Tour over view: 6 Days Congo Gorilla trekking safari & Nyiragongo Hike
This 6 Days Congo Gorilla trekking safari & Nyiragongo Hike tour will give you a chance to meet the man’s second closest relatives the endangered mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park in their natural habitat. this tour will give you a chance to trek the gorillas twice in their virunga park and also you will have a chance to hike the Nyinrango the world’s largest lava lake.
Your 6 days Congo gorilla and Nyiragongo Hike safaris tour is a purely private tour that can be arranged all year round traveling in a 4×4 safari vehicle ground transfers, the tour can start and end in Rwanda. Congo is the one and only park where mountain gorillas and low land gorillas are found, and it’s the only lucky country in West African country with mountain gorillas, and the existence of these endangered apes has made the country very popular too due to many travelers who come to Congo specifically to trek the gorillas.
The tour will begin and end in Rwanda. Most safaris to Congo starts from Kigali international airport which enable by the international flights that land in Kigali so you will have an overnight in Kigali’s best hotels and the drive to Giseyi begins the next day
Nyiragongo Volcano requires hiking with the park rising to about 3470m above sea level. Mount Nyiragongo is one of the recently active strato volcanoes the continent has ever had with 2 lava lakes. A glimpse of the lava lake is for the brave and offers lasting memories; just remember to carry along a good quality camera. Throughout the trip, your Congo safaris guide will do transfers and ensure all activities are undertaken.
Safari Highlight for 4 Days Congo gorilla trek and Nyiragongo Volcano hike
Transfer to Congo
First gorilla trek in Virunga National Park
Second gorilla trek at Virunga National Park
Spend the day at leisure in Mikeno Lodge
Hike Nyiragongo and spend the night at the summit
Descend Mount Nyiragongo and depart
Detailed itinerary: 6 Days Congo gorilla trek and Nyiragongo Volcano hike
Day 1: Transfer to Gisenyi and later cross to Congo
Our safari guide will pick you at your hotel in Kigali, gets you briefed about the safari and later drive you to Gisenyi with en-route visit to the genocide memorial site, From here you will continue with fantastic views of rolling hills toward Gisenyi/Congo border crossing point migration center, the guide will help you to finalize with the border crossing requirements, you will be required to present your Yellow card vaccination and there after you will cross to DR. Congo and arrive in the lodge in time check in for a late lunch and relaxation. he drive from Kigali to Congo takes about 5 hours so early drive is very important.The evening will be reserved for leisure as you wait for tomorrow’s adventurous activity gorilla tracking. Dinner and an overnight at,
Location: Gisenyi
Accommodation Option
Budget: Ihusu Lodge on Lake Kivu in Goma
Mid-range: Bukima Tented Camp/Kibumba Tented Camp
Luxury: Mikeno Lodge,/
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 2: Tracking/trekking mountain gorillas in the Virunga national park and departure
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you set off to Bukima Ranger post for briefing before setting off for gorilla trekking. After briefings from the park wardens and also being allocated to the ranger guide, and the gorilla family to track, you will head to the forest to begin the search of gorillas.
Gorillas are the second closest relative to human after the chimps who shares almost 97% of human genes. You will pass through the thick and sometimes muddy forest and steep slopes while searching the apes. Gorilla trekking takes about 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. Gorillas are wild animals, they move freely in the forest so, a reasonable degree of fitness is needed as well as tracking gears like study pair of walking shoes/boots.
However, once the apes are meet you will forget all the troubles you have gone through and utilize the one hour you are allowed to stay with the gorillas use it fully by observing their behaviors as well as taking photos. After your successful gorilla trek, return to the headquarters for your certificate and later you will be driven back to lodge Dinner and an overnight at
Location: Gisenyi
Accommodation Option
Budget: Ihusu Lodge on Lake Kivu in Goma
Mid-range: Bukima Tented Camp/Kibumba Tented Camp
Luxury: Mikeno Lodge,/
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 3: Second gorilla trek at Virunga National Park
Again after breakfast, you will go for a second gorilla trekking activity in Virunga, however after a short briefing from the park wardens about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas you will again have a another chance to spend an hour with the endangered mountain gorillas. This time, you have chance to spend 1 hour with another gorilla family increasing on the gorilla encounters. After the trek, you return to Lodge for relaxation and dinner rand an overnight stay at.
Location: Gisenyi
Accommodation Option
Budget: Ihusu Lodge on Lake Kivu in Goma
Mid-range: Bukima Tented Camp/Kibumba Tented Camp
Luxury: Mikeno Lodge,
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 4: Spend the day at leisure in Mikeno Lodge
This day of your trip will be reserved for relaxation at the Lodge in Viriung Mountain national park, you will get a chance to relax at the beautiful lodge as you enjoy the nature and views of lodge, relax at the peaceful surroundings of Mikeno Lodge as you relax from the trek and prepare for the hike the next day.
Location: Virunga National Park
Accommodation Option
Budget: Ihusu Lodge on Lake Kivu in Goma
Mid-range: Bukima Tented Camp/Kibumba Tented Camp
Luxury: Mikeno Lodge,
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day5: Nyiragongo Hike
In the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the starting point in Kibat patrol post on the foot of Nyiragongo with your bags to begin the hike to Nyiragongo one of the most active and violent volcanoes on the Continent with the world’s most fluid and largest lava lake.
The porter will help to carry your backpacker and will also help to prepare your meal on the top of the volcano. The hike begins at 10am and it lasts for about 5-6 hour. The speed of the hike depends on the speed of the last person. Some physical fitness is needed as the hike is somehow demanding although the path is relatively easy and not too high.
The volcano’s forested lower slopes are a home to a variety of animals including monkeys and bush bucks. The hike through lush rain-forest will climax with a charming view of this lava lake as you chill out for a night at the crater rim. Overnight in tents at the top of the volcano.
Day 6: Descend and return to Kigali
Wake up for a simple breakfast and then descend to the base and you will have a picnic lunch either in Goma or at Gisenyi and later you will be transferred back to Kigali/ hotel/airport for your departure flight back home.
End of 4 Days Congo gorilla trek and Nyiragongo Volcano hike
The safari includes
- Transportation and fuel in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
- Full Board Accommodation on Safari as included in the itinerary
- 1 gorilla permit per person
- Nyiragongo Hike
- Full English Speaking driver guide and all his associated expenses. We can also provide any other foreign language speaking guide on request.
- Park entrance fees
- Any other Activity fees as mentioned in the Itinerary
Safari Exclusions
But it exclude,
- Accommodation in Kigali unless is on itinerary
- Flights
- Visa fees,
- Airport taxes
- porter’s fees
- Item of personal nature, like bar bills, tipping, Laundry ,Beverages
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extra expenses not included above