5 Days Congo Gorillas & Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking
This 5 Days and 4 nights Congo mountain gorillas & Nyiragongo volcano hiking safari is adventure experience to trek the endangered gorillas and explore the active Nyiragongo volcano. The trip takes you to Virunga National Park, the oldest Park in Africa that was established in 1925. The park spreads over 7,769 square kilometers located in Eastern Congo and is one of the UNESCO heritage sites in the world due to its rich in diversity. Virunga National Park shelters over 300 mountain gorillas and its one of the four parks where these endangered primates live. 8 gorilla families namely, Nyakamwe, Bageni, Kabirizi, Rugendo, Munyaga, Mapuwa and Lulengo are open for trekking. Each day, the management of Virunga National Park has 64 mountain gorilla permits available for forest come first serve basis,. A single gorilla permit to trek Congo gorillas in Virunga National Park is $450 compared to $700 in Uganda and $1500 in Rwanda. The Democratic Republic of Congo is regarded as the cheapest gorilla safari destination in Africa. Virunga National Parks is also home to two active volcanoes (Nyamuragira & Niyiragongo). On this trip, you will hike mount Nyiragongo, the active strata volcano at an elevation of 3,470 meters above sea level. The summit of mount Nyiragongo shelters a 2kilometrs lava lake, which is the largest in the whole world. The lava lake contains boiling magma clearly seen at night. In this case, travelers spend an overnight on the slopes of mount Nyiragongo to experience the boiling lava at night. The combination of mountain gorillas & Nyiragongo volcano offer you a lifetime Congo adventure experience. This 5 Days Congo safari starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda
Trip summary
Day 1: Kigali city tour & transfer to Goma
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking
Day 3: Nyiragongo Volcano
Day 4: Descend and transfer to Gisenyi
Day 5: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali city tour & transfer to Goma
Early this day, the driver guide representing our company will pick you from Kigali airport or your hotel and go for a city tour to explore this beautiful small and organized city. Enjoy driving in the clean streets of Kigali to visit different tour destinations in the city Centre. Kimironko market is the major local market in Rwanda with all kinds of fresh and local foods. Other places to visit in Kigali include the Kigali genocide memorial Centre where remains of some 1994 victims were buried. There you will be shown a short video about the genocide. Visit the presidential palace, Inema art gallery and the Kigali Convention Centre. Have lunch in Kigali and later transfer to Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking
Rise up very early, have breakfast and wait for the park ranger guides to pick you from the hotel/lodge. Due to insecurities in Congo, the park staff throughout guides all gorilla safaris. The ranger guide will pick up from the hotel and transfer to the park headquarters where you ill be registered and briefed on the rules and guide of gorilla trekking. Thereafter, start off a trek through the natural forest searching for any one of the 8-habituated gorilla families. The trek is rough and tiresome lasting for between 3 to over 7 hours but you are very sure of meeting the endangered gorillas at the end of the trek. Spend an hour with your lost cousins, take pictures, learn their behaviors and enjoy this lifetime experience. Virunga National parks also harbors a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians and primates. You may meet any of these species. After an hour with the endangered gorillas, hike down and your ranger guide will transfer you back to the lodge.
Day 3: Nyiragongo Volcano
After heavy breakfast, meet the ranger driver and transfer to Kibatsi patrol station where registration and briefing on the safety tips of hiking this active volcano takes place. Hiking starts at 10:00am and you ought to be physically fit and mentally ready for this adventure experience. The hiking time to the summit of the volcano takes between 4-6 hours with various stops along the way to refresh and wait for those behind. The lower slopes of the volcano are covered by forests, which shelter different birds and wild animals. Be careful when stepping on some mountain rocks some of which are lose and slippery. A walking stick is highly recommended when hiking this adventure. An overnight at the slopes of the volcano offers you chance to see the glowing lava at night.
Day 4: Descend and transfer to Gisenyi
In the morning, rise up and enjoy your last moments at the summit of the volcano. Have breakfast and descend to the bottom of the volcano where you will find the driver ranger guide waiting for you. You will then connect with your guide form our company and transfer to Gisenyi. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening chilling on the shores of Lake Kivu. Take part in any of the water sports activities on Lake Kivu such as boat cruising, swimming, canoeing and sunbathing among others.
Day 5: Departure
Enjoy your sunrise cup of coffee at the shores of the beautiful Lake Kivu, check out and cross over to Rwanda. Enjoy this scenic drive via the beautiful rolling hills of Rwanda connecting to Kigali International Airport for your return flight.
End of the safari
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