5 Days Rwanda Congo Gorilla Trekking Adventure
The 5 Days Rwanda Congo Gorilla Trekking Adventure is a thrilling tour that starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. The safari will take you to two gorilla destinations: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where you will get a chance to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
During the safari you will also engage in a Kigali city tour, where you will be able to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre and Kimironko Market.
Highlights
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Day 3: Transfer to Virunga National Park
- Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
- Day 5: Transfer to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes National Park,
Depending on your location, our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel or Kigali International Airport, brief you about the safari and then transfer you to Kigali for a city tour. During the city tour you will be able to visit the Kigali genocide memorial center, where you will learn about the 1994 brutal killing between the Hutus and Tutsi, and visit Kimironko market, where you will be able to interact with the local vendors and buy souvenirs, among others.
After the Kigali city tour, you will go for lunch in one of the restaurants and later start the journey to Volcanoes National Park, which is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda. The journey takes about a 2-hour drive, and on the way you will have spectacular views of the rolling hills, farmlands, beautiful scenery, and traditional homesteads, among others. Upon arrival in the park, you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
For gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast, carry a packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kinigi Park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be put in a group of not more than 8 people, allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorilla family is located and during trekking you will be able to view other primate species, mammals, bird species and different plant and tree species.
Once the gorilla family is located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with the gorillas in their environment, which gives you an opportunity to take photos, watch them carry out their daily activities, observe their behaviors and record the incredible moments.
After the gorilla trekking experience, you will trek back to the starting point, where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and meet up with your driver guide to return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Virunga National Park
After an early breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Virunga National Park in Congo.
On the way you will have great views of the countryside, beautiful views of the landscape, plantations and a stopover at Lake Kivu for lunch. After lunch you will continue the journey, passing through the Goma Grande Barrier to obtain your visa and gorilla trekking permit. From Goma you will join the convoy, which will escort you to Virunga National Park, where you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
For gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast, carry your lunch box and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who will lead you during trekking in the jungle.
Just like the Volcanoes National Park trekking of mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, it takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas slept the previous night.
During trekking you will be able to view other wildlife species including birds, mammals, primates, and tree species among others and once the gorilla family is located, you will be able to spend one hour with the gorillas in their environment, where you will get a chance to learn about their behaviors and habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, take photos and record videos with a flashless camera. After the one hour with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the starting point, where you will meet up with your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Departure to Kigali
After a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver to transfer to Kigali, passing through the Goma Grande Barrier. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will have lunch, after which you will be dropped off at Kigali International Airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 5 days in Rwanda Congo gorilla trekking adventure
Includes
- Gorilla trekking permits
- Kigali city tour
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Excludes
- 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.
