atravelynn

Oh dear, I detected an egregious error that I must correct.

<i>"...some interesting birdwatching, especially a couple of different mother jacanas and chicks."</i>

In a sex-role reversal, it is usually the male jacana that tends to the chicks.

I feel better having made this edit, even though it is long after the fact.

Now this report can slip quietly back down into oblivion. Apologies for throwing it back into your faces about 2 years after its completion.

TC

Thanks for throwing it, Lynn. I had missed the report previously and welcome the opportunity to read it and mark for future planning. Excellent details! Great report. Superb stories.

Nikao

thx for throwing it up in your subtle way .. Had missed this one as well and it's definately interesting for future plans (or dreams? )

Femi

Nice to revisit this report to plumb the possiblities for a future trip, thanks again for posting. Any chance the photos are available in a different gallery since Kodak gallery no longer exists?

atravelynn

Thanks Femi. I am hoping the albums will appear soon in Shutterfly. I just sent a "contact us" asking when.

I have a feeling we'll be revisiting many old reports that had photos in Kodak Gallery that are being updated with the new album links.

In the meantime, here is the illustrated version on safaritalk.
http://safaritalk.net/topic/3984-hav..._hl__orthotics

Jane62

Thank you for the link to the illustrated version, Lynn - I'd read this wonderful report on here before but it is great fun to read it with the pictures included - love it - want to do this sort of trip very much but I need to lose some weight and get in better shape first. And decide if I want to take the kids, in which case I'd need to wait until they are both old enough.

Femi

Even better than I remembered!

new_adventure

Although I'm late to the party, it's a great report Lynn, as always.

Cateyes555

This is a fabulous trip report - especially with the link to Safaritalk for the photos. I wasn't a member when it was originally posted, so glad it was resurrected. Helps me with my planning for Rwanda next year. Thanks Lynn!

atravelynn

Thanks all. Seems so long ago. Cause it was.

We have some things in common <b>Cateyes</b>, as I just noted on the "Planning a first safari with a reputable outfitter" thread.

Now if you go to Rwanda and have Theo or Kirenga for a guide, I'll know you are following me--or vice versa!

Cateyes555

Hey Lynn - since you are clearly super well traveled in Africa, I will try to remember the names Theo and Kirenga and ask for them specifically as guides

Cateyes555

Hey Lynn - I was just reading your trip report on Mahale (am considering going there along with Rwanda) and Tarangire - saw George from Kiliwarriors was your guide. He was also our guide in northern Tanzania in 2010 - loved him!

atravelynn

Theogene Rutembesa is his full name and Kirenga K.

Rwanda Gorillas and Mahale chimps would make a fabulous trip!

George knows the good angles and lighting for photos in Tarangire.

Jane62

Lynn, or anyone else reading this who knows: I'm a bit confused about how you book a gorilla tour. You said you went with African Adventure and Primate Safari on your first trip and with African Adventure and Volcanoes on your second. How does that work, African Adventure arranges it with the company in Rwanda for you? But you could have also arranged it directly with the company in Rwanda? (You said you were in touch with Volcanoes yourself initially).

I was just looking at African Adventure's website and noticed they have a set price to go to Rwanda for 4 nights (with 2 gorilla treks) but they mention various hotels that I know from researching are in very different price ranges. I don't get how that works, shouldn't a stay at one of the budget hotels cost less overall? if so, why is there a fixed price?

Thanks!

atravelynn

1st Rwanda trip: Used The Africa Adventure Co and they chose Primates as their ground operator.

2nd Rwanda trip: I tried to get in touch with Primates, but was not successful. I talked directly to Volcanoes. I also talked with The Africa Adventure Company. It turned out that The Africa Adventure Company was willing to give me the Volcanoes price and use Volcanoes as the ground operator if I booked through them. So why not have an added level of protection for no extra cost? So I paid the Africa Adventure Company and had Volcanoes guides.

Volcanoes owns properties that you can stay in while in Rwanda. I did not use those and instead used less expensive properties and paid less than the Volcanoes properties. You can have Volcanoes guides and stay at non-Volcanoes properties.

I don't know why one price would apply to properties that cost different amounts. That would be a good question to ask. Maybe there are several variations that mix and match properties to end up costing the same in combination. Good luck Jane62!

Jane62

Ah, I see - thanks, Lynn, this makes sense. That is good to know that even if you use Volcanoes, you don't have to use their properties. That is nice that Africa Adventure Co. was willing to use the Volcanoes pricing for you - I wonder how they made any money then? Maybe in other parts of your trip. As you can see I'm stalking various of your past trips trying to figure out what we will do next!

atravelynn

I was a trial balloon to see if Volcanoes was a company they would work with in the future. Volcanoes passed my test with flying colors. Hope it passed theirs too.

Not only can you stay at properties that are not Volcanoes, you can ask Volcanoes to book a certain guide who may not always work for them. Or ask a different company for a guide who often does Volcanoes trips.

You'll come up with something, Jane. It is a big world!