11-Day Virunga Primates and Mafia Island

11-Day Virunga Primates and Mafia Island
11 Days in South Africa

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This fantastic holiday combines Rwanda’s Parc des Volcans and Mafia Island in the Indian Ocean. You’ll spend time tracking wild mountain gorillas and endangered golden monkeys in Rwanda before flying to Tanzania's capital, Dar Es Salam. Following a night there, you will head off to laid-back Mafia Island, where you can enjoy activities such as kayaking, sailing trips with local fishermen, hiking, bird watching, diving, snorkeling, cultural tours and visits to local villages.

Tour Summary

You'll go to Rwanda & Tanzania

You'll visit Kigali, Volcanoes NP, Dar es Salaam, Mafia Island & Dar es Salaam Beaches

This tour starts in Kigali & ends in Dar es Salaam - Getting there

Tour Features

Luxury tour

This luxury tour uses lodges and hotels.

Private tour

This tour will be organized exclusively for you. However, wildlife viewing activities are run by the lodges/camps and will be shared with others.

Can start any day

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Can be customized

You can request changes to this tour.

Suitable for solo travelers

Solo travelers can book this private tour.

Minimum age of 16 years

The minimum age for this tour is 16 years.

Activities & Transportation

Activities: gorilla trekking & chimpanzee trekking

Getting around: minivan & air transfer

This operator can book your international flights help

A transfer from and back to the airport is included

Accommodation & Meals

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost

Day	Accommodation	Meals
1-3	Virunga Lodge Luxury lodge outside Volcanoes NP (Rwanda)	Day 1: Lunch & Dinner Included Day 2-3: All Meals Included
4	The Oyster Bay Hotel Luxury hotel in or near Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)	Breakfast & Lunch Included
5-10	Pole Pole Luxury lodge in or near Mafia Island (Beach, Tanzania)	Breakfast & Dinner Included
11	End of tour (No accommodation)	Breakfast Included

Next:Day by Day

Arrival

(See Getting there for more details)

You'll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1 Arrival to Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Upon arrival in Kigali you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you can explore this vibrant city with a guide and you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Genocide Memorial and Education Centre which is a permanent memorial to those who were killed during the genocide. Following your city tour you’ll be transferred to Kinigi at the foothills of the Virungas in Parc National des Volcans. Once you arrive, you’ll check in to your accommodation where you’ll stay for the next three nights.

Main Destination:	Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
Best Time to Visit Jun to Sep (It is drier and trails are easier to hike) High Season Jun to Sep (Permits are scarce) Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot) Wildlife in Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas) Common None Elephant Rare Buffalo Rare White Rhino None Black Rhino None Giraffe None Lion None Leopard None Cheetah None Zebra None Wildebeest None Hippo None Show More
Accommodation:	Virunga Lodge Luxury lodge located outside Volcanoes NP
Meals & Drinks:	Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinks not included

Day 2 Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast you’ll be driven to the Parc National des Volcans HQ where you’ll meet your guide who will brief you about your trek and the various aspects of ‘gorilla etiquette’. Your professional guide will lead you into the forest in search of your allocated gorilla family. The high altitude and steep, slippery trails and the humidity under the forest canopy can make the trek challenging, but it’s definitely worth the effort to spend time with wild mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Main Destination:	Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:	Virunga Lodge Luxury lodge located outside Volcanoes NP
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 3 Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

After another early breakfast you’ll once again be driven to the Parc National des Volcans HQ where you’ll meet your guide who will brief you about your golden monkey trek. Tracking golden monkeys and gorillas is a similar experience – you’ll be in a small group of no more than eight people and you can spend just one hour with the monkeys once you find them. However as the golden monkeys live in the bamboo vegetation at the base of the volcanoes, the trek is not as strenuous as tracking gorillas. The monkeys are very active and it is likely that you’ll find them leaping between the bamboo branches in the trees above you or playing on the forest floor. After your golden monkey trek you can visit the Iby’Iwacu cultural village before returning to your accommodation.

Main Destination:	Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:	Virunga Lodge Luxury lodge located outside Volcanoes NP
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 4 Fly from Kigali in Rwanda to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania

After breakfast you’ll be transferred to Kigali Airport for your flight to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Upon arrival you’ll be transferred to your beachfront accommodation in Dar es Salaam and you’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening free to explore this fascinating city.

Main Destination:	Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania)
Accommodation:	The Oyster Bay Hotel Luxury hotel located in or near Dar es Salaam
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinks not included

Day 5 Transfer to Mafia Island

After breakfast you’ll be picked up and transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Mafia Island. On arrival in Kilindoni, you’ll be met by a driver and taken to your chosen accommodation where you’ll spend the next five nights on a half-board basis.

Main Destination:	Mafia Island (Beach, Tanzania)
Accommodation:	Pole Pole Luxury lodge located in or near Mafia Island
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks not included

Day 6-10 Relax and Explore Mafia Island

For the next few nights, enjoy Mafia Island at your ownleisure. If you’re visiting Mafia Island between October and March you’ll have the opportunity to snorkel with Whale Sharks, or if you’re visiting between July and October you may be lucky enough to see Humpback Whales. From June to September you can join a turtle-hatching trip and witness hundreds of baby turtles scramble from the sandy beaches to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. You may wish to join a full day excursion to the sand banks, or enjoy a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow. Stroll through Chole village, where you can visit the old mosque, the Fruit Bat sanctuary or the boat yard or you may wish to explore Mrora Forest, Ras Mbizi Coconut Plantation or the Lighthouse at Ras Mkumbi. *Inform us of what excursions and activities you'd like to participate in for an overall price of the trip.

Main Destination:	Mafia Island (Beach, Tanzania)
Accommodation:	Pole Pole Luxury lodge located in or near Mafia Island
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks not included

Day 11 Fly to Dar es Salaam to catch international flight home

Today you’ll be driven back to Kilindoni Airport for your flight to Dar es Salaam. Our driver will meet you at the domestic airport to transfer you to the international airport for your flight home. You’ll arrive home the following day with fond memories of your Rwanda and Mafia Island adventure.

Main Destination:	Dar Es Salaam Beaches (Tanzania)
Accommodation:	No accommodation
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinks not included

End of tour

(See Getting there for more details)

You'll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Next: Rates

Important to Know

Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour must be paid in British Pounds (GBP). The ZAR rates shown are converted for information purposes only. Disclaimer
This tour accepts children who are 16 years and older.
Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. Flights may cost more, depending on travel dates. If so, your quote will reflect this.

Rates Per Person

Inclusions

Rates Per Person

AUD

USD

ZAR

EUR

GBP

Start dates	Solo 1 room	2 people 1 room	3 people 2 rooms	4 people 2 rooms	5 people 3 rooms	6 people 3 rooms	7+ people
Jan 1, 2020 - Dec 31, 2020	$8196	$5926	$5834	$5834	$5628	$5628
Jan 1, 2021 - Dec 31, 2021	$8196	$5926	$5834	$5834	$5628	$5628