2019 will see two returns of our ever popular budget Gorilla tour to Burundi, Rwanda and D.R. Congo!

Day 1: Bujumbura, Burundi.

Arrive in to Bujumbura airport and be transferred to your hotel.

Kenya Airways, Rwandair and Ethiopian airlines all fly in to Bujumbura.
 

Day 2: Burundi

Today we will take a morning tour of the city visiting the Livingstone-Stanley rock commemorating the pair's visit to the area shortly after their famous meeting. Afterwards we will head out of the city to visit the Kurara waterfalls in the south east of the country, taking in the scenary of the country en route and the vast tea plantations. On the return journey to Bujumbura we will stop to visit one of the sources of the Blue Nile.

Day 3: Butare, Rwanda.

After breakfast we will make a visit to the Bujumbura Hippo nature reserve where there is an almost guaranteed chance to see Hippos around the river as well as birds and other wildlife. Afterwards we transfer along the scenic route to Butare crossing from Burundi to Rwanda en route. Evening at leisure.

Day 4: Kigali, Rwanda.
This morning we will visit the sights of Butare including the National museum and the Our Lady of Wisdom cathedral.

After lunch we will transfer to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and have the evening at leisure.

Day 5: Kigali, Rwanda.

Today we will embark on a full day tour of Kigali visiting Mt Kigali, a local market and the Gaddafi mosque. After a break for lunch we will then visit the Kigali Genocide memorial centre as well as the Hotel des Mille Collines, the location of the tragic events of "Hotel Rwanda".

Evening at leisure.

Day 6: Gisenyi, Rwanda.

In the morning we will depart on the 4 hour drive to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi that sits on Lake Kivu. After a break for lunch we will have free time to enjoy sunset over the lake.

Day 7: Gisenyi, Rwanda.

A full day of free time on the lake in Gisenyi where it's possible to go kayaking, stand up paddle boarding on even night fishing with the locals. Overnight in Gisenyi.

Day 8: Goma, DRC

Today we have the morning at leisure in Gisenyi with time to enjoy the lake.

After lunch we will make our way to the border and cross in to DR Congo. We will transfer to our hotel before a short tour of the town.

Day 9: Goma, DRC.

Today will certainly be the highlight of the tour! We will depart early at 06:30 and begin the 2 hour off-road drive to the Gorillas by 4x4. En route we will take in views of the volcanoes before reaching the staging point of the hike.

We will then be split up in to groups of a maximum of 6 and be taken to visit different families of Gorillas. The trek is around 2 hours in each direction. The first hour through fields and the second through jungle. We advise good hiking trousers and boots for this as the ants in the area are quite vicious.

After a maximum of one hour with the Gorillas we will be trace our footsteps back out and then drive back to Goma. Evening at leisure.

Day 10: Today the tour ends in Goma, DRC. There is an Ethiopian airlines flight departing from Goma today or we can offer advice on extending your tour in the area. Your tour leader can also offer advice on transferring back to Kigali (£10 via public transport or £70 via taxi).

If you'd like to extend your tour for two days to climb Nyiragongo Volcano, including camping on the rim overnight to view the lava pool, we can arrange packages starting from £355 (porters and prepared meals available on request).

This tour includes:

- Gorilla permit
- Visa authorisation for Burundi
- Rwanda visa support if needed
- Lupine will apply for and arrange your DRC e-visa ($105 visa fee not included)
- 3 and 4 star hotel accommodation
- all transport
- experienced local English speaking tour guide
- all breakfasts
- all entry fees
- accompanied by Lupine tour leader
- airport pickup in Bujumbura

Not included:

- International flights
- Visa fees (prices depend on nationality)
- tips for guide
- Meals (about £10-20 per day)
- Transfer to airport at end of tour
- single room upgrade £285



If you are planning to return to Rwanda after the tour finishes, or plan to use an East African visa to visit Rwanda as part of a larger trip then please contact us for advice.