Enjoy Rwanda Congo safari – 07 Day that will take you the Virunga chain that is Volcanoes and Virunga and experience double gorilla safari in both parks and take the unforgettable mount Nyiragongo hike to the summit in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Day1: Kigali – Volcanoes National Park
Breakfast and after meet with the guide and embark the safari vehicle and then transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Lunch and after relax at the lodge and dinner and overnight stay as per your choice below.
- Singita Kwitonda Lodge
- One & Only Gorilla’s Nest
- Bisate Lodge
- Sabyinyo Silver Back Lodge
- Virunga Lodge
- Bishop’s House Rwanda
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Lebambou Gorilla Lodge. Meal plan: F/B
Day2: Gorilla Trek – Visit Iby’Iwacu Village
Have breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters. Briefing about the mountain gorillas and the park biodiversity. After you will be allocated in a group of 08 people and enter into the jungle to trek the certain group of gorillas.
Return to park offices for the gorilla trekking certificates. Evening visit to the Iby’Iwacu cultural village where you will experience the Rwanda cultural performances from the once gorilla hunters and now the Eco – warriors. Return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Meal plan: F/B
Day3: Volcanoes National Park – Gisenyi Beach Holiday
Have breakfast, after visit to the Dian Fossey Museum and experience the conservation work that she did towards the saving of mountain gorillas in the Virunga massifs. After embark the jeep and transfer to the shores of Lake Kivu, have lunch and relax at the Lake and dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. Meal plan: F/B
Day4: Goma – Mikeno Lodge, Virunga National Park
Have breakfast from your hotel and relax, after transfer to Goma – Barriere border between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo and clear the visa formalities and transfer to Mikeno Lodge, with late lunch and dinner and overnight stay at Mikeno Lodge. Meal plan: F/B
Day5: Mikeno Lodge – Bukima Tented Camp
Have breakfast and after transfer to Bukima Ranger Post the starting point of the mountain gorilla trekking experience in the Virunga National Park. Lunch and after transfer back to Mikeno Lodge where you will have dinner and overnight stay as above. Meal plan: F/B.
Day6: Mikeno Lodge – Hike Mount Nyiragongo
Have breakfast, transfer to Kibati Ranger Post and trek and overnight on Nyiragongo. With the Nyiragongo pack you will have lunch snacks, mineral, water and spacious dinner from the Mikeno chef and then overnight stay at the Nyiragongo Shelters at the summit of the volcano. Meal plan: F/B
Day7: Descend Mount Nyiragongo – Tchegera Island
Have breakfast, after trek down the Volcano and transfer back to Goma and transfer to Tchegera Island. Here relax and refresh your minds after the hiking adventures. Dinner and overnight stay at Tchegera Tented Camp. Meal plan: F/B
Day8: Tchegera Island – Goma – Kigali
Have breakfast and after embark the boat and transfer back to Goma. Meet with our driver/guide, have lunch and transfer you back to Kigali. End of services!
Safari inclusions:
Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
Ground transportation
01 Rwanda Gorilla permit
Visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village
01 Congo Gorilla Permit
Congo Tourist Visa
Nyiragongo back pack
Nyiragongo Hike
Mineral water
Full day English speaking guide
Safari Excludes:
The air fares, Visa, porter fees while trekking the gorillas, laundry, expensive drinks, and other activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
What to wear/bring
Dress codes are informal. Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of light clothing, supplemented by light sweaters for the cool evenings and heavier clothing for the higher altitudes especially Volcanoes.
When tracking gorillas layering your clothing is the best idea and we suggest: long sleeved shirts, cotton or gore tex trousers, strong walking shoes with ankle support, socks that you can tuck your trousers into, light gloves to protect your hands from thorns and nettles, a hat and sunglasses to provide protection against the sun and a water proof jacket in neutral colors may come in handy in the moist mountains, insect repellents.
Travel light and remember that soft-sided luggage is required. One medium sized duffel bag and one small day pack (carry-on) per person should be adequate. Laundry services are available at most accommodations.
You should also pack some zip lock bags for spare clothing, cameras, binoculars and film. Please note that you are not allowed to use a flash when photographing gorillas. It is a good idea to take along several different speeds of film (64 to 1000) as gorillas can be found in open sun or in the dark underbrush of the forest.