11-Day Virunga Primates and Mafia Island
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 |
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
|
|
Accommodation: | Virunga Lodge
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
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
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
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
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
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
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
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
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
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
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
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: |
|
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.
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
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
|
$8319
|
$6014
|
$5921
|
$5921
|
$5712
|
$5712
|
|
Jan 1, 2021 - Dec 31, 2021
|
$8319
|
$6014
|
$5921
|
$5921
|
$5712
|
$5712
|
|
N/A* = Not Available. This is Unavailable For Single Travelers.
Included
- Park fees(For non-residents)
- Gorilla permits(One per person, non-resident)
- Chimp permits(One per person, non-resident)
- All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Excluded
- International flights(From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips(No tip expected)
- Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks
Included
- Park fees(For non-residents)
- Gorilla permits(One per person, non-resident)
- Chimp permits(One per person, non-resident)
- All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Excluded
- International flights(From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips(No tip expected)
- Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks
Getting There
This tour starts in Kigali, Rwanda and ends in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
This operator can book your international flights help
Fly to Kigali Airport (KGL - Check price)
Fly back from Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR - Check price) in Dar es Salaam
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
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