The 5 days Virunga & Nyiragongo Safari combines a thrilling experience on gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo Volcano hiking in the Virunga National Park, D.R. Congo. It is an affordable gorilla tour taking only 5 days / 4 nights starting from Rwanda, with a city tour in Kigali.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Kigali to Lake Kivu via Butare
Immediately after breakfast, drive to Gisenyi via Butare. En-route, have an optional visit to Nyanza museum, king’s palace in Huye in case time allows. Later, embark on a boat ride along Lake Kivu and then have a night stay afterwards in your lodge/hotel.
Day 2: Ascending to Mt. Nyiragongo
Rise up early to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee/tea and later drive to Rwanda – Congo border for check in. Continue to the base of Nyiragongo to begin an adventure like no other; undertake 5-6 hours’ adventure hike to Nyiragongo Volcano.
Have a thrilling experience along the Nyiragongo Volcano summit, take pictures and explore the glowing Lava Lake. Dine and overnight afterwards.
Day 3: Descending from Mt Nyiragongo
Have an early morning cup of tea or coffee and get back from the summit of Nyiragongo, meet your guide, then drive to Goma. Retire for the night as you wait for your mountain gorilla trek adventure the next day.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Congo’s Virunga National Park
Once you are done with your early morning breakfast, report to Bukima ranger post for 7:00am briefing about the gorilla trekking guidelines. You will be assigned to one gorilla family from the 8 which are open for trekking in Virunga (Kabirizi, Munyanga, Humba gorilla family, Mapuwa, Nyakamwe, Rugendo, Lulengo and Bageni group).
The actual activity begins at 8:00am lasting for 2-6 hours and when you get a gorilla family, you will spend 1 hour with them. Get back to the lodge afterwards to relax, dine and night stay.
Day 5: Depart Virunga N/Park back to Kigali
After breakfast, begin your trip to Kigali city – Rwanda where you will conduct a Kigali city tour. Explore Kigali / Gisozi genocide memorial centers, local markets and other amazing sites in Kigali.
