Upon arrival at Kigali Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel
Overnight at on Bed & Breakfast basis - Prime Room
After Breakfast, you will be briefed on your safari.
This morning enjoy a tour of the Kigali city including a visit to genocide memorial, handicraft shops. Later morning, start for Parc des Volcans with views of the great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest. With stops at place of interest, proceed to Kinigi arriving in time for lunch. This transfer by road is approximately 3 - 3 1/2 hours.
Check-In & Check-Out Times At Bisate: · Standard arrival time is from 14:00. · Departure time is before 10:30. Should you be participating in any activities (gorilla trekking/an excursion for Golden Monkey sightings/a visit to Dian Fossey’s grave site/ climbing Mount Bisoke) on the day of departure, you will need to vacate your villa between 06:00 and 06:30 when you will be collected for your onward activity.
In the afternoon, you may drive around the village, or take a walk go to the craft shops for shopping and later return to the lodge.
Dinner at leisure - inclusive of meal but drinks are an extra cost
PURPOSE: The aim of Bisate is to be a model of sustainable ecotourism in Rwanda. Its reforestation and rehabilitation project has each guest partnering with us in contributing to conservation and local community upliftment, with a positive impact on the iconic endangered mountain gorilla. PLACE: Bisate Lodge has dramatic views of the Bisoke and Karisimbi volcano peaks rising through the forests of nearby Volcanoes National Park. It is within easy driving distance of Park Headquarters, from where once-in-a-lifetime gorilla treks depart daily. Exploring around Bisate includes community visits, birding, golden monkey trekking, and helping reforest the area, Gorilla Guardian Village, the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera, and Dian Fossey’s grave. UNIQUE SELLING POINTS Best place for a meaningful and informed gorilla experience. The most innovative, responsible, visionary and luxurious lodge adjacent to Volcanoes National Park. Reforestation, community engagement and interactions all create an enriched experience.
Included Lodge Activities On Site: guided birding and nature walks, guided nursery visit and indigenous tree planting, guided visit to the community beehive project that is support by the lodge, guided walks to the surrounding communities, self-guided running trail, “gym in a basket” at the villas, wine tasting, explanation from guide on biodiversity on the property, documentary film screenings.
Included Lodge Activities Off Site - Accessed By Walking: guided visits to Bisate reforestation site, guided visits to nursery school in the Bisate Village (the schools are closed over weekends and during school holidays), guided walks of the surrounding communities to meet with our neighbours.
Accommodation, all meals, all local drinks, laundry, lodge activities as listed below, complimentary in-room welcome massage, wireless internet connection in villa only, local Government taxes. In the event of a change in local taxes or the introduction of additional taxes, these rates will be adjusted accordingly. 5. Rates exclude: Travel to/from Bisate, premium imported brands and champagne, gorilla permit fees (USD 1500 per person, per permit - subject to change), extra day trips & excursions booked with park authorities or local tour operator, gratuities/tipping, visas where required, departure tax, additional in-villa massage treatments, curio purchases and a fully comprehensive travel insurance policy (with medical and evacuation insurance) valid from the date of itinerary confirmation (all guests travelling to Bisate must be covered by such a policy). 6. Lodge Activities On Site: guided birding and nature walks, guided nursery visit and indigenous tree planting, guided visit to the community beehive project that is support by the lodge, guided walks to the surrounding communities, self-guided running trail, “gym in a basket” at the villas, wine tasting, explanation from guide on biodiversity on the property, documentary film screenings. 7. Lodge Activities Off
Rates exclude: Travel to/from Bisate, premium imported brands and champagne, extra day trips & excursions booked with park authorities or local tour operator, gratuities/tipping, visas where required, departure tax, additional in-villa massage treatments, curio purchases and a fully comprehensive travel insurance policy (with medical and evacuation insurance) valid from the date of itinerary confirmation (all guests travelling to Bisate must be covered by such a policy). 6. Lodge Activities On Site: guided birding and nature walks, guided nursery visit and indigenous tree planting, guided visit to the community beehive project that is support by the lodge, guided walks to the surrounding communities, self-guided running trail, “gym in a basket” at the villas, wine tasting, explanation from guide on biodiversity on the property, documentary film screenings. 7. Lodge Activities Off
Early morning transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by the park staff. Loaded with your drinking water, packed lunch and walking stick, enter the forest in search for the famous Mountain Gorillas. Group will trek as a group of 8 guests together.
The trail into the forest, will abruptly immerse you in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest – Home to the Gorillas. An exhilarating Gorilla trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virungas can be muddy and challenging but offers a great experience.
Alive with the calls of Gorillas you will spend an hour before sloping back to the base. As you slope, through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks, among the highest in Africa are glimpsed. Meals and Accommodation at the lodge as per offered options in the quote.
An afternoon siesta, then later go for an optional visit of ibyi’wachu Cultural village. The organized village is a 16 minutes’ drive from the Lodge composed of ex poachers who turned their back on poaching to participate in various activities that benefit them and also add value to tourism. A visit to the village will take you through the traditional house of a local king, watch an authentic medicine man prepare herbal mixtures, try your hand at bow and arrow shooting or enjoy cultural dances and drumming.
Alternatively you can take a walk to Diane Fossey's Grave yard.
A further PCR Test will be required for Departure out of Rwanda and re-entry into Zimbabwe. This is done at Musanze which is enroute back to the lodge, and is for your own cost (US$ 50pp)
Meals and Accommodation at the lodge as per offered options in the quote.
Lunch and dinner included - all drinks are an extra cost
This morning, before you depart on your Golden Monkey Trek, you will be required to take a further PCR Test for departure (Cost for this to be done in-lodge to be advised). Your results will be mailed to you this evening. Check out of your rooms before departure.
Spend the morning trekking the Golden Monkeys. Return the lodge for a later lunch and freshen up in the day lounge.
Later afternoon you will “trace your footsteps” and return to Kigali, last-minute shopping and a dinner out in the city of Kigali.
Lunch and dinner - extra cost for meal and drinks.
BISATE DAY LOUNGE OFFERING - opening planned for early 2021
Accommodating early arrivals and later departures, our new Day Lounge will provide more flexibility with transfers in and out of the lodge. Further enhancing our guest experience, the Bisate Day Lounge will also offer guests the opportunity to shower, change, have a light meal, visit the shop stocked with items from Rwanda, have a massage or simply relax and enjoy the views overlooking the vegetable garden, reforestation efforts and Volcanoes National Park. This additional service, including lunch, will be offered to all guests on arrival and departure at no additional cost, and will operate as follows: · We can accommodate arrivals at Bisate Lodge from 12:00 onwards for lunch. Their villas will be available after guests have finished their lunch. If the guests prefer to arrive before 12:00, please indicate this when making the booking so we are ready to welcome them at the Bisate Day Lounge on arrival. The guests will be able to relax and have lunch at the Day Lounge before proceeding to Bisate for check-in. · Departing guests need to vacate their room when they leave for trekking at 06:30 in the morning. In this case, their luggage will be transferred to one of the bathrooms in the Bisate Day Lounge. After trekking it is possible for the guests to return to the lounge to shower, change, have their shoes cleaned and enjoy lunch. The latest departure time from the lounge will be 15:30. · If guests are not trekking, check out and departure from Bisate Lodge is before 10:30. However, if guests would like to relax in the Day Lounge and enjoy a massage, a community visit, do one of the nature walks, enjoy some shopping or have lunch, they are more than welcome to do so until the latest departure time at 15:30.
This morning is an early wake up as your flight departs Kigali at 7am.
