5 Days safari in Congo for gorilla trekking in Virunga national park and hiking the Nyiragongo Mountain offers a great adventure as you get to see the active Nyiragongo Mountain which is the world’s largest lava lake, and also an encounter with the Gorillas in Virunga forest. This safari will start in Kigali crossing into Goma and back to Kigali for drop off.

Trip summary

Day 1: Pickup in Kigali for Genocide memorial site tour, market tour – Transfer to Gisenyi for a baot ride on lake Kivu

Day 2: Cross into Congo through Goma

Day2: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park – visit Sekwekwe gorilla orphanage

Day 3: Hiking the Nyiragongo Mountain overnight at the top of the volcano

Day 4: Descend the volcano – Cross back to Gisenyi and transfer to Kigali

Trip Details

Day 1: Pickup from Kigali for city tour
A tour guide from Wild Uganda Safaris will pick you up from your Kigali accommodation for a city tour to the Kigali genocide memorial site, fresh market tour, later transfer to Lake Kivu. You will have a boat ride along lake Kivu to visit different islands.
Dinner and overnight at Paradise Marahide (midrange), Kivu Lodge (luxury)

Day 2: Cross into Goma – Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Have breakfast at your lodge overlooking the beautiful lake Kivu and be ready to drive to the Gisenyi-Goma offices for immigration protocals and later transfer to Virunga national park check in at the lodge, have dinner and spend the night there.Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge (Luxury/Up market), Bukima Tented Camp (Mid-Range) Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters (Budget travelers)

Day 3: Gorilla trekking- Virunga National Park.
Have an early morning breakfast, and leave with packed lunch, as you head to the Bukima park station where all trekkers gather to be briefed about the gorilla trekking rules at 7:00am.Gorilla trekking starts at 8:00am and takes 2 to 8 hours including one hour with the gorillas from the time of contact. The time taken trekking depends on the movement and the location of gorillas since they always move from one place to the other hunting for food.An encounter with them is the magical moment where you can take as many photos as you want for these endangered apes. Looking at these forest giants is a memorable experience for every traveler.

You will later return to the starting point and your driver will drive you back to the lodge. Have dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation: Nyiragongo Volcano summit shelters (Budget travelers), Bukima tented camp (Mid-range/standard), Mikeno lodge (Up market/Luxury).

 

Day 4: Hiking the Nyiragongo Mountain

Have a morning breakfast, carry your packed lunch and drive to Nyiragongo Volcano at Kibat Patrol post which is about 30kms from Mikeno lodge. You will start the hiking with park rangers to this volcano. It is the world’s most active lava lake that will blow your mind at this great adventure.Hiking to the top of this volcano takes you around 4 to 6 hours. The trail to the top of the Volcano is fairly trouble-free though a bit tiring, more often in tough, uncomfortable and hot seasons.Enjoy great views of the landscape and also a chance of seeing some mammals and uncommon bird species. While at the top of this mountain, you have a great time of enjoying the lake of hot lava, take enough photographs and relax. You will spend the night in tents at the top of the volcano.

Day 5: Descend the Border to Kigali

Set off from the top of the volcano after breakfast by 7am and descend to the bottom. Return to the starting point, transfer to the lodge for lunch and rest. Later check out and head to Kigali in Rwanda for departure or stay in Kigali depending on your flight schedule.

End of the tour

Included services

  • Gorilla permit
  • Transport in 4×4 tour vehicle with a pop up roof
  • Bottled drinking water as you travel
  • A professional tour guide/driver.
  • All government taxes

Excluded services

  • International flights
  • Visas
  • Tips, souvenirs
  • Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary