7 Days safari in Congo and Rwanda starting from Kigali takes visitors to the Virunga National Park, East of DR Congo and involves two breathtaking adventures. It offers you a chance to engage in mountain gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo Mountain hiking. Your 7-day Rwanda Congo safari adventure will begin and end in Kigali.

Tour summary

Day 1: Arrival and Kigali city tour – Transfer to Volcanoes national park

Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking

Day 3: Transfer from Rwanda to Virunga National Park (DR Congo)

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park

Day 5: Mount Nyiragongo hike in the Virunga National Park

Day 6: Descend the Volcano – Cross back in Rwanda to Gisenyi

Day 7: Transfer to Kigali for departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Kigali city tour – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

On arrival, you will be met by your guide and transfer to Kigali city where you will embark on a city tour visiting Kimironko market and the Gisozi genocide memorial site. Have lunch in Kigali town and transfer to northern part of Rwanda to volcanoes national Park arriving in the evening at Muhabura Hotel for Dinner and overnight Virunga hotel for budget, Davinci Lodge / Lebambou Gorilla Lodge for midrange and 5 volcanoes lodge for luxury.

Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking

Breakfast will be served early and drive back to the park headquarters for briefing on how to go about tracking the Golden monkeys and this takes you 3 to 4 hours.Return to the lodge for lunch and later head-out to visit the Ibyiwacu cultural villages where you will learn about the beautiful Rwandan culture. Later have dinner and overnight

Day 4: Transfer from Rwanda to Virunga National Park(DR Congo)

Early in the morning, you will have breakfast and thereafter, embark on a drive to Mikeno Lodge in Virunga National Park past Goma town in DR Congo. Enjoy amazing views of nature especially from the mighty rift valley and Mikeno Volcano and the Nyiragongo. Have lunch at the Mikeno Lodge and later, have dinner as you wait for the actual venture the next day.Virunga National Park also inhabits several primates like the baboons, colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and many bird species.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park

Have breakfast at your respective lodge and later join other visitors at Bukima for a briefing by the park official on how you should behave while on actual trek in the jungle. You will be assigned to one habituated gorilla group to trek in a group of 8 visitors and only one hour is given to strike your imaginations with these rare creatures. The trek usually lasts for take 2 to 6 depending on your physical fitness, nature of the habitat and location of your gorilla family. Later, return for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mikeno Lodge, Bukima Tented Camp.

Day 6: Mount Nyiragongo hike in the Virunga National Park

After a very delicious breakfast,set off for rewarding hike of Nyiragongo Mountain hike which begins at its base of the mountain. The hike takes you about 4 to 6 hours depending on the physical energy of the group hiking. Look out for numerous primates, birds and plant species as you continue with the hike to the summit where there is a largest and a powerful Lava Lake for magnificent views at the top of the mountain. You will spend a night at the Nyiragongo Volcano Summit shelters.

Day 6: Descend the volcano – Cross from Congo to Gisenyi
Descending the Nyiragongo volcano in the morning takes place after an early breakfast prepared by the Nyiragongo package team. The descnd is much easier than the hike and takes about 3 hours. Your driver will then drive you to Gisenyi where you will spend the day relaxing by the lake.

Day 7:Return to Kigali International Airport for departure.

After breakfast you will start to descend to the base of the mountain and your guide will be waiting to transfer you to Kigali Rwanda. You will have lunch in Kigali town and proceed to the airport for departure.

End of the tour

Safari includes

  • Gorilla and Nyiragongo permit
  • Accommodation for 6 nights
  • All meals
  • Relevant government taxes and levies
  • Transport plus an English speaking driver guide
  • Bottled water

Safari excludes

  • Visa fees
  • Personal expenses especially Tips, alcoholic drinks and other drinks that are not part of the itinerary
  • Airport fares