Rwanda-Mountain Gorillas-February 24-March 3, 2010

With Paul Renner and With Doug Steakley  

Join professional photographers Paul Renner and Doug Steakley for this 8 day photo safari to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for an unforgettable close up encounter with the mountain gorilla families. You will always remember your first encounter in the highlands jungle with a large silverback gorilla and his family of several females, adolescents and babies. These non-aggressive, vegetarian gorilla families are accustomed to visitors and are accessible by hiking to their habitats in the Parc National des Volcans in northern Rwanda. 

THE MOUNTAIN GORILLA SAFARI IS LIMITED TO 6 PARTICIPANTS

WHAT MAKES OUR TRIP UNIQUE?
We spend five days in a beautiful lodge near the entrance of the park and we make four treks in to see the gorilla families. There are currently four gorilla groups that are habituated to human contact so we will be able to visit each one while we are there. The families range in size from 8-9 individuals up to 30+ in the large Susa Group. Some of the family groups are nearby and relatively easy to visit, while some may be higher up in the jungle and require more trekking to get to them.  

Only eight people form a group to visit the gorillas so we will be our own group, which means we do not have to worry about someone we don’t know joining us. This can be a big advantage because we will learn to work together to be sure that everyone is able to get great photographs.  

Visiting the gorillas several times can be very helpful with the light. The best light to photograph the gorillas is overcast or cloudy, when the sun is not shining. Sunlight on the black fur of the gorillas creates a lot of contrast with white areas that are frustrating and often blown out. Fortunately the weather is often misty and cloudy in the mountains and we will greatly increase the chances of shooting in great light by taking four excursions.  

CAN I MAKE THE HIKE TO SEE THE GORILLAS?
The Verunga Volcano range, where the gorilla families live, ranges in elevation from 7500’-9000’ and is a tropical rainforest. The trek usually begins along a trail but soon turns into following the guide and tracker through the dense jungle growth. It can be moderately strenuous and is not for everyone. However the pace is slow and the guides are accommodating and helpful, offering a hand when necessary. It is important to able to hike up hill at elevation at a slow pace. The gorilla families live at varying altitudes and the hike up the side of the volcano can range from half an hour to two hours, depending upon where the gorilla family we are visiting that day is located. Gorillas eat and move in the mornings and evenings and when we come to them they are usually resting or foraging. The guide-naturalist and trackers are very helpful and will clear the brush when possible so we have better views and photographs of the gorillas in their habitat. We are asked to stay twenty feet back but frequently a curious baby or adolescent will approach closer, creating great opportunities for photographs.  

At the trailhead we meet porters who carry our camera bags or backpacks up to the gorillas. Some of the porters were former poachers so we provide employment which assists the local economy and also provides a viable alternative to poaching. Not carrying gear in the jungle makes the hike much more pleasant and enjoyable.  

We will be staying at the new Mountain Gorilla View Lodge which is located near the entrance to The Volcanoes National Park. The day begins early with breakfast at 6 am so we can be in the park for an early morning orientation before driving to the trailhead. We then hike into the jungle and visit a gorilla family for an hour. This may sound like a short period of time but there are numerous opportunities for photograph and it is not unusual to take hundreds of images. We then hike back to the vehicles and return to the lodge. After lunch we will visit various locations in and around Ruhengeri, the small town on the edge of the park. The Rwandan countryside is very scenic and the people are colorful, friendly and photogenic. There is a nearby cultural village which we will visit where the locals share their cultural dances, singing, drumming, food and traditions with visitors. The village area also has striking views of the countryside and nearby volcanoes. It is also possible to walk back to the lodge from the cultural village which gives us an opportunity to see the local lifestyle up close.

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH THE GORILLAS:
The good news about visiting and photographing the gorillas is that you are close, the light is often perfect and sometimes it feels like they are posing. Flash and video are not allowed, but the guides and gorillas are accustomed to visitors with cameras. A tripod or monopod can be helpful and we recommend taking them along, but there may be times, if there is a lot of activity, when it may be easier to increase the ISO setting and hand hold the camera. Long telephotos are not necessary, we usually end up using a 70-200mm or even a wider angle for some of the close encounters. It is a good idea to carry two bodies with different lenses do you won’t have to change lenses just as something happens that you don’t want to miss. One hour sounds short but there are numerous opportunities to get great shots and there is always some interaction going on between the gorillas that makes the time you have with them special and unforgettable. The guides and rangers are very helpful and communicate with the large silverback with grunts and groans to let them know we are approaching. They will also let us know if one of the males is going to pound his chest or do a bluff charge. And the nice thing about having several visits is that you will be able to look at your images and make adjustments on the following trips.  

SCHEDULE AND PRICING: 

The all inclusive price for this trip is $6495.00            
per person, double occupancy. A single
supplement costs an additional $950.00.
The trip originates and ends in Nairobi and the
price does not include round trip air fare from
Nairobi to Kigali. This airfare is $330.00 if it is
included as part of the international airfare
booked through Somak Safaris and $535.00 if
booked separately.  the price does include all
airport transfers, land transportation, meals and
lodging in Rwanda. It also includes park and
gorilla permit fees. 

TRAVEL IN RWANDA:
When many people hear the name Rwanda they naturally think of the tragic genocide that occurred in this country in 1994. This horrible intertribal conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis resulted in the death of over one million Rwandans and left two million as refugees across the borders in the Congo and Burundi. It is difficult to comprehend that this genocide occurred so recently when you visit Rwanda. Today the people are open, friendly and happy--they love to dance and sing and smiling children are everywhere. When you ask Rwandans about the genocide they become more serious and reflective--they are as shocked as the world was that this tragic event occurred in their country. Today they all see themselves as Rwandans and do not like to talk about their tribal heritage as Hutus or Tutsis. But almost everyone you speak to will tell you about a family member or close friend who was killed in some brutal fashion when they were younger. Today Rwanda is peaceful and Kigali is considered one of the safest and most secure cities in Africa to visit. Our trip will include an unforgettable visit to the Kigali Memorial Center, which was built to inform visitors not only about this genocide but the others that occurred in the twentieth century:  the Armenians in Turkey, the Jews in Germany, the Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge  and of course, the Rwandans.  

ITINERARY:

Day 1, February 24, 2010: You will be met on arrival at the airport in Nairobi and transfer to Kigali. After lunch there will be a briefing on the safari and we will depart for Volcanoes National Park  by 2 pm. The journey north goes through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape, gradually climbing to the base of the awesome Virunga Volcanoes, sometime with as many as five peaks visible. Overnight in the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.  

Day 2, February 25, 2010: Up early to go gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans. We will track the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes. This is a magical experience. When we locate the gorilla family we will spend an hour with them and hopefully be back at the lodge in time for a late lunch. Some gorilla families are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy. If time permits we will go out in the afternoon to photograph the local scenery. Overnight in Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.  

Day 3, February 26 2010: Go gorilla tracking again in Parc National des Volcans. In the afternoon either visit a local school, community projects or walk to Lake Bulera. Overnight in the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.  

Day 4, February 27, 2010: Either visit the golden monkeys or drive to Gisenyi, visit Ros Carr’s orphanage and Lake Kivu  or climb the Visoke/Muhavura volcanoes. We could also trek to Diane Fossey’s grave or visit the local school, community projects or walk to Lake Bulera. Overnight in the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. 

Day 5, February 28 2010: Go gorilla tracking again in Parc National des Volcans. In the afternoon you can choose to relax at the lodge or do any of the optional activities listed above for day 4. Overnight in the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. 

Day 6--March 1, 2010: Go gorilla tracking again in Parc National des Volcans. In the afternoon you can relax at the lodge or do any of the optional activities listed above for day 4. Overnight in the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. 

Day 7, March 2, 2010: Leave for Kigali and if time permits we will have a city tour including a visit to  the market, a pottery project, handicraft shops and the Genocide Memorial. Overnight at the Kigali Serena Hotel.  

Day 8, March 3, 2010: Transfer to the airport for flights back to Nairobi and connecting flights home.

For more information please contact either Doug or Paul. All travel will be booked through Somak Safaris--www.somaksafaris.com

MORE ABOUT DOUG AND PAUL:

Doug Steakley is a well known photographer from Carmel Valley, California. He will be available to offer photographic assistance in the field and answer any questions that may arise. Doug has received the Ansel Adams Award from the Sierra Club for his environmental photography and has published three books:  Pacific Light, Images of The Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur And Beyond, and A Photographer’s Guide To The California Coast. He was recently the Grand Prize Winner of a photography contest that was co-sponsored by National Geographic and energizer batteries--a two week safari to Tanzania and Zanzibar. Doug was recently consulted by the Adobe Photoshop Development Team for the upcoming Photoshop CS5.  He has led many photography workshops in the United States and Mexico. Doug’s website is www.douglassteakley.com

Paul Renner is a professional photographer  from Laguna Beach, California. His striking images from Africa are sold to collectors around the world.  Paul was born and raised in Tanzania where he learned to speak fluent Swahili as well as the art of tracking and observing wild animals in their natural habitat. He has been leading safaris to Africa for many years and has developed a keen eye and strong wildlife photography skills. He willingly shares his knowledge and skills with his clients and enjoys leading photography workshops. His website is www.rennersafaris.com

                                         © 2008 Renner Images - All Rights Reserved