5 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking and Nyiragongo Hike
5 Days Congo gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hike is the exceptional safari that offers you the chance to experience the uniqueness of Congo. This safari takes you to Virunga National Park, which is one of the largest parks in Africa and is found in the Eastern part of Congo.
This park is known for its biodiversity, including the world-famous endangered mountain gorillas and several volcanoes, the most notable of which is Nyiragongo. During the safari, you will have the opportunity to trek the mountain gorillas and then hike Nyiragongo, which is an active volcano.
Day 1: Arrival to Kigali and Transfer to Gisenyi.
On the 1st day of the safari, once you arrive at Kigali International Airport, your safari guide from Focus East Africa Tours will welcome you and brief you about the safari. After that, you will begin your journey to Gisenyi from Kigali, which is on the shores of Lake Kivu. Upon your arrival you will enjoy lunch.
After lunch, you will optionally go for the optional boat cruise on Lake Kivu. Later dinner, relaxation and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 2: Transfer to Kibumba tented camp.
After breakfast, check out from your lodge, transfer to Congo using the Grande Barriere crossing at midday, and check in with the Virunga offices by lunchtime. After this process in the tourism office, you will be given your Gorilla and Volcano trek permits, which must be presented at the beginning of each trek.
After finalizing everything, you will be transferred to Kibumba. On arrival you will check in and relax and enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.
After breakfast, with your packed lunch and all trekking equipment, your safari guide will transfer you to the Bukima ranger post for the briefing. This is where the rangers give you the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking.
After that, you will hike through challenging terrain for about 30 minutes to 6 hours while looking for the mountain gorilla family. And once the gorillas are found, you will spend one hour with the gorillas watching them doing their daily activities.
After later, you transfer to your lodge to relax or choose to do a nature walk/birdwatching and later have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Nyiragongo Volcano Hike.
After breakfast, you will check out from your lodge and transfer to the park headquarters at Kibati Ranger early in the morning. You will be briefed and hire a porter in preparation to start up the Nyiragongo Volcano hike.
This will take you about 6 hours depending on the level of your fitness. During the trek, you move through lava rocks and forested areas, enjoying perfect views of the boiling lava emitting a red glow from the crusted surface, and you can capture pictorial moments along the way.
Upon your arrival you will enjoy dinner and then spend the night at the crater rim.
Day 5: Descending from Nyiragongo volcano and transferring back to Kigali.
This morning after breakfast, you will start to descend back to the park headquarters. It will take you about four hours. And once you reach the bottom, you will transfer back to the boarder at Grande Barriere. Your driver guide will drive you back to Kigali with lunch en route.
After lunch, you will proceed with your journey until Kigali and your safari guide will transfer you to the airport or to your hotel in Kigali, which will bring your safari to an end.
End of 5 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking and Nyiragongo Hike
