4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali : This is such an amazing excursion to worth enjoying during your next Congo safari. Both Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Hike are conducted in Virunga national park and they are the topmost thought after safari activities enjoyed by several travelers on an African safari to Congo.
The Virunga national park is part of the Virunga Massif which is shared by Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga national park), Uganda the Pearl of Africa (Mgahinga gorilla national park) and Rwanda the land of a thousand hills (Volcanoes national park) that both harbor the remaining population of endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats in the wild as well as the 8 volcanoes including Mount Nyiragongo the most hiked of all, Mount Nyamulagira, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Mikeno, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhabura and Mount Gahinga.
This 4 days/ 3 nights gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari starts from Kigali Rwanda and it takes tourists on an adventure to trek the endangered mountain gorillas and hike up the stunning mount Nyiragongo standing tall at 3,470M above the sea level.
Highlights of 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari
- Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Virunga national park Congo
- Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Virunga national park
- Day 3: Nyiragongo Hiking – Ascend Mount Nyiragongo
- Day 4: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and departures
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Virunga national park Congo
Transfer to Congo: On the 1st day of your 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali, our company representative who is your safari driver – Guide will be ready to pick you up either from Kigali international airport or from your hotel in Kigali. If time allows, you will enjoy the tour around the cleanest city in Africa – Kigali city and then embark on a drive to Congo- Goma border. Along the way, you will enjoy stunning views of Lake Kivu and other attractions along the way including rolling hills, beautiful and green plantations and many more. Lunch will be enroute along the way and upon arrival at the border, you will proceed to the immigration office to do clearances and then cross over to join the convoy and head to Virunga national park for your lodge check in, enjoy the remaining hours of the day at your lodge, have dinner and grab night rest awaiting to hike up mount Nyiragongo the next day.
Accommodation options;
Mikeno lodge/ Kibumba Tented Camp/ Bukima Tented Camp
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Virunga national park
Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park: Today is the 2nd day of your 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali and you will start your day with breakfast upon waking up, then prepare to head to Bukima ranger post where you will be briefed before embarking on your gorilla trekking adventure. The rules and regulations will be read to you and then grouped into a group of 8 persons per group and allocated to different groups. During the trek, be on a look out for various park dwellers including more primates, animals, birds, butterflies and many more. You will be able to encounter with gorillas as they roam the forest in search of food. Upon encountering with gorillas, you will you will spend an hour with gorillas in their natural habitats taking pictures, recording some video clips and then exit the forest back to your lodge. The entire activity takes about 5 hours including an hour spent with gorillas.
Day 3: Nyiragongo Hiking – Ascend Mount Nyiragongo
Transfer to Kibati & ascend Mount Nyiragongo: Early in the morning on the day 3 of 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali, you will need to be at Kibati in time for briefing where the dos and don’ts are explained before embarking on the ascension of Mount Nyiragongo. You’re therefore requested too arise as early as and have your breakfast plus packed lunch. You will then be transferred to Kibati for briefing. In case you have a heavy backpack, endeavor to hire a porter. These porters are always available at the briefing grounds so you won’t hustle to find one at a cheap cost and the porter will assist you in carrying you backpack to make your hike easier. After briefing, you will start the hike through the plantations, thick vegetation with wildlife including primates like golden monkeys, gorillas, animals, birds and many other wildlife that reside in Virunga national park. Keep in mind that you’re walking through the wilderness so keep in one group and in case of a short call, inform your rangers for assistance. You will proceed to ascend through the rocks of the previous eruptions while having some stunning views of the park and the neighboring attractions. Upon arrival at the summit, hikers are rewarded with the most enchanting views of the entire park from a glance, Goma city, Lake Kivu and many other beautiful attractions in the neighboring parks. You have the entire night at the top and this marks the end of our day 3 of 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali.
Day 4: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and departures
Descend Mount Nyiragongo and departures: Arise early in the morning with clear sky on the 4th day and yet the last day of your 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali, enjoy a served breakfast at the summit of mount Nyiragongo and gather as a group once again ready to descend back to Kibati. Being morning hours, you have all the clear view so take as many photos as possible for your memories. Descending is much easier and enjoyable as compared to ascending and in a few hours, you will be back to Kibati where you will be picked up by the convoy back to Congo – Rwanda border where you will meet with your safari driver to proceed to Kigali depending on your travel plan. This will mark the end of your 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali.
Inclusions in this 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali
- Pick up and drop off
- All ground transportation
- Mount Nyiragongo hiking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Sleeping equipment can be arranged upon request
- Congo visa
- Convoy
- Rangers
- Drinking water
Exclusions in this 4 days Gorilla trekking & Mount Nyiragongo hike Congo safari from Kigali;
- Visa and flight air tickets
- Life insurance
- Porter
- All expenses of personal nature like laundry, cigarettes,
- Other drinks like juice, Wines etc.
- Tips & gratuity
