14-Nights Legendary Wildlife of Rwanda & Kenya - National Geographic Journeys

14 nights from: $12,099

Journeys: Legendary Wildlife of Rwanda & Kenya
Encounter Africa’s legendary wildlife, from the "big five" to endangered primates, on a thrilling adventure into the wilds of eastern Africa. Trek into the Rwandan jungle and come face-to-face with a gorilla group in its element, and head out on safari in world-famous national parks to track elephants, zebras, giraffes, and an array of birds. Along the way, learn about local conservation efforts from scientists in the field, as well as community members doing their part to protect these precious creatures.

Highlights
Observe gorillas and golden monkeys in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Embark on safari in Kenya’s legendary Masai Mara, Share lunch and stories with the inspiring women of Kigali’s Nyamirambo neighbourhood, Enjoy an insider’s perspective on anti-poaching efforts at Rwanda’s Akagera National Park.

Accommodation
Hotel/Lodge (12 nts), comfortable tented camps (2 nts).

Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer), local guides, experienced gorilla trackers, park rangers, certified driver/guide in Kenya.

Group Size Notes
Max 6, Avg, 5.

Meals Included
14 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners

What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Mountain Gorilla Conservation Sundowner Experience, Volcanoes National Park Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Akagera National Park - Conservation and Community, Parc National de l’ Akagera Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Kenya Wildlife Service Conservation Talk, Lake Nakuru National Park Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Café Ubuntu and Ubuntu Made, Maai Mahiu Your G for Good Moment: Nyamirambo Women's Centre, Local Lunch, Kigali. Arrival transfer. All national park entrance fees. Genocide memorial entrance. Mountain gorilla trek with permits. Golden monkey trek with permits. Local village walk. Safari drives in Akagera National Park. Wildlife boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Wildlife safari drives in Masai Mara National Reserve, and Lake Nakuru National Park. Boat trip on Lake Naivasha and wildlife walk on Crescent Island. Internal flight. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

This park, 15 mi/25 km east of Gisenyi, protects the Rwandan portion of the spectacular Virunga Mountains, which straddle the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Virunga is not a mountain range in the normal sense of the word but rather a chain of isolated freestanding volcanic cones strung along a fault line in the Rift Valley. Sometimes also referred to as the Birunga or Bufumbira Mountains, the chain is composed of six inactive and two active volcanoes, all of which exceed 9,840 ft/3,000 m in altitude. The tallest are Karisimbi (14,783 ft/4,507 m), Mikeno (14,553 ft/4,437 m) and Muhabura (13,537 ft/4,127 m).Free Volcanoes National Park (parc National Des Volcans) Travel
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Volcanoes National Park (parc National Des Volcans) Travel Travel Agents

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Few national parks in Africa can be explored on foot, but this park north of Ruhengeri offers a reward worth the hike through its dramatically beautiful, albeit rough terrain: the chance to observe a family of mountain gorillas, the rarest—and largest—of the four gorilla subspecies. About 700 mountain gorillas live in the wild (roughly half of them in Rwanda), and naturalists have habituated seven of the 20-odd families in this park to the presence of tourist observers. Many people regard visiting these gentle giants (up to 485 lbs/220 kg) in their natural habitat to be the single most-extraordinary wildlife experience in the world. The park can be accessed on organized gorilla-tracking tours, which are limited to seven groups of eight people daily. Gorilla-tracking permits cost US$500 per person in cash (including park entrance fees but not transportation and lodging) and should be booked as far in advance as possible.

Other activities include a visit to a habituated troop of golden monkeys (an endangered bamboo-eater whose range is essentially restricted to the Virungas), as well as day or overnight hikes to the various volcanic peaks and a day trip to Dian Fossey's grave at her former research center high in the misty mountains. As a precaution, armed soldiers accompany each tour.