Custom African Safari Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow – Your Safari Expert - Christine Eichin – Above and Beyond Africa

Day-To-Day Itinerary:

Day 13 (◊Day 1 if an individual departure)

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012

Masai Mara Game Reserve - Nairobi
Another morning game drive in the Masai Mara to complete your list of wildlife sightings. Transfer to the airstrip for the scheduled flight back to Nairobi, departing Masai Mara at 1:15 pm, arriving at Nairobi's Wilson Airport by 2:45 pm. Time-permitting, we'll stop at Utamaduni Craft Market. At 4:30 pm we leave to visit Daphne Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage at 5:00 pm, when all the elephants return from the forest to their stables. You get to choose an elephant or rhino you'd like to foster, and you'll receive a photo of your chosen animal, and monthly email updates for a year. Transfer to the world-famous Carnivore Restaurant for our group farewell dinner. Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at the Nairobi Serena Hotel (Breakfast and dinner).
On an individual departure, the first night's accommodation is at Kigali Serena Hotel, and includes meet & greet at Kigali airport and transfer to Kigali Serena Hotel, but does not include any meals or activities.

Day 14 (◊Day 2 if an individual departure)

Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012

("Pot of Gold" Extension only: Transfer to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your Kenya Airways flight to Kigali, Rwanda [flight not included]; Kenya Airways, flight 448, departing Nairobi at 8:35 am, arriving Kigali at 9:00 am. Meet & greet at the airport.) This morning, you embark on a city tour of Kigali and visit the Genocide Memorial. Leaving Kigali, you drive through the hilly countryside to Volcanoes National Park (approx. 2 1/2 hours drive). Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Mountain Gorilla Extension

Golden Monkey

Day 15 (◊Day 3 if an individual departure)

Friday, Oct. 19, 2012

Today you track a habituated troop of Golden Monkeys. It's an excellent way to acclimatize to the higher altitudes before gorilla tracking. (Alternatively, you may choose to track gorillas, instead - add $400 to the tour price.) After tracking (time-permitting), visit Iby'wacu, the ex-poacher's village, where you will learn more about the traditional methods of fire-making, archery, traditional medicine and dances. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Days 16 & 17 (◊Days 4 & 5 if an individual departure)

Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 20 & 21, 2012

Exhilarating days await you! Track a different gorilla group each of the two days. In the afternoon, (time-permitting) take a scenic drive to view the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo one day; and Lake Kivu, which forms the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo the next. Or, relax at your accommodation, enjoying the view into the volcanoes. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Gorilla mom with baby in tow

Day 18 (◊Day 6 if an individual departure)

Monday, Oct. 22, 2012

There may be time to visit Iby'wacu, the ex-poacher's village, if you did not have time on October 19 (day 3 on an individual departure) after tracking. Otherwise relax and enjoy a leisurely morning. Transfer back to Kigali Airport in time for the passenger with the earliest flight departure to check-in for his/her homeward or onward flight (not included). (Breakfast & picnic lunch)
This is the last day on an individual departure.
Overnight flight Kigali - Europe (most likely via Nairobi) (In-flight catering)

Mountain Gorilla Silverback and Christine Eichin

Day 19

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012

Early morning arrival in Europe. In transit, transfer to: Flight Europe - USA (In-flight catering)

Mountain Gorilla mother and baby

Included:

●  Overnight accommodation at Nairobi Serena Hotel (OR Kigali Serena Hotel if an individual departure)
●  All transfers
●  Meet and assist upon arrival in Kigali
●  Escorted by an experienced English-speaking local driver/guide, and specialist guides for golden monkey and gorilla tracking
●  4 nights accommodation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, meals and activities as indicated in the itinerary
●  1 golden monkey tracking permit per person (If you track mountain gorillas instead of the golden monkeys, add $400 to the tour price, and an additional $250 starting June 1st, 2012)
●  2 gorilla tracking permits per person (add an additional $250 per permit starting June 1st, 2012)
●  Maximum 5 passengers per vehicle (guaranteed window seat for all)
●  Transportation in comfortable 4-wheel drive vehicle

Not Included:

●  Round-trip airfare to/from Kigali
(Lowest published fare between Nairobi and Kigali, round-trip, as of January 2012 is $337 subject to availability in lowest fare class at the time of booking, and fare subject to change until ticketed. If you book international airfare on Kenya Airways originating in the US or Europe through us, the airfare Nairobi-Kigali, round-trip, can be added to the international ticket, subject to availability in lowest fare class at time of booking.)

Pricing:
INCLUDING ONE GOLDEN MONKEY & TWO GORILLA PERMITS, but not including airfare:

If you track gorillas instead of the golden monkeys (a total of THREE gorilla tracking days), your price is $400 higher than the package price below. Golden monkey permits are currently $100; gorilla permits $500/day if purchased by May 31, 2012 (subject to availability at time of booking) - gorilla permits will be $750/day if purchased June 1st, 2012 or later, and a supplement of $250 per gorilla permit will apply.)
Per person sharing:
2 participants                          $4,859
3 participants                          $4,459●
4 participants                          $4,359
5 participants                          $4,259●
●Single Room Supplement            $759

Above and Beyond Africa must receive your deposit and a copy of your passport the latest by Friday, May 25, 2012 to secure gorilla tracking permits before the gorilla permit price increase takes effect on June 1st.

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge:

The Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is the new mid range accommodation, located only a 15 min. drive from the ranger station at Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park), where you check in each morning for either gorilla or golden monkey tracking. The 30 individual cottages are built of stone and thatch on the slopes of Mt Sabinyo. The rooms are big and bare, but each features a small lounge with a fire place and a private veranda. A major draw-back is that electricity is provided by a generator, which is generally turned on after 6 pm; meaning you only have hot water/heat when power is on. Wood is provided to burn in the fire place, but you may want to dress warmly anyways.

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

African Safari Silverback Gorilla Face

Tracking the gentle giants, the ultimate wildlife encounter,

Mountain Gorillas in Parc National des Volcans (Rwanda).

To return to Your Safari Expert's home page, click here.