As you may be aware, there are only 720 mountain gorillas remaining in their natural habitat. These habitats are in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo.
Presently, Rwanda not only enjoys the best security in the region but also has the easiest access routes for visiting the mountain gorillas. Primate Safaris, Rwanda¡¦s professional tour-operator, organizes thrilling treks to visit these gentle giants in their misty mountain home, also known as the virunga mountains (a chain of volcanoes with altitudinal ranges of 3500m-4507m). Mountain Gorillas are found in the high altitude forests surrounding these volcanoes.
There are currently 6 habituated gorilla families that can be visited :-

1 Sabyinyo Group-This is a family of 8 gorillas, led by the biggest silverback known in the entire jungle.

2 Amahoro Group- 16 members including one silverback

3 Group 13- 20 members including one silverback

4 Susa Group- The largest family with 38 members including 4 silverbacks.

5 Umubano Group V 9 members with one Siverback

6 Ihirwe Group V 8 members with one silverback

In order to minimize behavioral disturbances to the gorillas, only 8 people are allowed to visit each of the families and for a period not exceeding 1hour.
This means that only 40 people are allowed in the park daily. The limits
serve to protect gorillas from the risk of exposure to human- borne
diseases.

In order to execute your bookings effectively, the following information is
required:-
„« Intended period of stay in Rwanda
„« Number of participants in your group
„« How many gorilla visits you intend to make
„« Each gorilla permit costs US$ 375 per person per visit until May 30, 2007
„« From June 1, the gorilla permit will be increased to US$ 500
„« Please note that children under 15 years of age are not allowed into the
park.

ALSO NOTE THAT THE ABOVE RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Flight information
„« Direct flights available with SN Brussels airline twice a week from Brussels to Kigali, Rwanda.
„« Contact your travel agent for other connections via Nairobi,Kenya,where two daily flights are available.
„« Flights from Nairobi to Kigali take only one and a half hours.
„« Direct flights Johanesburg to Kigali three times weekly WED/FRI/ SUN

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK (Park National des Volcans) Situated 91 km NW of the capital Kigali, its an easy 2 hour drive on a fairly good road, through the countryside with its beautifully terraced hills that are so characteristic of rural Rwanda, to the town of Ruhengeri.

You will then be driven on to the village of Kinigi, the starting point, where instructions will be given on how to behave in the presence of gorillas.
The tracking then begins.
Once inside the forest, the following must be observed:- „« No spitting in the park „« No littering in the park „« No coughing in the direction of the gorillas „« Only speak in whispers „« Do not point at the gorillas „« Movements around the gorillas must be unthreatening „« No venturing behind thick shrubs. You may surprise a gorilla.
„« If a nettle stings you, do not cry out, scream, shout-out loud or make any sudden moves.
„« If a gorilla charges or vocalizes, do not look directly at it. Stand perfectly still unless the guide asks you to crouch or move back.

ESSENTIALS FOR THE HIKE

„« Long pants (jeans/khakis) and a long sleeved shirt
„« Good well-worn hiking boots
„« Light raincoat
„« Leather gloves (there are stinging nettles in the park)
„« Cap/Hat
„« Camera (no flash)/ personal camcorder
„« Plenty of drinking water

ENJOY THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE

Primate Safaris

Rwanda Explorer (basic country info).

Kigali
Rwanda's attractive capital Kigali, struggles over several hills, with the city center on one and the government/admin. Quarter on another. The center of Kigali is bustling, colorful and noisy, but also clean and safe.
Peaceful, tree-lined residential streets stretch up and down the city¡¦s heart, giving visitors ample scope for strolling.
The government and administrative area, in Kacyiru quarter on a neighbouring hill, is newer and quieter, with wide streets and some modern architecture.
There aren¡¦t many tourist attractions in Kigali and you are unlikely to spend many full days there, but there are some good hotels, the services (shops, banks etc.) are plentiful and the ambience is pleasant, making it ideal for exploring the rest of Rwanda, all parts of which are easily accessible by road in 2 to 6 hours.

Butare
This former colonial era administrative capital of Rwanda is a pleasant businesslike town and has lot to boast about. Being the site of the National University, Butare is sometimes called the country¡¦s ¡¥intellectual¡¦ center and during term time it has probably the largest concentration of students not only at the university but also at other technical and training schools and colleges.
It is something of a religious center too, with its massive cathedral and other churches.
The National Museum is also located here and offers a rich and beautifully presented collection of exhibits on Rwandan history& culture from earliest times to present day.
Spectacular displays of traditional dancers (Intore) take place in Butare and can be arranged on request (for a fee) at the museum.

Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe is a true rainforest typically receiving in excess of 2000mm of rain annually; it is also one of the oldest forests in Africa.
Covering an area of about 1000 sq km over the mountainous SW of Rwanda, Nyungwe protects the largest single tract of montane forest remaining anywhere in east or Central Africa. As such, it is a remarkably rich center of biodiversity, harboring (among other things):
75 mammal species
275 endemic and migratory bird species
120 butterfly species
Over 100 varieties of orchid.
The main attraction of Nyungwe forest is its primates. Chimp tracking can be arranged at short notice and several other monkeys are readily seen including the acrobatic Ruwenzori colobus of up to 400 strong (the largest arboreal primate troops in Africa).
Nyungwe is also highly alluring to birders, botanists and keen walkers. One of the joys of Nyungwe is its accessibility. Not only is the forest bisected by a surfaced trunk road, it can also be easily explored along a well-maintained network of walking trails. Being a high altitude or montane forest, Nyungwe lies at an altitude of between 1600m and 2950m resulting in an agreeably cool climate throughout the year.

Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is a 2,650 sq. km. extraordinarily beautiful inland sea enclosed by steep, green terraced hills along eastern Rwanda.
Three resort towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu are located along it¡¦s shores and are connected by a wild roller-coaster road that tumbles through lush plantain fields and relic patches of misty rainforest to offer sweeping views over the blue waters with the nearby Virunga volcanoes providing a spectacular backdrop. The road winds endlessly in a countless number of twists and turns and the common storm clouds lend a ruggedly romantic panorama to this region.

Gisenyi, the most developed of these resorts is set on a sandy beach lined with swaying palms and colonial-era hotels that exude an atmosphere of tropical languor.
At Kibuye to the south, tourist activities are centered on a modern lakeshore guest house overlooking pine-covered hills. Kibuye is such a relaxed, pleasant town that its enjoyable strolling along the lake shores, bird-watching or just watching life unfold. Other leisure activities include water skiing, wind surfing, boat trips and fishing.
Then comes Cyangugu town whose subdued tourist development is compensated by a stirring setting of curving inlets winding into narrow valleys and it¡¦s close proximity to Nyungwe forest where at least 25% of Africa¡¦s primates can be found among lots more natural wonders.
There is a charter boat service connecting the 3 towns.

Akagera National Park
Named after the river which runs along the eastern boundary, the Akagera NP is Rwanda¡¦s answer to the famous savannah reserves of East and Southern Africa. The park supports an extensive network of wetlands; a complex of a dozen lakes linked by papyrus swamps and winding water channels fed by the mighty Akagera river.
Herds of Elephant and Buffalo emerge from the woodlands to drink at the lakes and lucy visitors might come across a leopard, spotted hyena or lion.
Giraffe, Zebra and more than a dozen type of antelope, including the world¡¦s largest antelope, the cape Eland inhabit the park.
The lakes support some of the highest concentration of hippo you¡¦ll ever find anywhere in Africa, while outsized crocodiles soak up the sun with their massive jaws menacingly agape.
Lining the lakes are some of the continents densest concentration of water birds while the connecting marshes are the haunt of endangered and exquisite species like the papyrus gonolek and the bizarre shoebill stork - the later being perhaps Africa's rarest bird.