DJ RWANDA - BURUNDI & CONGO 11 Days 10 Nights

Tour Code DJEA05

Eden of Africa Safari

Day 1 – Kigali

On arrival at Kigali International Airport you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to the hotel, Hotel Mille Collines – Beausejour Hotel (C) or Iris Guest House (E) for the overnight. BB

Day 2 – Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast we can organise for you the city tour of Kigali, for visiting cultural and traditional sites, including the handicraft and local markets, the museum and the memorial centre. After lunch, leave Kigali and head to Ruhengeri at the gate of Volcanoes National Park. Check in at your lodge, dinner and overnight at Hotel La Palme – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (C) or Kinigi Guest House – Hotel Muhavura (E). Full Board

Day 3 - Mountain Gorilla tracking

After breakfast, at 7 in the morning starts the trekking in the forest in search for one of the habituated families of the mountain gorillas. After the briefing from the ORPTN rangers, you reach the starting point for the trekking. Bring with you water, packed lunch (from the hotel) and rain coat, while wearing trekking boots. It is not predictable the time you will spend to find the gorillas. However you have the right to one hour for observing the primates and their behaviors, while taking photographs. Return to the lodge at leisure. Dinner overnight at Hotel La Palme – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (C) or Kinigi Guest House – Hotel Muhavura (E). Full Board

Day 4 – The South West of Rwanda

After breakfast, leave Ruhengeri to the South Western Rwanda along the shores of Lake Kivu. Stop over for lunch in Kibuye, a pretty town on the lake, where you have stunning sceneries. In the afternoon proceed to Cyangugu, on the Southern coast of the lake. The small town is the gateway to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge (C) or Gisakura Guest House. Full Board

Note: today journey might take up to 7 hours according to the conditions of the roads.

Day 5 - The primates of Nyungwe National Park

After an early breakfast, at 6 am you enter Nyungwe forest for the trekking of the chimpanzee and other primates like the beautiful Angolan colobus. The park is spread for over 970 sq km of green hills, the largest uncontaminated piece of tropical forest in Eastern Africa. Nyungwe hosts 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzee, the Rwenzori colobus, the Hoest Monkey, the silver monkey, owl faced monkey, red tailed monkey, velvet monkey and olive baboon. After lunch from the lodge, proceed to the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. Dinner and overnight in Bukavu, on the shores of Lake Kivu, at Orchids Safari Club (C) or budget hotel (E). Full Board

Day 6 – Kahuzi Biega National Park

After early breakfast, drive to Kahuzi Biega National Park for the Eastern Low land gorillas trekking. This park, about 600 sq km, is where the first gorilla tourism was started in the 70^th. At the moment there are three habituated families of gorillas and the trekking is a real experience of a Congolese jungle. Bring with you the packed lunch from the hotel as well as be prepared with trekking gear. In the afternoon drive back to Bukavu and explore at leisure the port, the old town and local markets. Dinner and overnight in Bukavu, at Orchids Safari Club (C) or budget hotel (E). Full Board

Day 7 – Rusizi – Bujumbura

After early breakfast, leave Bukavu in the direction of Burundi and along river Rusizi. The road is panoramic and traverses the highlands before descending to the semi arid savannah near Lake Tanganyika. Arrive in Bujumbura for lunch. In the afternoon you can visit Rusizi reserve, the delta of Rusizi river where, from the view points, you can observe African dwarf crocodiles, hippos, water snakes and many species of water birds including the African white Faced duck, kingfisher, black herons, pelikans. Dinner and overnight at Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel. Full Board

Day 8 – Bujumbura

Relax on the magic beach of Lake Tanganyika at the hotel. Enjoy all services, like the swimming pool, sauna and massage, gym, tennis, bicycles and more. Full board and overnight at Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel (C). Full Board

Day 9 – Gitega – Gishora

After breakfast, head to Gitega in the central Burundi. The first stop over is in Bugarama, to discover the life style of the Batwa, the local handicraft and bee culture. Visit the site of the Treaty of Kiganda, where you see the walk of the coronation of the traditional king. Lunch. Gitega is the second largest town of the country, with its typical colonial architecture. It hosts the National Museum with its ethnographic and archaeological collections. In the afternoon visit Gishora, the village of the sacred royal drums, where in a special theatre you can assist to the performance of Burundian dancers and musicians. Dinner and overnight in hotel budget, Helena Hotel (E). Full Board

Day 10 – Rutana - Nyanza

After breakfast head to Southern Burundi and the region of Nyanza. You reach the town of Rutana and visit the Southest source of river Nile and the commemorative pyramid. Moreover visit the Muhweza thermal water hot spring. Lunch. In the afternoon you arrive on Lake Tanganyika and at leisure visit the local production of palm oil. Dinner and overnight in hotel budget on the lake, Saganianza Hotel (E). Full Board

Day 11

After breakfast, visit Makamba for the performance of the Agasimbo dancers. Reserved to the transfer to Bujumbura International Airport for the evening flight. BB

EXTENSION GOMBE STREAM CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY

Day 11 – Gombe Stream National Park

After breakfast, drive to the border of Tanzania where you board the boat to Gombe Stream National Park, in Tanzania. Prepare your passport for the formalities. Lunch. Gombe Stream is one of the most interesting projects for the conservation of the chimpanzees and there are no roads connecting to these mountains on Lake Tanganyika. Dinner and overnight at Gombe Stream Tanapa Bandas (E). Full Board

Note: It is possible to book at Gombe Forest luxury Lodge with a corresponding supplement.

Day 12 – Gombe Stream National Park

After breakfast, the whole day is dedicated to the activities of contacts with the chimpanzees. Lunch. In the afternoon you might decide to trek through the forest up to the Jane Godal mountain. Dinner and overnighit at Gombe Stream Tanapa Bandas (E). Full Board

Day 13 – Gombe – Bujumbura

After breakfast, drive back to the border of Burundi by boat. Proceed to Bujumbura. Reserved to the transfer to Bujumbura International Airport for the evening flight. BB

Book this Tour / Safari
Inquire on the tariffs and departures.
Choose between Comfort or Economy tariffs

The tariff includes:

- Airport transfers

- Full board (FB) accommodation

- Ground transportation 4x4 land cruiser

- English speaking Driver/Guide

- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits

- Entrance to Gombe Stream

- Entrance fees, taxes

The tariff does not include:

- International Air ticket and domestic air tickets

- Tourist insurance

- Entrance visas to Rwanda 60 USD previouis authorization on line; Burundi 40 USD from Burundi Embassy; Congo 80 USD from Congolese Embassy; in case of extension to Gombe, Tanzania 50 USD

- Drinks and tips

DJ – Sounds of the Jungle