I'm in the early stages of planning a trip to Africa in July 2007. We plan on spending about a week in Rwanda/Uganda and are consider 2 treks in PNV and one in Bwindi. I've looked at a number of tours that come close to what we are looking for, but the tours seem a bit on the pricey side (esp. when only one permit is include in the cost.) I've also found an 'in-country' operator whose pricing seem much more reasonable, but don't know about this operators reputation. Does anyone have any suggestions on tour options and operators for this part of our tour?

You can organize it independently for MUCH cheaper if you're not opposed to taking buses around the country.

If you're looking to have your own vehicle, than you will also need a driver/guide and it will run you around $150 per day for the driver/guide/vehicle. Primate Safaris and Volcanoes Safaris are some reputable companies that I saw--vehicles looked in good shape and clients seemed happy.

I just came back from Rwanda and posted a trip report. We were in Rwanda for 10 days and took Matatus or taxis everywhere we went. I wouldn't do it differently again (unless I had small children). I got to experience so much of the country just by travelling with people and having the freedom to create my own itinerary as I went. I don't usually travel like that...but I'm sure glad I did there. AMAZING COUNTRY. You will love it!!!

We stayed at the Milles Collines in Kigali and were very happy there, though many people don't like it. The Intercontinental is meant to be much nicer, but is also much more costly. Our quote at the Milles Collines was $125, versus $250 at the Intercontinental. The Novatel is another option, though the rooms are not as nice as the Milles Collines.

At the PNV we stayed at Hotel Murahabura for $30. I hear the Virunga Lodge (run by Volcanoes safari) is AMAZING. Gorillas Nest is the location many people stay at, it's around $100 and is close to the tracking location. But everyone says it's freezing.

I highly recommend a stay in Kibuye at the Bethanie Guest House. Stay at least 2 nights. It's $12 a night. They are also redoing the Kibuye Guest House (Volcanoes Safaris is participating in that renovation...so you may want to check that out too).

Gisenyi is ok, if you're looking for another beachy town to go to...and I liked the town and people there better than in Kibuye (but the setting of Kibuye can't be beat). In Gisenyi, the nicest place is the Kivu Sun which is $124 per night including breakfast. We stayed at the Palm Beach, which is pretty run down, but worked for us for $30. There are also some other hotels that are a step between the two, like the Stipp Hotel (it has a pool, but is not on the lake).

My boyfriend went to Nyungwe to see the monkeys, waterfalls, birds, etc. (he did not go Chimp tracking and he didn't recommend it there as it seems they are very difficult to find and it's quite strenuous). But he LOVED Nyungwe...especially the people at the ORPTN guesthouse.

I wish I had gone to Butare to see the National Museum.

You'll have a great trip! If you're looking for in-country operators, get the Bradt guide or just look on the ORPTN's website.

hi there-i used GREAT LAKES SAFARIS out of kampala. i used them 2 times in a yr.
no issues at all.
if you would like more info email:
[email protected]
thanks, david

I'll add my 2 cents.
We too are just back from Rwanda although our trip was MUCH shorter than Lucia's and like her we arranged it independently.
Unlike Lucia, we hired a car plus driver which, if going again, I would DEFINATELY do (especially as we had an issue with lost luggage and having that private transport was a lifesaver). OUr driver, Richard was <u>AMAZING</u> The cheapest quote we got (which is the one we booked) was $180 per day for the vehicle plus driver.
We stayed at the Mille Collines in Kigali which I definately would NOT recomment - overpriced, snotty staff and above all, FILTHY (see my trip report). If you search on the INtercontinentals website (under specials or something like that), you can get a room there for $186, just $60 more than the Mille Collines. YOu DO have to search in the website to get this rate though but it IS there! I have read all good things about this hotel but I haven't stayed there.

I completely agree with Lucia in that Rwanda is a spectacular country and has the most amazing people.... YOu will have a FANTASTIC time!

Imelda

Thanks for the responses...you have helped in our planning process

Stayed at the Inter-Continental earlier this month--it's fine. As to the Gorilla Nest, it was not so much that it was cold as that it was wet. Nothing dries because of the humidity (even earlier this month during what is supposed to be the dry season). In fact the reason that we stayed at the Inter-Continental rather than the Novotel is that, after 4 nights at the Gorilla Nest, I wanted to get everything dry, and only the I-C had air conditioning, i.e., the ability to take the humidity out of the room air.

I would definitely recommend Amahoro Tours if you are looking for a local Rwandan operator based out of Ruhengeri. They are also great if you want to do other things besides a gorilla trek: we visited an orphanage and a Batwa village, hiked through some interesting stone ruins and a cave outside the town, did a day-trip to Gisenyi, and my wife also helped cook a traditional Rwandan dinner at a local person's house.

We stayed at the Gorilla's Nest, which I personally didn't find cold and damp (maybe because I'm used to all the fog in San Francisco) but I would probably have preferred to stay at the Hotel Murahabura just because we spent so much time in town when we weren't trekking.

In Kigali, I would recommend the Chez Lando as the rooms are clean and spacious and it is fairly close to the airport and the Genocide Memorial. The service at the hotel's restaurant is incredibly poor though.

Good luck with the planning!