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Heroes and Heroines Gorilla Trekking
Trek for mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park.
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Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Mountain Gorillas and Wildlife of Akagera
Trek for endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Virunga Massif, before driving east to the lakes, savannah and hills of Akagera – a park now flourishing under African Parks’ management.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
1
2Golden Monkeys
Trek in search of the park’s less famous primate inhabitants, the beautiful golden monkeys.
3Big Five Safari
Explore the diverse landscape of Akagera National Park, now home to the Big Five.
4Boat Trip
Take a boat trip on Lake Ihema, keeping an eye out for the elusive shoebills.
Why we like it
Rwanda has become synonymous with gorilla trekking, but this holiday showcases another side to this fascinating country. Combine a fantastic primate experience, with a very different safari journey through the varied terrain of Akagera. Once devoid of wildlife, this park is now home to an impressive array of animals – all set against some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
Day 1
Kigali - Volcanoes National Park
Day 2
Volcanoes National Park
Day 3
Volcanoes National Park
Day 4
Volcanoes National Park - Akagera
Days 5-6
Akagera
Day 7
Akagera - Kigali
Day 1
Kigali - Volcanoes National Park
Day 2
Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking
Trek for mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park.
Day 3
Volcanoes National Park
Golden Monkeys
Trek in search of the park’s less famous primate inhabitants, the beautiful golden monkeys.
Day 4
Volcanoes National Park - Akagera
Boat Trip
Take a boat trip on Lake Ihema, keeping an eye out for the elusive shoebills.
Days 5-6
Akagera
Big Five Safari
Explore the diverse landscape of Akagera National Park, now home to the Big Five.
Day 7
Akagera - Kigali
More details
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Set off into Volcanoes National Park, climbing steadily in search of the world’s largest primate. Led by knowledgeable guides and park rangers, leave the terraced crop fields behind and enter the dense forest that carpets the lower slopes of these dormant volcanoes.
After several hours of trekking, draw close to the gorilla family. Leaving bags behind, and holding cameras at the ready, creep closer and enter their domain. Spend an hour amongst the mountain gorillas, as they play, groom and eat. Watch as youngsters roll through the lush grass and see the dominant silverback stalk through his relaxed family.
Virunga Lodge
The green slopes of the Virunga Mountains lie close to the border of Uganda. Here, stay at the magnificently positioned Virunga Lodge, which offers some of the greatest views in Africa. From the comfortable stone bandas, look out at the cloud-topped volcanic landscape, decorated in rich shades of green.
Akagera Safari
Leave the mountains behind and drive to the eastern fringes of Rwanda. Here, a series of lakes and rich marshlands fill the valleys of Akagera National Park, with savannah and acacia forests dotted between rolling hills.
Explore by boat and 4×4, in search of the wildlife that fills this recovering park. Once all but empty of game, it now supports a wide variety of species. These include a small pride of reintroduced lions, as well as translocated rhinos.
The watery, verdant landscape attracts a variety of birdlife, whilst the lakes are home to hippos and crocodiles. Elephants roam the savannah and woodlands, occasionally wallowing in the muddy marshlands. Inland, on the rich grasslands, numerous antelope species graze.
Behind the Scenes
The story of Akagera is a remarkable one. Once a park devoid of wildlife and overrun by cattle and poaching, it is now a Big Five reserve. This all thanks to a partnership between the Rwandan government and the NGO African Parks, which began in 2010.
Since then, borders have been secured, wildlife has returned and tourism has flourished. Learn about this journey and the day-to-day running of the park on a behind-the-scenes tour of the park headquarters, led by one of African Parks’ staff.
Suggested Extension: Nyungwe Forest National Park
Extend your time in Rwanda with a visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park, in the west of the country. This swathe of verdant montane forest is home a colourful array of birdlife, as well as monkeys, frogs and chimpanzees.
One of the chimp families is habituated to humans, meaning there is the chance to trek in search of them. Unlike in Uganda, trekking group numbers are strictly managed here, making for a better experience when you encounter the chimps.
Also head into the forest canopy, along the suspended cable walkway that links a pair of high towers. This provides a beautiful view over the trees around and below, with turacos and L’Hoest’s monkeys spotted from here.
A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From $6,993 Per person
When to travel
Rwanda in January
From late December until early February the weather is typically drier, although showers are still very possible. This is the hottest time of year and can feel very tropical. However, the altitude means that temperatures remain manageable and still drop quickly at night.
Rwanda in February
The long rains begin in February and last until May. During this time, road travel can be a challenge and delays are frequent. However, gorilla trekking continues unaffected, although you should expect to get wet and muddy.
Rwanda in March
The long rains begin in February and last until May. During this time, road travel can be a challenge and delays are frequent. However, gorilla trekking continues unaffected, although you should expect to get wet and muddy.
Rwanda in April
The long rains begin in February and last until May. During this time, road travel can be a challenge and delays are frequent. However, gorilla trekking continues unaffected, although you should expect to get wet and muddy.
Rwanda in May
The long rains begin in February and last until May. During this time, road travel can be a challenge and delays are frequent. However, gorilla trekking continues unaffected, although you should expect to get wet and muddy.
Rwanda in June
The coolest and driest time of year is between June and early September. This is one of the most popular times to visit, although both mornings and evenings can be very chilly at higher altitudes.
Rwanda in July
The coolest and driest time of year is between June and early September. This is one of the most popular times to visit, although both mornings and evenings can be very chilly at higher altitudes.
Rwanda in August
The coolest and driest time of year is between June and early September. This is one of the most popular times to visit, although both mornings and evenings can be very chilly at higher altitudes.
Rwanda in September
The short rains arrive in late September and continue until December. However, travel is still possible and the overcast skies can make for some fantastic photographs.
Rwanda in October
The short rains arrive in late September and continue until December. However, travel is still possible and the overcast skies can make for some fantastic photographs.
Rwanda in November
The short rains arrive in late September and continue until December. However, travel is still possible and the overcast skies can make for some fantastic photographs.
Rwanda in December
The short rains arrive in late September and continue until December. However, travel is still possible and the overcast skies can make for some fantastic photographs.
Holiday Inspiration
Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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