5 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari
This 5-day Rwanda gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari is an exciting safari that will take you to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where you will engage in gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking activities that give you an opportunity to spend one hour with the primates in their natural habitat.
From Volcanoes National Park, you will connect to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where you will climb Nyiragongo volcano, one of the most active volcanic mountains in Africa.
Highlights
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 4: Climb Nyiragongo Volcano
Day 5: Descend from Nyiragongo Volcano and transfer to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, be welcomed by our driver guide, who will brief you about the safari and transfer you to Kigali for a city tour. During the city tour you will visit the genocide memorial center, where you will know more about the killing of many people during the Rwanda genocide between the Hutus and Tutsi in 1994.
You will also visit other attractions like craft centers where they make and sell handmade items, souvenirs, paintings, and more. After the city tour you will go for lunch in one of the restaurants and then start the journey to Volcanoes National Park in the northwestern part of Rwanda.
On your way to the park, you will have great views of the rolling hills, beautiful scenery, landscapes among others and upon arrival, you will check into the lodge and have dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
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, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is done in groups of 8 people, where each group is allocated a gorilla family to trek each day and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park takes 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorillas and once they are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with the gorillas in their natural environment.
During the one hour with the mountain gorillas, you will get an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors and habits, take photos, record videos, and watch them carry out their daily activities like breastfeeding, playing, and others. After the one-hour encounter with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the park headquarters, where you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Kivu
Golden monkey trekking:
After breakfast, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of golden monkey trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a golden monkey family to trek and a park guide who will be sharing information about the golden monkeys and also be well conversant with the trails in the forest. Golden monkey trekking starts at around 8:00 am and takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the golden monkeys are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food.
During trekking you will be able to view some mammals, bird species, primates, and plant and tree species among others and once the golden monkeys are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat, which gives you an opportunity to take photos, record videos, learn about their behaviors, habits, and lifestyle, and watch them jump from one tree to another among others. After the one hour with the golden monkeys, you will trek back to the park headquarters, meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Transfer to Lake Kivu, After lunch you will transfer to Lake Kivu, the largest freshwater lake in Rwanda. Upon arrival you will engage in a boat cruise where you will have spectacular views of the beautiful scenery, sunset, steep terraced hills, and different bird species like malachite kingfishers and majestic crowned cranes, as well as fishermen who will be fishing in dugout canoes, among others. After the boat cruise you will transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Hiking Nyiragongo Volcano
After an early breakfast, cross to the Democratic Republic of Congo via the Goma Grande Barrier border and then connect to the trailhead at the Kibat patrol post for a briefing about the safety precautions, guidelines, expectations, stopping points, and what to carry during hiking, among others.
After the briefing you will be grouped together with the cooks and start hiking Nyiragongo volcano, which takes about 4-6 hours to reach the summit.
During hiking you will pass through high altitudes, lava rocks, and slippery stones, among others; have stopovers; and also enjoy great views of beautiful scenery, bird species, and mammals, among others. When you reach the top, you will have views of the boiling lava lake and the volcano top can be freezing cold with strong winds; therefore, you need to be prepared with warm clothing.
The cooks will help you to prepare hot coffee and 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 depart to Kigali
Descend from Nyiragongo Volcano.
Have an ultimate breakfast and after, start descending from the peak of the mountain, which takes about 3 hours to reach the starting point at the Kibat patrol post. While descending from the Nyiragongo volcano, you will have spectacular views of Virunga National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Kivu, and other volcanic mountains, among others.
Upon arrival at the trailhead, you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to Gisenyi for lunch via the Goma Grande Barrier border. After lunch you will continue the journey to Kigali and your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport for your next flight or at any place of convenience.
End of 5 days of Rwanda gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking safari.
Includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Kigali city tour
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Boat cruise fee
- Nyiragongo hiking permit
- An 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.
