Favel Parrett...Optional second gorilla trek, lunch, and then return to Kigali airport where your adventure concludes. BL RWANDA Tiny, landlocked Rwanda is incredibly beautiful. While

144 145AFRICAN WILDLIFE SAFARIS – TAILOR-MADE EXPERIENCES WWW. AFRICANWILDLIFESAFARIS.COM. AU | E: [email protected] | T: 1300 363 302

GORILLASAfrica is home to the world's largest primate - the gorilla. These magnificent animals are found in the dense forests of the Congo basin, but their survival is threatened by habitat loss, disease and poaching.

The mountain gorilla lives at higher altitudes and has longer, more abundant fur than the lowland species. It is also the most critically endangered. Approximately 1000 individuals remain, and their habitat has been reduced to the Virunga Volcanoes on the borders of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Little was known about the mountain gorilla until a study was undertaken by American naturalist George Shaller in 1959 followed by an 18 year project by the renowned Dian Fossey, who wrote "Gorillas in the Mist".

Gorillas are gentle giants, who live on a diet of leaves, stems, bark and fruit. A guided trek to see a habituated family group is an unforgettable experience, and although encounters cannot be guaranteed it is unusual not to see them. The most popular trekking areas are Rwanda's Parc des Volcans and Uganda's Bwindi National Park. Limited gorilla permits are available and need to be purchased well in advance.

© David Kneale

Kings Of The ForestA truly overwhelming experience.

Nothing can prepare you for spending time with mountain gorillas. The familiarity of their behaviour, the way they hold your gaze...

incredibly emotional and unforgettable.Favel Parrett


RWANDA • GORILLA TREKKING

Unforgettable encounter with mountain gorillas © Shutterstock

SABYINYO SILVERBACK LODGEWith wonderful views of the Virunga Volcanoes, this luxury lodge is just minutes from park headquarters and accommodates guests in 9 picturesque stone cottages. Each cottage features a veranda, sitting area, fireplace and ensuite bathroom. The main lodge has a dining room, lounge, library and shop.

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge © Governors Camps

MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGEThe 3 star Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is just 10 minutes drive from park headquarters and offers simple but comfortable accommodation in 30 large stone-and-thatch cottages with fireplaces and ensuite bathrooms. The main lodge has a dining room, bar and lounge.

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge © 3B Hotels

THE BISHOP'S HOUSEConveniently located just 30 minutes' drive from the starting point for gorilla treks, this boutique property is designed in the grand style of a colonial manor house. Its 9 elegant rooms are furnished with hand-carved wooden beds, cosy armchairs and original antiques. Shared spaces include a restaurant, library and lounge.

The Bishop's House suite © The Bishop's House Rwanda

Incredible views © David Kneale

BISATE LODGESet inside an eroded volcanic caldera, Bisate Lodge is the epitome of sustainable luxury and is within easy driving distance of Park Headquarters. Its 6 sumptuous suites are set within circular thatched huts, and look out onto dramatic volcanic peaks and forests teeming with wildlife such as duiker, elephant and tree hyrax.

Bisate Lodge © Wilderness Safaris

To make the most of your trip, we strongly recommend a 3 night stay. For both itinerary options, we recommend you arrive and overnight in Kigali, driving to the Virungas the following day.

BOTH ITINERARIESDay 1 KigaliArrive Kigali and check into your city hotel. D

Day 2 Parc National des Volcans Enjoy a city tour including the sobering Genocide Museum, followed by lunch. Transfer to your lodge (2hrs) near Parc National des Volcans for overnight. BLD

Day 3 Tour ends or Parc National des Volcans

Have an early breakfast followed by a 0615 departure to park HQ for the start of your gorilla trek. Once found, a maximum of 1 hour can be spent with a troop. Lunch at your lodge before returning to Kigali airport where your tour ends (3D/2N) or relax before dinner (4D/3N). BLD

Day 4 Tour ends KigaliOptional second gorilla trek, lunch, and then return to Kigali airport where your adventure concludes. BL

RWANDATiny, landlocked Rwanda is incredibly beautiful. While the locals are warm and welcoming, the nation’s gorillas remain its biggest drawcard. Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park) is the best place to view the magnificent mountain gorilla in its natural habitat. For chimpanzee and a host of other primates, head to primeval Nyungwe Forest. Rwanda is close to the Equator but altitude keeps the climate pleasant, with the country’s montane rainforests being cool to cold. Rain falls all year but is heaviest Mar-May and Oct-Nov

RWANDA GORILLAS2 or more nights From $5059 per person twin share* Departs daily ex KigaliTour cost per person from:* 3D/2N 4D/3N Twin Twin Bisate Lodge N/A $9711 & Kigali Serena Hotel

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge $5810 $7374 & Kigali Serena Hotel

The Bishop's House $5301 $6361 & Kigali Serena Hotel

The Bishop's House $5243 $6303 & Grand Legacy Hotel

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge $5059 $5944 & Grand Legacy Hotel

*Based on two people sharing, singles on request.

Children under 15 are not allowed to visit the gorillas.

INCLUSIONSAirport transfers in Kigali, city tour, accommodation and meals as per itinerary, transportation by 4WD vehicle, English speaking driver, 1 gorilla permit, park fees, mineral water, temporary Flying Doctor service membership, local drinks (except premium) & laundry included at Bisate, Sabinyo Lodge & The Bishop's House.

EXCLUSIONSOptional 2nd gorilla trek permit (4D/3N tour) $1500 USD per person, Virunga Porter fee for the hike $20 USD per person per trek & visa fees.

Travel to Rwanda, just one hour’s flight from Nairobi and experience

one of the most unforgettable wildlife encounters of a lifetime. The last remaining wild mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Volcanoes of northern Rwanda. They were made famous by Dian Fossey who dedicated her life to their conservation and immortalised them in the film 'Gorillas in the Mist'.

PARC DES VOLCANS

LAKEKIVU

NYUNGWE FOREST NP

GISHWATIFOREST

RESERVE

AKAGERANP

Gorillas & Chimps

KIGALI

RWANDA

One&Only Nyungwe House

The Bishop’s House

© African Wildlife Safaris

Ruhengeri

GORILLAS & CHIMPS7 days/6 nights From $13429 per person twin share*^ Departs daily ex Kigali*Based on two people sharing, singles on request.

^30% gorilla permit special discount applied to tour cost. Please contact us for details.

Children under 15 are not allowed to visit the gorillas. Children under 12 are not allowed to visit the chimps.

INCLUSIONSAirport transfers in Kigali, city tour, accommodation and meals as per itinerary, transportation by 4WD vehicle, English speaking driver, 2 gorilla permits and 1 chimp permit as indicated, park fees, bottled mineral water & temporary Flying Doctor service membership. One&Only Nyungwe House includes house drinks (premium brands excluded). The Bishop's House includes house drinks (premium brands excluded) and laundry.

EXCLUSIONSOptional Virunga Porter fee for the hike ($20 USD per person per trek) & visa fees.

Search for Africa's many diverse and endangered primate species on

this exciting safari which combines two gorilla treks with chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, which also harbours 12 different monkey species. Tracking chimps can be more arduous than gorilla trekking, so you need to be relatively fit and prepared to hike deep into the rainforest (approx. 2-4 hours).

Day 1 KigaliArrival transfer to Kigali Serena Hotel for overnight. D

Days 2/3 Nyungwe ForestMorning city tour visiting the Genocide Museum before departing by road (6hrs) to Nyungwe Forest NP. Day 3 dawn departure into Nyungwe,

searching for primates. Overnight at the superb One&Only Nyungwe House. BLD

Days 4/5 Parc des VolcansAdmire Lake Kivu enroute to Rwanda's misty Virunga Volcanoes. On Day 5 enjoy an early morning gorilla trek. In the afternoon, explore the picturesque rural countryside. Overnight The Bishop's House. BLD

Day 6 KigaliAnother early morning start for a second gorilla trek. After lunch, return to Kigali. Overnight Kigali Serena Hotel. BLD

Day 7 Tour endsAfter breakfast transfer to airport. B

Chimpanzee sighting, Nyungwe Forest © Shutterstock

One&Only Nyungwe House © One&Only

Meeting the gaze of gorillas © David Kneale

GORILLA & CHIMPS TREKKING • RWANDA

“I had always thought that the ultimate wildlife experience would be a visit to the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Our first gorilla trek involved a 2.5 hour hike up a mountain, along slushy tracks and thick vegetation [before] we reached our group of 22 gorillas who were having a very relaxed siesta around a huge silverback... For most of the time we were right among them and there was considerable interaction between us and them, with some physical contact, always initiated by the gorillas. Have you ever been touched by a gorilla? Magic!”- Ron Leahy, client


BUHOMA LODGEJust 5 minutes walk from national park offices, Buhoma Lodge practices sustainable tourism and offers 8 well-appointed wooden guest chalets with spacious bathrooms, personal verandas and solar power. The lodge has a welcoming open-air central lounge, bar and dining area.

VOLCANOES BWINDI LODGESet on a hill just outside the park, this comfortable eco-lodge offers 8 spacious guest "bandas" (thatched cottages) with private verandas featuring wonderful views of the forest. The restaurant, bar and raised deck also have a fantastic aspect. Community visits and waterfall walks are available.

GORILLA FOREST CAMPOne of the only luxury camps located inside the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Occasionally, Gorilla Forest Camp is visited by wild gorillas themselves. This property offers accommodation in 8 contemporary tents with huge bathtubs, and has a sophisticated restaurant, lounge and bar.

Buhoma Lodge © Buhoma LodgeVolcanoes Bwindi Lodge © Bwindi Lodge

Gorilla Forest Camp © Sanctuary Retreats

Hanging out in Bwindi © Shutterstock

BOTH ITINERARIESDay 1 Gorilla LodgeDepart Entebbe airport and transfer to your lodge.

Day 2 Gorilla LodgeEarly departure for the start of your gorilla trek which may be for as little as half an hour or up to six hours depending on where your gorilla family might be located. Once found, a maximum of one hour can be spent with them. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 3 Tour ends, or Gorilla LodgeThe 3-day itinerary ends today with a flight back to Entebbe. The 4 day tour includes a second day of gorilla trekking and overnight at your lodge.

Day 4 Tour ends EntebbeAfter breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Entebbe where the tour ends.

UGANDAUganda's game-rich Queen Elizabeth National Park sits beneath snow-capped mountains in the country’s west. To the south, the Virunga Volcanoes and Bwindi National Park are home to mountain gorillas. QENP is known for chimpanzee, elephant, hippo and tree-climbing lion. This popular reserve is warm year-round with no distinct dry season. Bwindi in the southern highlands offers excellent gorilla trekking and a mild, wet climate, with Mar-May and Oct-Nov the rainiest.

UGANDA GORILLAS2 or more nights From $3328 per person twin share* Departs daily ex EntebbeTour cost per person from:*^ Twin 3D/2N (1 Gorilla Permit) Gorilla Forest Camp $4166 Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge $3388 Buhoma Lodge $3328

4D/3N (2 Gorilla Permits) Gorilla Forest Camp $6052 Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge $5033 Buhoma Lodge $4811


^Included airfare rates are provisional and subject to change.


INCLUSIONSReturn airfare Entebbe to Kihihi, return transfers from the airstrip to Lodge/Camp, accommodation on full board basis (including local drinks at Buhoma Lodge only), park fees, activities as per itinerary, 1 Gorilla permit for 3D/2N and 2 Gorilla permits for 4D/3N.

Around 400 mountain gorillas reside in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable

Forest, whose thick undergrowth and undulating terrain offer challenging trekking opportunities. Once you and your guide have located one of the nine troops that have been habituated to humans, you can spend up to one hour watching and photographing them – a truly profound wildlife experience. Bwindi is easily accessible from the country’s capital, Entebbe. However, only 96 gorilla permits are available per day, so bookings need to be made well in advance.

UGANDA • GORILLA TREKKING

UGANDA

LAKE VICTORIA

JinjaEntebbe

NgambaIsland

PARC DES VOLCANS

Best of Uganda VIRUNGA NP

RWENZORI NP

RWANDA

MurchisonFalls NP

KAMPALA

© African Wildlife Safaris

LAKE MBURO

Kabale

LAKEEDWARD

LAKEGEORGE

QUEENELIZABETH

NP

BWINDI NP

BEST OF UGANDA8 days/7 nights From $7478 per person twin share*^ Departs ex EntebbeDeparts: 03 & 24 Jan, 13 & 22 Feb, 07 & 19 Mar, 10 & 24 Apr, 18 May, 04, 12 & 18 Jun, 15 & 23 Jul, 07 & 21 Aug, 18 & 24 Sep, 16 Oct, 11 Nov, 24 Dec


^Minimum 2. Single clients may join existing departures.


INCLUSIONSReturn airport transfers with meet & greet, flight Entebe/Kihihi & Mweya/Entebbe, full board on safari, breakfast only in Entebbe, services of driver/guide, park fees, game activities, walks & Ishasha Community project visit, 1 Gorilla permit & 1 Chimp permit.

This 8 day safari offers you the best of Uganda, from mountain gorilla

trekking to searching for the famous tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Depending on where gorilla permits have been secured for a particular departure, gorilla viewing will take place in either Uganda or Rwanda (1 gorilla permit is included). The safari operates for a minimum of 2 people travelling together and accommodation is in comfortable hotels and lodges.

Day 1 EntebbeArrival transfer from Entebbe Airport to Hotel No5 or similar. Afternoon optional visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary (time permitting and at extra cost) where orphaned chimpanzees have been relocated.

Day 2 Bwindi National ParkTransfer to the airport for a flight to Bwindi and onto Buhoma Lodge or similar. Afternoon forest walk or cultural visit (at extra cost). BLD

Days 3/4 Bwindi National ParkAccompanied by an experienced guide and armed ranger, set off this morning in search of gorillas. These amazing animals are often deep within the forest and it may take up to six hours to find them. Once you locate the gorilla family group, you may spend up to one hour watching and photographing them. Mountain gorillas are wild animals, and as such sightings cannot be guaranteed; however over 90% of visitors see them. On Day 4, you have the option of a forest walk, a second gorilla trek (permit not included) or an optional community walk. Overnight Buhoma Lodge or similar. BLD

Day 5 Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP)After breakfast, drive to the Ishasha sector of the QENP, renowned for tree-climbing lions. Option to visit the Ishasha Community Project enroute. Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp. BLD

Day 6 Queen Elizabeth National ParkSpend the day gameviewing in the QENP. Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp. BLD

Day 7 Queen Elizabeth National ParkSet out on a game drive in the Myena area of QENP followed by a boat cruise on the hippo-rich Kazinga Channel. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge or similar. BLD

Day 8 Tour endsAfter breakfast, trek Chambura Gorge to look for chimpanzees before transfer to Entebbe by air. BL

GORILLA EXPRESS6 days/5 nights From $5478 per person twin share* Departs ex EntebbeIf your time is limited, our 6 day Gorilla Express is a perfect option. It offers the same itinerary as the 8 day safari but only spends 1 night in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Departs: 03 & 24 Jan, 13 & 22 Feb, 07 & 19 Mar, 10 & 24 Apr, 18 May, 04, 12 & 18 Jun, 15 & 23 Jul, 07 & 21 Aug, 18 & 24 Sep, 16 Oct, 11 Nov, 24 Dec


INCLUSIONSReturn airport transfers with meet & greet, return flight Entebbe-Kihihi, full board on safari, breakfast only in Entebbe, services of driver/guide, park fees, Ishasha Community project, game activities and walks, 1 gorilla permit (additional permit extra cost).

Up-close with a silverback © David Kneale

Queen Elizabeth National Park © Shutterstock

L'hoest's Monkey encounter © Sanctuary Retreats

GORILLA & CHIMPS TREKKING • UGANDA

Tree-climbing lion -a highlight of QENP © Shutterstock

Documents

Favel Parrett...Optional second gorilla trek, lunch, and then return to Kigali airport where your adventure concludes. BL RWANDA Tiny, landlocked Rwanda is incredibly beautiful. While