6 Days Mountain Gorilla and Lowland Gorilla Trek
Visit Congo and trek Mountain gorilla and the Lowland Gorillas in the Virunga and Kahuzi Biega respectively. You will also accompany the two gorilla trekking adventure with a Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking.
Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport & Transfer to Goma.
Upon your arrival at the Kigali international Airport, you will receive by our driver guide who will drive you to one of Kigali hotels for refreshment and mini briefing about the safari. Afterwards, you will embark on scenic transfer drive to Goma, DRC. The drive journey of 184kms about 3-4 hours without enroute stopovers is a breeze because of the excellent roads/transport in Rwanda to the border. When you cross the border, you will start feeling the excitement of Congo. On arrival to Goma town, you will advance to the lodge to check-in, have dinner and overnight at La Versailles hotel (budget), VIP Palace Goma (mid-range), Mbiza hotel (luxury).
Day 2: Early Morning Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.
After your early morning breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters in Bukima sector for briefing about gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park. You will enter the forest to search for the mountain gorillas in their tranquil location of Virunga National Park. After 1-4 hours of trekking mountain gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour with the mountain gorillas and during this time you can decide to sit down watch gorillas carry on with their daily activities of feeding, caring for young ones. You will remain close to the beautiful apes while observing them, photographing and instantaneously after one hour, you will return to the starting point and then, drive back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Dinner and overnight at La Versailles hotel (budget), VIP Palace Goma (mid-range), Mbiza hotel (luxury
Day 3: Early Morning Nyiragongo Volcano Hike
After your early morning breakfast, you will drive to the mountain trailhead at Kibat Patrol Post in Nyiragongo Volcano. Scenic drive to Nyiragongo towering above its own lava flows from earlier eruptions is truly very exhilarating. On arrival to the trail head, you will be briefed and later, embark on the climb of about 5-6hours to the top of the Volcano. You will be escorted by two armed guides who will be directing and help you to translate to either English or French. Hiking up to the summit of the volcano does not only reward you with spectacular view of the flora and fauna gorgeous at lower elevations, but you also give a local person a job. When you get high enough, the views of over an old crater to Lake Kivu are fabulous. The outlooks are nothing compared to when you reach the crater and view the lava pool inside which is surely incredible. The night will be spent in tents on the rim of the giant crater, high above the lively lava lake. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable A-frame huts on the crater edge. Warm clothes and a sleeping bag are crucial as it will be very cold and windy all night.
Day 4: Decent from Nyiragongo Volcano and drive Bukavu
Enjoy your breakfast and start to descent back to the head trail in Kibat Patrol Post. Arrive at the trail head transfer back to the lodge short refreshment and early lunch. After lunch you will embark on transfer drive from Goma to Bukavu in eastern DR Congo. The long drive will take your through green beautiful land scape spotted with farmed land, local population together with the rolling hills of DR Congo. On arrival to Bukavu, the driver guide will drive you direct to your pre-reserved hotel or lodge for dinner and relaxation at Horizon hotel (budget) Orchid safari lodge (mid-range/luxury).
Day 5: Early Morning Lowland Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo & Afternoon Nature Walks
After an early morning breakfast, embark on an early morning drive to the park headquarters for briefing about the rules and regulations to follow when trekking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. After briefing, you will be led to enter the trekking trails to start searching for the gorillas. Trekking lowland Gorillas is very amazing, lowland Gorillas differ from the mountain gorillas, the lowland gorillas are bigger in size, usually takes 1-4 hours trekking the lowland Gorillas. The lowland Gorillas stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas; you will not regret the tour effort once you meet the amazing Gorillas. After one memorable hour of encounter with the lowland gorillas, you will retire back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on an afternoon nature walk in the Kahuzi Biega Park .The nature walks will take you through Tshibati waterfalls, visit Bukavu town, Mbayo tea plantations, the research Centre and the surrounding traditional homes to explore the lifestyle of the local community. Thereafter, retreat back to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Horizon hotel (budget) Orchid safari lodge (mid-range/luxury).
Day 6: Transfer from Bukavu –DR Congo back to Kigali & Departure
Right after an early morning breakfast, depart Bukavu driving back to Kigali. The scenic drive journey will take you through wonderful landscape in Bukavu in Congo crossing via Cyangugu boarder to Rwanda. You will have an en route stop in Butare, where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, the king’s palace in Nyanza, and the Rwanda genocide memorial site. On arrival to Kigali, you will advance with the drive to Kigali International Air Port for your scheduled flight back home.
