Gorillas In Africa’s Midst

Group Tour

Maximum group size - 12 people

Overview

Central Africa has long held a fascination for the intrepid and the curious. Here, amongst the impenetrable landscapes of Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’, history and mountains lie shrouded in the mists of time. These jungles echo to the calls of great apes and karyenda drummers in a land forged by the violent upheavals of colonial war, civil strife and volcanic explosion.

This remarkable trip takes us across some of the most beautiful and emotive landscapes on the African continent, ...

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HIGHLIGHTS

At a glance

MEALS

9 x Breakfasts
10 x Lunches
10 x Dinners

TRANSPORT

On this tour we’ll use minibuses, motorboats and 4WD vehicles.

GROUP SIZE

Maximum: 12

EXPERT TEAM

The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate

ACCOMMODATION

All accommodation as outlined in the itinerary

ENTRANCE FEES

All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary

FITNESS RATING

Moderate

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 8170 Wild Miles

ACCOMMODATION

As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip. 

On this trip we will be in a mixture of some characterful hotels as well one or two more basic ones. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.

FITNESS RATING

LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).

LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.

MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.

MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.

HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.

Wild Miles Club

When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:

Blue More than 10,000 points 2.5% discount
Bronze More than 30,000 points 5% discount
Silver More than 45,000 points 7.5% discount
Gold More than 60,000 points 10% discount

Positive Impact of this Trip

Tree
Ten trees are planted per passenger on this trip
Community
Supports Wild Frontiers Foundation community projects
Wind Turbine
A contribution to renewable energy projects

Map & Itinerary

Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below

Gorillas In Africa’s Midst
EXPAND ALL ITINERARY DAYS
COLLAPSE ALL ITINERARY DAYS

Day 1 Tour Starts in Kigali (Rwanda)

Day 1 Tour Starts in Kigali (Rwanda)

The tour starts this morning in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. Located in the geographical centre of the country, this lively city began life as a German colonial outpost at the turn of the last century. Today it is the country’s political, economic and cultural centre, and sprawls across the hills and valleys that lie at the foot of Mount Kigali. After freshening up at our hotel we’ll head out to visit the multi-cultural neighbourhood of Nyamirambo. Our tour of this lively district will be hosted by the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre during which we’ll have the chance to meet some of the people who make up this fascinating community. We’ll enjoy a home lunch as well as a walking tour of the neighbourhood, including a visit to the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre itself. This organisation was set up to support women’s health and employment, as well as providing skills and training to women through various educational programmes. In the afternoon we’ll pay a visit to the Kigali Memorial Centre at Gisozi, the country’s most important reminder of the genocide, built on the site where up to 250,000 victims were believed to have been buried in mass graves. If time allows we will take a short guided tour of this city to discover some of its colonial beginnings, as well as visiting a memorial for the peacekeepers who lost their lives and the infamous Hôtel des Mille Collines (Hotel Rwanda). Tonight we’ll enjoy our first group meal and take the chance to discuss the exciting trip ahead!

Hotel Chez Lando or similar
Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 Kigali - Nyungwe National Park

Day 2 Kigali - Nyungwe National Park

This morning we’ll leave the Rwandan capital for Nyungwe National Park, stopping on route to visit the former Mwami's Palace and the 19th century seat of Rwanda's feudal monarchy. We’ll also visit the National Museum in Huye, regarded as one of the finest ethnographic museums in all of East Africa, providing a rich insight into Rwandan culture and history. From here we’ll continue to the primary montane rainforest of Nyungwe National Park in the south-west of the country. Set amongst the high ridges of the Albertine Rift, part of the series of ranges that run from western Uganda through to the Lendu Plateau of the eastern Congo, the Nyungwe Forest covers nearly a thousand square kilometres and is one of the largest mountainous rainforests left in Africa.

Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Nyungwe NP - Chimp Trek

Day 3 Nyungwe NP - Chimp Trek

Early this morning we will head out for a trek in Nyungwe Forest in the hope of spotting some chimpanzees. On this trek you may be treated to the sight of chimps jumping in the tree canopies above your head, whilst enjoying the hooting and screams of them communicating with each other. Sightings cannot be guaranteed due to the fast paced nature of the chimps, but the sounds of nature around you will provide a memorable experience and will be considered a highlight of the tour. In the afternoon we return to our hotel to spend some time at leisure and enjoy our surrounding. Additional activities such as tea plantation visits or additional nature walks can be arranged and paid for locally.

Nyungwe Top View Hotel or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Nyungwe NP - Bukavu (DR Congo)

Day 4 Nyungwe NP - Bukavu (DR Congo)

This morning we experience the extraordinary canopy walk, taking us above the trees up to 90 metres above the forest floor, hoping to catch sight of some of the 13 different species of primates or some of the nearly 300 species of birds that make this park their home. We will then return to the hotel before driving west to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo at Bukavu. On arrival John Kahekwa will meet us to assist with border formalities before continuing to our hotel to refresh before dinner this evening.

Orchids' Safari Club or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Gorilla Tracking In Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Group A) / Visit Pole Pole and Lwiro (Group B):

Day 5 Gorilla Tracking In Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Group A) / Visit Pole Pole and Lwiro (Group B):

One of the last refuges of the rare Eastern Lowland Gorilla, Kahuzi-Biega National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated some 50 kilometres west of Bukavu. Dominated by two extinct volcanoes, the primary forests of Kahuzi-Biega are believed to hold fewer than 300 of these magnificent animals. This morning we head to the Tshivanga area of the park, to track a family of Grauer’s gorillas, a lowland species endemic to the eastern Congo and the largest of the world’s four gorilla species. Travelling in groups of between 5 and 30 members the dominant males can weigh in at over 500 pounds (nearly 230 kg), but the continued unrest in the DR Congo, coupled with illegal mining and hunting has decimated their numbers to the point of extinction. Observing wild gorillas up close is something that even the most jaded of travellers tend to rank among their all-time favourite travel experiences and will undoubtedly linger in the memory long after the sun-tan has faded! If we do have to split the group, group A will go gorilla tracking while group B will visit a number of projects supported by John’s Pole Pole Foundation (POPOF), an Earthshot finalist, in and around Bukavu. We'll spend some time at a local school, visit a tree planting project and learn about the spirulina growing project which helps to provide invaluable nutrition supplements to the local communities, before taking a drive out to the Lwiro area of the park for a nature walk and to visit a set of waterfalls.

Orchids' Safari Club or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Visit Pole Pole and Lwiro (Group A) / Gorilla Tracking (Group B) - Tour of Bukavu

Day 6 Visit Pole Pole and Lwiro (Group A) / Gorilla Tracking (Group B) - Tour of Bukavu

Returning to Kahuzi-Biega NP this morning, group B will go gorilla tracking while group A visit the Pole Pole Foundation and take a drive out to the Lwiro area of the park for a nature walk. Later that afternoon we’ll head out together to explore some of the colonial past of this scenic town. The lake front is particularly pretty with some old colonial mansions along the shoreline.

Orchids' Safari Club or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Bukavu - Kinunu (Rwanda)

Day 7 Bukavu - Kinunu (Rwanda)

After breakfast we will say goodbye to Bukavu and head back across the border into Rwanda. We make our way north along the edge of Lake Kivu, stopping in Kibuye for lunch, before continuing to our hotel by boat for the night in Kinunu. We have the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely afternoon at this beautiful setting on the lakeshore, with options to relax at the hotel, swim in the lake, or explore some of the surrounding area and villages along the Congo-Nile Trail.

Rushel Kivu Resort or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Kinunu - Volcanoes NP

Day 8 Kinunu - Volcanoes NP

We start the day with a visit to a nearby coffee washing station to learn more about the coffee production process 'from crop to cup' and its importance to the local population. A boat transfer along Lake Kivu to Rubavu, travelling along the clear waters of Africa's 6th largest lake, gives us a different perspective of the surrounding lush hills and the daily life that exists both on water and along its shores. From Rubavu we transfer inland to Musanze, the gateway town to Volcanoes National Park. We should have some time for some exploration of the town this evening before dinner.

Hotel Amikus or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Volcanoes National Park - Mount Bisoke

Day 9 Volcanoes National Park - Mount Bisoke

Early this morning, we will report to Volcanoes National Park headquarters and after a short briefing head to the start point of the Mount Bisoke hike. The trail starts gently through farmland in the foothills, but soon starts to rise as you trek through thicker vegetation, narrow trails, and along some steep sections before reaching the summit at 3711m. Along the way, we will be rewarded with views of crater lakes and the surrounding lush hills. The volcano's hills are the habitat of a number of wild animals including buffaloes, Golden monkeys and gorillas, and whilst sightings cannot be guaranteed, we do have a good chance to see some wildlife on the way. In total our hike this morning should take around 5-7 hours. Depending on timings, either this afternoon or tomorrow morning we can visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a purpose-built, state-of-the-art home for research, education and conservation programs.

Hotel Amikus or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Musanze - Kigali (tour ends)

Day 10 Musanze - Kigali (tour ends)

This morning we will have the chance to experience life in a rural Rwandan household by joining the Azizi Life community and gain a greater insight into the lives of the local Rwandans by helping the women with agricultural activities, learning how to weave some of their traditional handicrafts and sharing a midday meal. 

In the afternoon we transfer back to Kigali where there will be an opportunity to freshen up at the hotel before our farewell dinner. Those on the suggested group flights will be transferred to the airport. 

Hotel Chez Lando or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.

PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?

All group tours can be taken on a private basis.

Additional Details

Responsible Travel

With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.

When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats. 

Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.

The Pole Pole Foundation

On this tour we visit the Pole Pole Foundation, a Congolese-led community conservation organisation set up by esteemed philanthropist and conservationist, John Kahekwa, in 1992 to help protect the rare and endangered Eastern Lowland Gorillas of Kahuzi-Biega National Park. 

Meaning 'slowly, slowly' in Swahili, the Pole Pole Foundation, an Earthshot finalist in the Protect and Restore category, has developed invaluable projects to help improve the prospects of the communities that border the national park, which in turn helps protect the gorillas. These include conservation education programmes, tree planting, anti-poaching patrols, training for former poachers and establishing alternative food supplies of fishponds and pig breeding to help prevent the illegal poaching of bush meat. Surviving through the wars that ravaged the country, as a relative state of peach returns the foundation has expanded its work, running three schools, a wider range of livelihood programmes and a reforestation scheme that has grown and planted over 4 million trees.

Wild Frontiers started working with John and the Pole Pole Foundation in 2017 to help rejuvenate tourism in the region. It soon became clear that while visitors from around the world travelled to the Congo to see the gorillas, only a small number of people from the local villages had the opportunity to see the animals they were learning to protect. With these communities vital to the survival of the gorillas, the Wild Frontiers Foundation has now provided the funds for more than 200 local people to trek into Kahuzi-Biega National Park to visit the gorillas as a part of the Pole Pole's conservation training programmes. This support continues with a donation made to the Pole Pole Foundation on behalf of every Wild Frontiers client that visits the Congo.

'We had the opportunity to visit the lone gorilla, which was victim of poaching and lost a hand. We have seen him face to face in his natural habitat. Now we are going to explain to our women friends and tell our husbands and children to stop poaching in the park because as the gorillas are our neighbours it is our responsibility to protect and conserve them and their habitat.’ – the promise of one local lady, who had in the past been arrested for illegally gathering wood and vegetation in the national park.

Reducing Single Use Plastic

We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)

Supplementary Information

Tracking Gorillas

As group sizes for gorilla tracking are limited to 8, we may split into 2 groups. If this is the case, Group A will visit the gorillas on DAY 5 and Group B will visit on DAY 6. Each group will get one opportunity to track gorillas. Please note that while wildlife encounters can never by guaranteed, the gorillas' locations are closely monitored and as such sightings are almost certain.

Getting There

If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.

If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
 

Flight Code Departing Arriving
WB 711 London Heathrow (LHR) 21:20 Kigali Airport (KGL) 07:00
WB 712 Kigali Airport (KGL) 23:25 London Heathrow (LHR) 07:00

Visas & Vaccinations

VISAS

Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa

For this tour UK passport holders currently require a multiple entry visa for Rwanda, and single entry visa for DR Congo. Wild Frontiers will assist with obtaining the DR Congo visa on your behalf. 

Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.

Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.

Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the clients.

VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is a mandatory requirement for all travellers to DRC and also Rwanda (if travelling from a country where it is present)

For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.

Malaria is present throughout and precautions are essential.

For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk

Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.

If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.

Extensions

If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.

The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.

*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert

Governmental Travel Advice

Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.

Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.

Warning

The FCDO sometimes advises against certain parts of this itinerary.

Wild Frontiers has many years’ experience of running trips which contravene FCDO advice but these decisions that are never taken lightly and are always taken in conjunction with our local partners after extensive consultation. As part of the booking process, you will need to sign a disclaimer to confirm you have read the advice, that you are still happy to travel and that you will obtain travel insurance which is not invalidated by the FCDO advice.

For more information, please see the Insurance section or contact us. Non-UK clients should be sure to check the travel advice of their own governments as well as the small print of their insurance policies. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Key Information

CLIMATE

Being situated on the equator, the temperatures are fairly constant in this area with an average of approximately 25-30C during the day and 15-20C at night. Rain can occur at any time, though when it comes it is usually in short outbursts in the afternoon.

IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?

It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.

KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER

Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be able to cope with this tour. However please bear in mind that DR Congo in particular is an unpredictable country and that some of the scenes you may encounter along the way will make this a challenging trip even for the most experienced traveller.

Please be advised that on this trip vegetarians can be catered for but the selection and variety may be limited.

The trek to see the Eastern gorillas can be moderately challenging (given the fact that gorillas tend to move about!) so please bear this in mind. Tracking times can vary from about 2 hours to several hours and although lowland gorilla tracking in this part of DR Congo is typically not as strenuous as tracking the mountain gorillas of Rwanda & Uganda, you should come prepared for a moderately challenging trek through virgin rainforest.

The climb of Mount Bisoke should take between 5-7 hours (depending upon your level of fitness) and is described as ‘challenging’ in places. Please note the weather can turn with little or no warning. In places the terrain is steep and can be slippery making this a difficult climb in places. If you feel unsteady on your feet you should bring trekking poles with you, which will be helpful when descending from the crater lake at the summit.

THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL

We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.

TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!

Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the tri

On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour except the guesthouse in Nyungwe National Park and at Rushel Kivu Resort due to the limited rooms available here. If we can’t get you a single room at these locations then a reduction in the cost of a single supplement will be applied accordingly.

Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.

INSURANCE

Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.

General Information

TOUR PRICE

All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.

DEPOSIT

A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.

PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY

For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 8170 Wild Miles

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.

Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs

WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY

If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events. 

WHY WILD FRONTIERS?

We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.

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