Highlights & selling points
· Arrival in Kigali, kanombe airport -Transfer to Bwindi – guided community walk – visit handicraft workshops
· Gorilla trekking experience – Batwa Cultural Entertainment
· Ultimate coffee experience & food experience
· Visiting the Genocide memorial site in Kigali
· City tour of Rwanda and visiting Mille Collins hotel
· Visiting a local beer brewer on a guided community walk
· Fly out
Your adventure begins as you’re met at the airport in Kigali, Rwanda, and embark on a scenic drive towards the majestic Virunga Mountain ranges as you head to cross the Rwanda/Uganda border to Kisoro. A journey through the picturesque countryside will lead you to the tranquil Gorilla Heights Lodge, Four Gorillas or Lake Mulehe Gorilla lodge or similar, your home for the next few nights. But before you take a break for the day you will take on an afternoon guided community walk, and while on this inclusive activity, you may have an opportunity to visit and engage with the local beer brewers who will take you through a series of processes taken during the preparation. After an enchanting experience with the local brewers you may be led to local handicraft markets where you could also engage with craft-making workshops which will allow you to learn their way of livelihood, cultural beliefs and others.
Meal Plan: Half Board (HB)
The long-awaited moment has come! As it is the biggest moment of your safari, is the day you’ve been waiting for a once in a lifetime encounter with the magnificent mountain gorillas. After a hearty quick breakfast, you will set off to the departure point for a full briefing and to meet your gorilla trek guide and porters. The guides will have been identifying the position of each gorilla group and know which is the closest departure point to trek from. Off you go into the thick, verdant rainforest. Hiking through, with your guide and porter using a machete to clear a path and assist you up and down steep terrain. As you wind your way through the dense foliage, after what seems like a long trek you will finally be rewarded with an intimate encounter with these gentle giants. As adrenaline flows down your veins, you are filled with anxiety while you spend an unforgettable hour observing their behaviors, capturing precious moments,and connecting with nature in its purest form. In your mind, this has been quite a testing moment of your resilience and patience. Still, you have certainly hit your bucket list, and it’s now time to head back to Gorilla Heights Lodge, Four Gorillas, or Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge or similar for a minute of rejuvenation before being treated to an evening of thrilling Batwa Cultural Entertainment. Imagine a crackling bonfire on a beautiful evening where you are probably in the company of a hot cup of coffee or a cold beer as you journey into the past. At the same time, you enjoy entertainment by the Batwa storytellers. You will have an opportunity to learn about the stories of the Batwa through music and dances, portraying their old ways of life like lighting fire using wood, and how they used to live in forests many years ago.
Meal Plan: Full Board (F/B)
After a fulfilling morning, delve into the region’s rich cultural tapestry. Embark on a captivating coffee tour; this isn’t your average coffee tour; it’s a journey that awakens your senses and unveils the magic behind Uganda’s most celebrated export. As a way of supporting the local community, you shall visit a family in a local homestead, who will take you to their local farm where all the demonstration of the coffee process, from nursery bed management to planting and taking care of the plant until harvesting happens. This experience will inspire you throughout off you proceed to the preparation ground where you’ll learn about the local way of drying coffee using local tools, pounding or grinding until roasting on the local stoves. After going through the entire process of production your taste buds are reactivated and all you think of is a cup of coffee served at the end of it all.
I bet you think that’s all for the day, but guess what? You will complement your day’s experience as you indulge in a culinary adventure. In the same local homestead, you will have an opportunity to visit a family and take part in the preparation of the local cuisines common in the region. Taste a delicious lunch prepared by the local family, featuring hearty stews made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. It must be the most rewarding experience of the day with the organic flavors of the region and all you are thinking of is a day’s rest back at Gorilla Heights Lodge, Four Gorillas or Lake Mulehe Gorilla lodge or similar.
Meal Plan: Full Board (F/B)
The thrill of yesterday’s adventures lingers in your memory with a treasure of stories to share back home. After breakfast, you shall proceed to Kigali the vibrant capital of Rwanda. But before you bid farewell, you will take a guided city tour around Kigali, exploring its historic landmarks from the genocide memorial, where you will witness firsthand accounts, photographs, and artifacts that document the historical occurrence. This is an opportunity for reflection, learning, and understanding the country’s rich history. Later on, you may also have a chance of visiting the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund dedicated to the conservation, protection, and study of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. It has been a fulfilling journey as you immerse yourself in the city’s unique blend of cultures and traditions, leaving you with a lasting impression of your unforgettable trip before you fly back home.
Meal Plan: Half Board (H/B)
