4 Days Congo Gorillas & Nyiragongo
The 4 Days Congo gorillas & Nyirgongo volcano hiking is an experimental experience for you to take part in the adventure mountain gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo volcano. Trek to see the endangered gorillas in Virunga National Park and hike the active Nyiragongo volcano to experience the boiling lava lake at the summit of the active volcano. Virunga National Park is the oldest Park in Africa established in 1925 and is one of the three parks that make up the Virunga Conservation Area. The park is home to over 300 mountain gorillas, which have been habituated into 8 families. The cost of trekking gorillas in Congo is $450, which makes it cheaper compared to gorilla tours in the neighboring Rwanda and Uganda. Regarding Nyiragongo, it is one of the 8 volcanoes in the Virunga massif. Mount Nyiragongo is active strata volcano standing at 3,470 meters above the sea level and its summit shelters the world’s largest lava lake of 2 kilometers. Nyiragongo last erupted in 2021 but it’s currently stable and available for hiking. The two activities, mountain gorilla trekking & Nyiragongo volcano hiking are the two major activities done in Volcanoes National Park. You will also do a city tour in Kigali as a complement to the package. The 4 Days Congo gorillas & Nyiragongo volcano hiking starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda.
Trip summary
Day 1: Pick, Kigali city tour & transfer to Congo
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking
Day 3: Nyiragongo Hiking
Day 4: Descend & transfer to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick, Kigali city tour & transfer to Congo
The driver guide from our company will pick you up from Kigali airport or your hotel in Kigali. After briefing on the flow of the itinerary and what to expect, go for a brief tour to explore the hidden gem in this small city. Kigali is ranked as the cleanest city in Africa worth visiting. You will visit some of the tourist destinations in the city Centre such as the Kigali genocide memorial Centre, Kigali convention Centre, Kimironko market, presidential palace and Art galleries among others places. You will have lunch in the city and thereafter drive to Goma.
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking
After morning breakfast, the armed park ranger will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing and registration. You will be put in groups of eight travelers and assigned two armed rangers to escort you through the trek. The trek to meet the endangered gorillas starts at 8:00am at Bukima and can last for up to 7 hours depending on where the endangered primates will be that day. The treks in search of Mountain gorillas also give you an opportunity to meet other wild animals in this jungle forest such as bushbucks, Forest elephants, Colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and birds. Gorilla families in Virunga National Park include Humba gorilla family, Kabirizi, Rugendo, Mapuwa, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe and Bageni gorilla families. You will visit one of the 8 gorilla families in this jungle forest. After meeting the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence, Use this hour to critically observe the humanly characters, take pictures and enjoy this lifetime magical experience. At the start of the trek, you are reminded to tell your ranger guide about your hiking abilities so as to be given a gorilla family suitable for you. Gorilla trekking is categorized into short, medium and long depending on the ease of trekking.
Day 3: Nyiragongo Hiking
In the early morning after your breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from the hotel and transfer to Kibatsi patrol village where registration and briefing on the hiking safety. Together with your porters and armed park rangers, start off a hike up to the summit of the volcano You will have various stops along the way to rest and refresh. The hiking time to the summit is roughly 6 hours depending on you physical fitness. Also, the slowest person in your group determines how long the trek will be since ranger guides never leave anyone behind. They move at the pace of the slowest person. Spend an overnight on the slopes of the volcano near the summit for you to experience the boiling lake at night. You are reminded to carry warm sweaters and jackets since nights at the slopes of the volcano tend to be very cold. You also need hiking boots and walking stick to easily walk through the lose surfaces and slippery rocks on the slopes. Also, remember o carry enough drinking after to quench thirsty and rehydrates after sweating
Day 4: Descend & transfer to Kigali
You shall rise up very early, have breakfast and enjoy your last moments at the summit and slopes of the active volcano. At 8:00am begin to descend down to the bottom of the volcano where you will find your driver guide waiting for you. Drive to Goma border, clear with the immigrations and cross to Rwanda for your connecting flight at Kigali International airport.
Safari inclusions
- Mountain gorilla permit
- Nyiragongo volcano hiking permit
- Full time English speaking guide
- Accommodation & meals
- Bottled drinking water
- Launch cruises
- Government taxes
- Miscellaneous
- All activities included in the itinerary
Safari exclusions
- Alcoholic beverages
- Extra activities not included in the itinerary
- Personal expenses
- Driver /guide tops
- Porter’s fee