5 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Nyiragongo Hiking Safari
This 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari will take you to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is one of the most visited national parks in Uganda harboring the endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife species including mammals, bird species, other primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys among others. During the safari you will participate in gorilla trekking activity and after connect Democratic Republic of Congo through Goma Grande Barrier to climb Nyiragongo volcano which is one of the active volcanic mountains in Africa.
Highlights of the 5 days gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali international airport and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking
Day 3: Transfer to Gisenyi, Lake Kivu
Day 4: Climb Nyiragongo volcano
Day 5: Descend from Nyiragongo volcano and departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari
Arrival and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park, upon arrival at Kigali international airport on the first day of 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park in southwestern Uganda. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours drive and on your way you will have en-route lunch and great views of the beautiful scenery, rolling hills in Rwanda, traditional homesteads, Kigezi hills among others. You will pass via Cyanika border in Kisoro and upon arrival you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of your 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people where each group will be allocated a gorilla group to trek, a park guide who is well conversant with gorilla trails in the jungle and then start trekking. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one area to another in search of food.
During trekking you will have great views of colorful bird species like handsome francolin, Rwenzori batis, martial eagle, mammals like bush pigs, buffaloes, forest elephants, primates like L’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their lifestyle, behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record the moments to show people back home. After the one hour with the mountain gorillas you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu
On day the third day of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari, you will have breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Gisenyi, Lake Kivu in Rwanda. Lake Kivu is the largest fresh water lake situated in western part of Rwanda bordered by Goma, Bukavu, Kalehe and Cyangugu Gisenyi. Upon arrival you will have lunch and go for an amazing boat cruise where you will have spectacular views of the sunset, steep terraced hills, beautiful landscape, scenery, different bird species like pied and malachite kingfishers, fish eagles, majestic crowned cranes, view fishermen who will be fishing in dugout canoes among others. After the exciting experience on Lake Kivu you will transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Climb Nyiragongo Volcano
Climb Nyiragongo volcano, after an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking tour you will cross to Democratic Republic of Congo via Goma Grande Barrier border and then connect to the trail head at Kibat patrol post for a briefing about the safety precautions, guidelines, expectations, stopping points and what to carry during hiking. After the briefing you will be grouped together with cooks and then start hiking the volcano which takes about 4-6 hours to reach the summit. During hiking you will pass through high and low altitude areas, lava rocks, slippery stones, have stopovers on the way and enjoy great views of the beautiful scenery, bird species, mammals among others. When you reach on top you will have spectacular views of the boiling lava lake. The cooks will help you to prepare hot coffee, dinner and you will spend an overnight in a cabin that is comprised of 2 single beds, mattresses and pillows as you smell the boiling and bubbling lava.
Day 5: Descend from Nyiragongo Volcano and departure to Kigali
Descend from Nyiragongo Volcano, on the last day of the 5days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking Tour you will have an ultimate breakfast and then start descending from the peak of the mountain which takes about 3 hours to reach the starting point at Kibat patrol post. While descending, you will have great views of Virunga national park, Lake Kivu, Rwenzori Mountains, other volcanic mountains among others. Upon arrival at the starting point, you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Departure to Kigali, after lunch you will check out of the lodge and your driver guide will pick you up to transfer back to Kigali. You will pass via Goma Grande Barrier border and upon arrival in Kigali your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali international airport for your departure flight or drop you off at any place of convenience.
End of 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking Tour
Inclusions of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking Tour
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Nyiragongo hiking permit
- Boat cruise fee on Lake Kivu
- Nyiragongo volcano hiking permit
- An English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Exclusions of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking Tour
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, alcoholic drinks, juice, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
