Rwanda and Zambia Tracking Safari

Kigali - Volcanoes National Park

From Rwanda's capital Kigali, travel in your private vehicle through the 'land of a thousand hills' to reach the Volcanoes National Park. Straddling the shared borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Virunga Mountains consists of eight major volcanoes, two of which are still active. Along with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, the forested slopes of the Virungas are home to the worlds remaining mountain gorillas, with an estimated one third of the remaining populations found within Volcanoes National Park on the Rwandan side of the range.

Gorilla Trekking

Time to put your walking boots on along with hat, sunscreen, gardening gloves (for tackling ivy, thorns and branches) and good quantities of water in your backpack and head to the park headquarters to find out which gorilla family you will be tracking today. It may take anything from one to four hours walking before you connect with a family, once sighted you are permitted to spend a maximum of only one hour with them. You are not likely to ever forget your first sighting of the gorillas. They are truly magnificent; each family member unique in his or her own way. You are going to be happy you have booked permits for a second trek! In the afternoon your guide and vehicle are at your disposal to visit the twin lakes or Musanze Caves.

Gorilla Trekking

Early up, breakfast and back to park headquarters for 7:00am and then into the valleys and up the ridges on your second trekking expedition. You are likely to have packed even more water today, will appreciate energy bars to keep you fuelled and will gratefully pay the small fee for a porter to carry your backpack. During your walk, take time to appreciate the surrounding natural beauty including birds, butterflies and monkeys. Today you may be lucky enough to witness the silverback doing some signature chest-beating, baby gorillas swinging in the trees and the whole family out on what generally looks like a leisurely picnic outing of play and foraging. Once again in the afternoon your guide is available to take you exploring. Highly recommended is a visit to the Gorilla Doctors (additional fee donated to the programme).

Kigali - Lusaka

This morning choose between trekking the golden monkeys or visiting the Dian Fossey Memorial. After lunch you will be transferred back to the airport in time for the evening flight to Lusaka, Zambia. You will be met on arrival and transferred to a stylish small boutique hotel in a quiet residential suburb of Lusaka.

Lusaka - South Luangwa National Park

Fly to Mfuwe Airport, gateway to the South Luangwa National Park. A road journey brings you to the wild southern reaches of the reserve and the first of your three bushcamps. Over the next six nights you will stay in three different bushcamps using a combination of walking and game drives to move from camp to camp. Enjoy the rustic charm of Kuyenda's four thatched rondavels or the elevated tree-houses and prime riverside location of Chamilandu. Set on the edge of a permanent lagoon, Chindeni is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful tented camps in the South Luangwa. A picturesque and intimate camp with just four extremely spacious thatched chalets, and hosted by an award-winning guide, Bilimungwe, affectionately called Billi - is the one to book well in advance! Remote and romantic Kapamba with stone and thatch chalets complete with sunken stone bath or the Meru-style thatched tents and quiet charm of Zungalila complete the lodging options. Which three camps you stay at will be determined by availability, or if booked well in advance, your preferred choice of camps (please see links to the bushcamps in the Suggested Safari Accommodation section below). With just three or four rooms at each camp you are assured of a very personal and authentic experience.

South Luangwa

You have five full days to discover the rich wildlife and varied ecosystems of South Luangwa in the company of passionate and knowledgeable guides eager to share their patch of paradise with you. Set off on both day and night game drives to seek out the Luangwa’s resident wildlife. But the most thrilling is feeling your heart pound in your chest as you tiptoe your way through the bush, alarm calls from other animals echoing in the air, inching towards a small clearing and peering through the branches to discover what awaits; perhaps a pride of lions busy devouring a recent kill or a family of elephant foraging in what seems like a giant salad bowl. The dazzling arrival of dawn and an action-packed day closes in with the magic of sunset and one of Zambia’s signature sundowner treats: sitting on camp chairs barefoot in the soft sandy shallows of the gently swirling Luangwa River.

Mfuwe

Time to start acclimatising back into the real world as you game drive through the park to the game rich Mfuwe area and a final night at a somewhat larger lodge.

Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge (B, L, D)

Depart Zambia

Final morning game drive and breakfast and transfer to Mfuwe Airport for the flight to Lusaka and your onward flight home.