origins Safaris. Our guides, who work for Origins Safaris are very experienced, highly efficient and very knowledgeable. Origins Safaris was founded by Don Turner, who led our first safari to Rwanda back in the 80's. Don has retired and Origins Safaris is now operated by his son, Steve Turner, out of his main office in Nairobi. In Rwanda Origins Safaris operates a fleet of new, custom built 4x4 Toyota Landcruisers with three roof hatches and eight seats. From Kigali it takes less than two hours to drive to the Virunga Massif, known as the "Mountains of the Moon," which hosts the Volcano National Park.
Accomodation Information: Rwanda is an emerging destination. Access to high quality foods other than fresh fruit and vegetables can be challenging. In this respect we ask that visitors be prepared to appreciate the efforts of the Rwandan people to make their stay as comfortable as possible, rather than noticing the few home comforts which may be missing or the lack of 'luxury safari' items now taken for granted in East and Southern Africa.
Mailing List: If you would like to be on our mailing list or request information, please use our online request form or send us your name, address, email address and phone number. Please note we will never share your personal information with anybody!
Baggage: When packing for your trip, please try to limit your checked bag to 40 pounds total per person. We ask that you keep it to one checked bag per person. The less weight the better, because of space restrictions in the baggage compartment of the vehicles. Also Kenya Air on the Rwanda flights limits checked luggage to 20 kilo (44 pounds). As for the carry-on bags, this is standard as on all flights. Your bag will need to fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin above. It is also going to have to fit with you throughout your trip, so packing lighter is recommended.
Responsibility: Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage, or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs, exchange rates and fuel prices and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Baggage is at the owner’s risk.
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