Illinois is brimming with festive activities and unique experiences, promising to be the go-to destination for an unforgettable winter experience. Lean into the holiday season in December, partake in outdoor winter activities and meet the Bald Eagles of Illinois in January, and indulge in Chicago’s theatre scene and automotive heritage in February.
Gorillas and more on Rwanda's wildlife trail
30.11.2023 - 23:55 / lonelyplanet.com
Sponsored by
Hiking the forested slopes of the majestic volcanoes for a close encounter with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys? Hacking through steamy rainforests in search of colobus monkeys and chimpanzees? Going on safari in a crowd-free, quickly replenishing national park, where you can spot the Big Five? Rwanda offers exceptional wildlife-viewing opportunities in super-scenic environments.
A formidable natural border between Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC, the Virunga volcanoes are where Rwanda really earns its nickname as the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.’
The majestic Rwandan Virungas are protected by Volcanoes National Park, the main attraction of the country. Here, hidden among the bamboo forests carpeting the volcanoes, are some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas.
An up-close encounter with these fascinating creatures while gorilla tracking (US$1500 per person, which includes park entry, compulsory guides and guards) is the highlight of a trip to Africa for many visitors. A close-quarters encounter with a silverback male gorilla can be a hair-raising experience, especially if you’ve only ever seen large wild animals from the safety of a car. Yet despite their intimidating size, gorillas are remarkably nonaggressive animals, entirely vegetarian and quite safe to be around.
You'll be given a safety briefing by park rangers before leaving to track the habituated gorilla groups – of which there are 10 in Volcanoes National Park. The largest group has more than 30 members. Some groups are easier to find, while others are harder to reach and require a strenuous three- to four-hour slog. You will most likely scramble through dense vegetation up steep, muddy hillsides, sometimes to altitudes of more than 10,000 feet (3000m). No matter which group you end up tracking, you’re certain to have a memorable experience.
Visits to the gorillas are restricted to one hour. Visitors are asked to remain more than 15 feet (5m) from the gorillas at all times, but it’s not uncommon to see some gorillas trying to interact with visitors – a peerless wildlife experience!
Gorilla permit bookings can be made through the Rwanda Development Board tourist office in Kigali or a Rwandan tour company. Those visiting on a tour package will have everything arranged for them, while independent travelers can secure permits if they make reservations early on.
While most visitors are understandably driven by the desire to have a face-to-face encounter with real gorillas in the mist, rare golden monkeys, a troop of which have been habituated to human contact, can also be visited. More like chimp-viewing than a gorilla encounter, these beautiful and active monkeys bound about the branches of bigger trees.
Golden monkeys, which are a
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
cntraveler.com
15.12.2023 / 12:31
Lewis Hamilton on Sitting (Very) Still With Mountain Gorillas
“Last August, I spent two weeks in Africa with six of my best mates. I was at this point in my life when I didn't want to go chill on another beach or sit at a hotel or even party; I wanted to be out learning things and experiencing cultures. Africa had been on my mind—and I'd been to South Africa before—so we made our way across Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda. In Serengeti National Park, in Tanzania, we missed the Great Migration but saw plenty of hippos and elephants. In Kenya, we visited the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary—a community-owned organization that takes in orphaned animals—where we got to feed baby giraffes. Another day, we flew to Mount Kenya in a helicopter. About three quarters of the way up, we hovered over one of its many beautiful volcanic lakes, and I jumped right in...like, straight out of the chopper and into the lake. It was absolutely freezing. One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was trekking through Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where we hiked for two days through the jungle to spot gorillas. Along the way, we stumbled across these remote villages, meeting people who told us stories of their lives and kids who welcomed us with smiles and music. It was surreal to realize that my ancestors came from a place like this. But nothing prepared me for the moment when we finally saw the gorillas. We came across this flat piece of land, and suddenly there they were: a group of about 10 mountain gorillas within a meter of us. It was mind-blowing. Seeing them there, so relaxed in their natural habitat, was incredibly moving. I remember thinking, This is where they should be, in their homes—free.”
lonelyplanet.com
11.12.2023 / 20:35
6 amazing US winter resorts that offer so much more than just skiing
Mountain spas. Dog-sledding. Hot springs. Mulled wine by a roaring fire. Many ski resorts offer much more than just skiing. If you're looking for a winter weekend break filled with fun and cozy activities, you don't need to hit the slopes to enjoy the charms of a ski resort.
forbes.com
08.12.2023 / 16:09
Celebrating 30 Years Of Mountain Gorilla Conservation
In the impossibly abundant rainforests of central Africa, one of the world’s great travel experiences awaits. Mountain gorillas live in only three countries—Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda—hidden in the dense bush; complex family units unknowingly fighting for their very survival.
atlasobscura.com
06.12.2023 / 23:13
The Master Forgers Who Saved Thousands of Lives During World War II
A few years ago, at a reception at the Polish embassy in Bern, Switzerland, an elderly Jewish man pulled the ambassador aside and relayed an unbelievable story. They were standing on holy ground, the man said, a place where near-secret acts of heroism played out during World War II. Intrigued, the ambassador, Jakob Kumoch, tasked his staff with looking into the man’s claims. Soon, an incredible history emerged.
nationalgeographic.com
06.12.2023 / 10:03
How locals are protecting the wildlife of the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area
Pelicans preen and glide. Jacana birds, precise as ballerinas, point their improbably elongated toes. Pied kingfishers flit in and out of their lakeside nest holes, saddle-billed storks patrol the grassy banks and skimmers speed across the silver-blue water, scooping up beakfuls mid-flight. Everywhere I look, there are birds in abundance. The safari boat is the perfect platform from which to watch: open-sided, smooth and near-silent.
cntraveler.com
01.12.2023 / 19:15
6 Essential Tennis Vacations in Europe, From Sardinia to Switzerland
Even during the height of winter ski season, you can still hear the rhythmic pop of a tennis ball hitting a racquet around Stanglwirt, a decades-old luxury resort in the Austrian Alps near the tony mountain town of Kitzbühel. While Stanglwirt is now known for its laundry list of world-class amenities (including a fantastic wellness program), tennis is in fact what put it on the map. Through tennis management firm Peter Burwash International, Stanglwirt expanded its entire tennis program in the 1970s and 1980s, including building more facilities to accommodate tennis camps—a novelty at the time.
travelandleisure.com
01.12.2023 / 13:11
See Up to 120 Meteors per Hour, a Planet Parade, and More in This Month's Night Sky
Santa’s sleigh won’t be the only marvel streaking across December’s night skies.
