Rwanda in June: An Unforgettable Journey of Luxury and Wildlife

Rwanda in June: An Unforgettable Journey of Luxury and Wildlife

Jun 28, 2023 | English

Rwanda in June: An Unforgettable Journey of Luxury and Wildlife

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Are you seeking an extraordinary travel experience? Look no further than Rwanda, a country renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and luxurious accommodations. 

June is the perfect time to visit, offering pleasant weather and incredible opportunities to explore Rwanda’s natural wonders. From gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park to immersing yourself in the stunning surroundings of Lake Kivu, Rwanda promises an unforgettable journey tailored to your preferences.

Luxurious Lodges in Rwanda:

When it comes to luxury accommodations in Rwanda, three lodges stand out for their exceptional service and captivating settings:

Bisate Lodge:

Located near Volcanoes National Park, Bisate Lodge offers a unique and immersive experience for travelers. The lodge features luxurious villas with breathtaking views of the Virunga Mountains. You can witness the awe-inspiring

beauty of the surrounding landscapes while enjoying world-class amenities and personalized service.

One&Only Gorilla’s Nest:

Situated on the foothills of the Virunga Volcano range, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest provides a luxurious haven in the heart of the wilderness. The lodge offers spacious and elegantly designed rooms, blending modern comforts with a traditional Rwandan aesthetic. With its close proximity to Volcanoes National Park, you can easily embark on unforgettable gorilla trekking experiences.

Singita Kwitonda Lodge:

Nestled on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, Singita Kwitonda Lodge combines luxurious accommodation with a commitment to conservation. The lodge features stunning suites, each offering uninterrupted views of the majestic volcanic peaks. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the surroundings and enjoy the lodge’s world-class facilities and services.

Captivating Places to Visit in Rwanda

 

Rwanda is a treasure trove of natural wonders and vibrant wildlife. Here are some must-visit destinations during your trip.

Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking:

One of Rwanda’s most iconic experiences is gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. With expert guides, you can embark on an unforgettable adventure to observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. Witnessing the gentle giants up close is a truly awe-inspiring and humbling experience.

Lake Kivu:

Located in the western part of Rwanda, Lake Kivu offers a tranquil escape amidst stunning scenery. The lake’s crystal-clear waters and sandy beaches provide the perfect setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. Enjoy a boat trip, indulge in water sports, or simply unwind while taking in the breathtaking views.

Mount Bisoke Hike:

For outdoor enthusiasts, a hike up Mount Bisoke is an exhilarating adventure. This dormant volcano rewards hikers with stunning panoramic views from its summit. Traverse through lush forests and encounter diverse flora and fauna along the way, making it a memorable and rewarding experience.

Chimpanzee Tracking at Nyungwe National Park:

Explore the lush rainforests of Nyungwe National Park and embark on a thrilling chimpanzee tracking expedition. Encounter these intelligent and playful creatures in their natural habitat, while also having the chance to spot other primate species and a rich variety of birdlife.

Akagera National Park – Akagera National Park is a true gem in Rwanda, offering an incredible wildlife experience and the opportunity to spot the famous Big Five – (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo).

Traveling to Rwanda in June offers several advantages that make it an ideal time to visit.

 

Here are five reasons why:

Weather: June marks the start of Rwanda’s dry season, which lasts until September. The weather during this period is generally sunny and mild, with lower chances of rainfall. The dry season provides excellent conditions for outdoor activities, wildlife viewing, and exploring Rwanda’s natural beauty without being hindered by heavy rains.

Gorilla Trekking: June is an excellent time for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. The dry season offers clearer trails, making it easier to navigate through the dense vegetation. With reduced chances of rain, the trek becomes more comfortable, and the gorillas tend to stay at lower altitudes, making them more accessible to visitors. It’s an incredible opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Wildlife Viewing: June is a fantastic time for wildlife enthusiasts as many animals are active during this period. In national parks like Akagera, the grass is shorter, making it easier to spot animals such as lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos. The dry season also concentrates wildlife around water sources, increasing the chances of encountering a wide variety of species.

Scenic Beauty: Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills” due to its stunning landscapes. In June, after the rainy season, the countryside is beautifully lush and green. The hills and mountains are draped in vibrant colors, creating picturesque scenes. It’s a great time to appreciate Rwanda’s natural beauty, hike through its scenic trails, and enjoy breathtaking views.

Cultural Festivals: June is a month of vibrant cultural festivals in Rwanda. One notable event is the Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony. It is a celebration of Rwanda’s conservation efforts and involves the naming of newly born gorilla babies. The festival showcases traditional dance, music, and cultural performances, offering a unique insight into Rwandan traditions and customs.

Travel Tips

Visa Requirements: Check visa requirements and ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your departure date. Most visitors can get a visa on arrival or apply online in advance.

Vaccinations and Health: Consult a healthcare professional for up-to-date vaccination information. Common vaccinations include yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, and tetanus. Take malaria precautions with medication and mosquito repellent.

Safety and Security: Rwanda is generally safe, but stay vigilant in crowded areas and secure important documents. Store your passport and extra cash in a hotel safe.

Climate and Packing: Rwanda has a temperate climate. Pack lightweight, breathable clothing for warm weather and layer up for cooler evenings. Don’t forget essentials like sunscreen, a hat, comfortable shoes, and insect repellent.

Cultural Etiquette: Embrace Rwandan hospitality and respect local traditions. Greet locals with “Muraho” and “Amakuru?” Dress modestly, ask for permission before taking photos, and be mindful of cultural sites.

June presents an excellent opportunity to explore Akagera National Park in Rwanda. With abundant wildlife, stunning landscapes, and a more exclusive experience, you’ll have the chance to witness the magnificent Big Five and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this remarkable national park. Don’t miss the chance to embark on a safari adventure like no other in June.

Ready to embark on an extraordinary journey to Rwanda in June?

To start planning your unforgettable trip to Rwanda in June, book a free 30-minute planning session with me. I’ll work closely with you to design a tailor-made itinerary that aligns with your preferences, ensuring every aspect of your journey is meticulously crafted to create lifelong memories.

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Mozambique: An April Escapade with a Safari Twist

Mozambique: An April Escapade with a Safari Twist

May 25, 2023 | English

Mozambique: An April Escapade with a Safari Twist

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April is a splendid time to explore and travel the world, and this year, our travel itinerary is spotlighting the exotic Southeast African country of Mozambique.

Renowned for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and the promise of an exciting safari experience in combination with South Africa, this intriguing destination is sure to kindle the wanderlust in you.

April is a delightful time, weather-wise, for Mozambique, conveniently avoiding the intense heat of December-March and the heavy rains of February. This makes it an optimal season to enjoy the country’s amazing destinations without any weather-related issues.

Our first beach encounter was at Machangulo. The untouched splendor of this locale is simply captivating.

The resort, located between the Indian Ocean and Maputo Special Reserve, offered an excellent mix of breathtaking landscapes and luxury. The tranquil environment and crystal blue waters set the perfect scene for snorkeling, fishing, or simply unwinding.

From Machangulo, we journeyed to the White Pearl Resorts, a hidden treasure nestled in the dunes of a pristine beach. The luxury suites, with their stunning ocean view, provided a front-row seat to the spectacular landscape. Days here were spent enjoying the beach, exploring the vibrant marine life, and savoring meals under the starry African sky.

The journey then unfolded towards Vilanculos, a quaint town that is the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago. Here, we stayed at the &Beyond Benguerra, Anantara Bazaruto, and Sussurro. Each resort radiated a unique charm, featuring luxurious accommodations, world-class cuisine, and a myriad of activities including beach horseback riding and traditional dhow sailing. Doesn’t this scream HONEYMOON? 

The Bazaruto Archipelago, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, is a UNESCO-protected marine reserve. This underwater wonderland showcased a vibrant spectacle of coral reefs, tropical fish, and even the elusive dugong. Exploring these underwater marvels marked a memorable highlight of our trip.

While Mozambique offers an abundance of beach activities, the idea of incorporating a fantastic safari experience takes the excitement to another level. Currently, this perfect blend of beach and safari is best achieved by combining a South African safari with a Mozambican beach vacation. The majestic wildlife of South Africa followed by the soothing Mozambican coastlines is an adventure worth every moment and if you wanted to have a Honeymoon safari but you always dreamed of a honeymoon on a fantastic beach, well, here is your answer. 

In a nutshell, Mozambique in April will be an unforgettable journey – the warmth of the people, the exotic flavors of the local cuisine, the charm of the beaches, and the vibrancy of marine life. If you’re scouting for an exceptional destination for your April getaway or a fabulously romantic Honeymoon, I’d highly recommend Mozambique. And who knows, you might just find yourself in the midst of the dreamy beach and safari combo that Mozambique is working towards!

Ready to plan your unforgettable journey to Mozambique?

Let’s make it a reality together! Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with me, German, today. We’ll craft your perfect itinerary and create a vacation that truly exceeds your expectations. Start your Mozambique adventure now!”

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Discover Victoria Falls in February: The Ultimate Experience

Discover Victoria Falls in February: The Ultimate Experience

Apr 21, 2023 | English

Discover Victoria Falls in February: The Ultimate Experience

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February is a fantastic time to explore Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders. With optimal water levels and an array of exhilarating activities, there’s never a dull moment during a visit to Victoria Falls in February.

Victoria Falls, affectionately known as Vic Falls, is a breathtaking destination that can be enjoyed year-round. However, February offers the perfect balance of water levels, allowing visitors to experience both the power of the falls and the thrill of activities like Devil’s Pool. From March to June, water levels are too high for Devil’s Pool, while during the dry season, the experience isn’t quite as impressive.

Spanning 1 kilometer in width, Vic Falls transforms into an adventure lover’s paradise during the low river season. This is the perfect time for adrenaline-pumping activities such as white water rafting, high-speed boat rides, bungee jumping, zip-lining, and the exhilarating giant swing. Don’t miss a visit to The Lookout Cafe for stunning views and delicious food.

For a more serene experience, visit The Elephant Cafe, where you can get up close and personal with these gentle giants. To fully immerse yourself in the wonders of Vic Falls, we recommend a minimum stay of two nights, which allows enough time for a helicopter flight over the falls and various activities.

Victoria Falls is accessible via two airports: Livingstone Airport in Zambia or Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe. To make the most of your trip, consider obtaining a multiple-entry visa, as activities are spread across both countries. A safari in Chobe National Park in Botswana or Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe adds an unforgettable touch to your adventure.

 

When choosing where to stay, consider the luxurious Royal Livingstone Hotel, located close to the falls. For those staying longer than two nights, we recommend upriver lodges like the exquisite Royal Chundu Lodge, which offers a variety of unique activities.

In summary, February is an ideal time to visit Victoria Falls, with a perfect blend of powerful falls and exciting activities. Combine this unforgettable experience with other African destinations like Cape Town and a safari for a 10-12 day trip of a lifetime.

Ready to plan your dream vacation to Victoria Falls in February?

Book a 30-minute consultation with me via Calendly. During our call, we’ll discuss your travel preferences, budget, and itinerary. I will provide you with expert advice and help you plan an unforgettable adventure that meets all of your needs and expectations. Don’t miss this opportunity – schedule your consultation today!

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TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN UGANDA

TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN UGANDA

Dec 23, 2022 | English

TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN UGANDA

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January is a great month to travel within africa and like I say with each question about where is the best place to go and when? Africa is a continent in which you can travel almost everywhere all year round, the only difference is that some months it’s better in some countries. For Example, Never go to Namibia in February, Waaaay too hot. After saying this, Where is the “best” place to go to in January? Well, besides the obvious, Cape Town, I would suggest Uganda. Yes. Uganda, to see the Gorillas. 

January is great in Uganda, because the rainy season just finished, the temperature is great and within all the choices, available it’s nice to do Uganda in January. In Uganda you can do so much, it is not only about the Gorillas, you can also go see the Chimpazees, and do a safari.

OH! You can visit Mirchison Falls, that’s where the Nile river starts, and if you are lucky you can see a Shoebill Stork in the wild (very lucky) but in Entebbe there’s a place where you can see them and interact with them, I find it an incredible bird and so prehistoric. I could not believe my luck when i got to be so close to one of them. 

So, yes, visit Cape Town in January (basically visit Cape Town all through summer here, Dec – Mar) but also think of Uganda as a very nice. Destination.

What to do and where to go.

In Uganda you can visit the Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest, for this you will need to get a permit to visit the gorillas, they are very limited, so you need to book in advance, they cost USD700 per person. If you’d like to see the Chimpazees, there are two options, fly to Kibale or to Kasese, Kibale is a better option to see the Chimps simply because there are more Chimp families there, but the permits are a bit more expensive than in Kasese, Kyambura gorge. 

In Uganda, you can visit a couple of national parks that offer proper safaris, Queen Elizabeth National park is the most known one but there are a few more, Kidepo Valley National Park is the one that offers better animal sightings but it is very difficult to reach so you will need to fly there. The other famous park is Murchison Falls National Park, where the Nile River starts.

In Queen Elizabeth National Park you can visit the Kazinga Chanel, a Chanel that unites Lake George with Lake Edward. The animal sighting here is amazing. Lots of Hippos and as safari goes, if you are lucky you can see the tree climbing lions. 

While in Entebbe, you can do sunset cruises on Lake Victoria and even visit the Ngamba Island where they have a Chimp Sanctuary, where you can interact with the chimps but in order to do this you will need a special permit and also you will need to have all the vaccinations that are in the world. Tetanus, Epathitis, Meningitis, TB, Smallpax, etc. you name it you will need it. One can also visit the Uganda Wild Conservation and education center, it used to be a Zoo a but now it is used more for research and education, if you do go, ask for the behind the scenes tour. That’s where you get to feed some of the animals and pat them, I fed a giraffe, a Rhino, an elephant, but the best was the interaction with the Shoebill stork, it’s something I will never forget. 

Need some help planning your January holiday?

Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with German – for the perfect advice on where to stay, what to do, and how to get there & back.

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The Pondo Trail

The Pondo Trail

Dec 8, 2022 | English

The Pondo Trail

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We recently did the Pondo trail, one of the most scenic and beautiful trails in South Africa, the planning started almost a year before when our friend asked if we would join them on a trail, he knows us very well so he knew it had to be a fully serviced trail, what do I mean by that? Well, firstly, we needed someone to help carry our bags, definitely not sleeping in tents. Secondly, we wanted food cooked for us and obviously, drinks, so, yes! The Pondo trail is just like that, you carry a small bag with whatever you might need during the day, basically a water bottle, a long sleeve sweatshirt or jacket just in case, preferably a rain jacket, snacks, and sunblock, that is what I had in mine. 

The way the trail works, you start from Mtentu, just outside Port Edward, this can be, by road, a couple of hours on a bumpy road, or by boat, if the sea conditions are good, now, to get there you fly to Durban, we spent the night before there and then met everyone at the airport to start the 3-hours drive to the Estuary hotel in Port Edward, where we spent the night, next morning we go on a 2-hours drive to the starting point of the trail, some people were very lucky, actually, just Jan, because one of the guys doing the trail didn’t want to do all the driving so he went on a Helicopter and since they charge for a minimum of 2 people Jan got to go with him. We all met at the edge of the Mtentu river mouth and the adventure started with us going across the river. No, we didn’t swim, and although a few of the guys did, we went on a Kayak. 

Day 1. (15km)

We start the trail and it’s all very exciting and fun, within 45 minutes of starting we find a waterfall and we jump in the water, then we keep going, we stop for lunch at a very nice natural pool, now, the first dat we walk across a nature reserve so although we didn’t see any, we could have seen some wildlife, wait, we did se Zebras. 

Day 2. (18km)

Now, we are out of the nature reserve, and I have to admit, it was the less exciting day of the 5, the landscape was pretty much the same all day, lots of grasslands and not much diverse scenery, it got quite windy at one point, but it ended majestically!

As we were reaching the end of the day we saw far away in the distance, these massive waves crashing against the coastline making giant splashes, I immediately thought, ah! It would be so cool if we could walk right next to them, well, guess what? We walked right next to them, the splashes were huge and very often and that rocky coastline was about 1km long, at the end of all this splashing and fun was our campsite, right next to the river mouth which they had organized a bonfire and plenty of G&T waiting for us, (wine for me please)

Day 3. (17km)

 

This is supposed to be the most exciting day, we are going to see the waterfall Bluff, one of the few waterfalls that go straight into the ocean. According to our guide, there are only 12 waterfalls like this in the world, and 3 of them are on this trail but only this one is accessible. OK, only this one has easy access. Lots of uphill and downhill, we even went to see a cave, and then we came up to the waterfall, very impressive. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side so we didn’t walk down to it and got totally wet, I should have done it! So, yes, it was the best day.

Day 4. (10km) 

On our last day walking, we did walk a lot, a total of 10 km. Day 3 is the longest and the best day, today. It wasn’t as long but it took us across 7 headlands and 6 beaches, each one more beautiful than the other. When we reached the top of the last hill, the view of the estuary where we ended the trail was just amazing. We arrived there at midday and spent a fabulous afternoon by the river, drinks, friends, and fun, all around a fantastic bonfire.

Day 5.

We head back to where it all started, Durban. Word of advice, if you can take a helicopter back, DO IT! It was a long drive and of course, we were all super tired. In my opinion, it was a bit too much, about 7- hours drive back, but when you think about the trail and how beautiful everything was, it was all worth it.

In summary, The Pondo Trail is a Must-Do, especially if you love nature and like the outdoors. However, you have to like walking. A total bonus are the beaches, rivers natural pools, and waterfalls. The best time to do it is between April and May, but you need to book this well in advance, almost a year in advance.

Want to join the next Pondo Trail Hike?

Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with German – for the perfect advice on where to stay, what to do, and how to get the best out of your travels.

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