5 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Mount Karisimbi Hike tour
This 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Mount Karisimbi Hike tour will take you to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where you will get the opportunity to encounter endangered mountain gorillas and climb Mount Karisimbi, the tallest volcano in the Virunga area and the eleventh highest peak in Africa.
Karisimbi is a dormant volcano that rises to 4,507 meters above sea level. During the 5-day Rwanda gorilla trek and Mount Karisimbi hiking safari, you will also participate in a Kigali city tour, which will include visits to the historical Kigali genocide memorial site, Kimironko market, and the twin lakes of Lake Burera and Ruhondo.
Highlights of the 5 days Rwanda gorillas and Mount Karisimbi hike
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Day 3: Hike mount Karisimbi
Day 4: Hike to the summit and later descend down
Day 5: Twin lakes tour and departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary for 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Mount Karisimbi Hike
Day 1: pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national park, based on your location on the first day of the 5-day Rwanda gorilla and Mount Karisimbi climb, our driving guide will pick you up from your hotel or Kigali international airport, educate you about the safari and then bring you to Kigali city for a tour. During the Kigali city trip, you will be able to visit the Kigali genocide memorial site, where you can learn more about the 1994 terrible killings of Hutus and Tutsis, as well as Kimironko market, where you will engage with local sellers. After the city tour, you will have lunch at one of Kigali’s restaurants before continuing your journey to Volcanoes National Park.
The drive takes around 2 to 3 hours, and along the route you will see amazing vistas of rolling hills, landscapes, and farmland, among others. When you arrive to the park, you will check into the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking, On the second day of the 5-day Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi climb, you will pack a lunch and meet your driving guide at the park headquarters for a training on gorilla trekking laws and regulations. Following the briefing, you will be assigned a habituated gorilla family to travel with, as well as a park guide who is familiar with the jungle hiking pathways. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park takes between 30 minutes and 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas are because they prefer to wander from one location to another in quest of food.
Volcanoes National Park is home to a variety of animal species, including birds, mammals, and primates such as red-tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, and chimps, among others, which may be viewed when hiking. Once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat, where you will be able to observe their behaviours and habits, as well as watch them go about their daily activities such as feeding, playing, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, taking photos, and recording breathtaking moments with a flashless camera.
After the one-hour gorilla trekking adventure, you will return to the park headquarters, where you will be given a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking. You will then meet your driver guide and proceed to the lodge for an evening of leisure, dinner, and sleep.
Day 3: Hike mount Karisimbi
Mount Karisimbi hike, Following an early breakfast on the third day of the five-day Rwanda gorilla and Karisimbi hike, you will carry your lunch box, enough drinking water, camping and hiking gear and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing on hiking Mount Karisimbi. After the briefing, you will travel to the starting site, where you will be handed a walking stick, assigned an expert guide who is familiar with the mountain, hire a porter to carry your bag and give you a tug or push, and begin trekking in the forest.
During the Mount Karisimbi climb, you will travel through many plant zones, including bamboo forests on the lower slopes, Hagania Hypericum woodland on the upper slopes, and giant lobelia, which are home to a variety of animal species like as mammals, primates, and birds. You will make a midway halt at an altitude of 3,700 metres for dinner and sleep.
Day 4: Hike to the summit and later descend down
Hike to the summit, On the fourth day of the four-day Rwanda gorilla and Karisimbi hike, you will freshen up, eat breakfast and then begin the journey to the summit of Mount Karisimbi. When you get at the summit, you will be treated to stunning views of the lovely environment, greenery, views of Mount Muhabura, Mount Nyirangongo, and Nyamulagira in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, views of the neighbouring settlements, and the opportunity to snap great photographs. After taking in the amazing views from the summit, you will begin your descent back to the starting point, which will take around 6 hours. You will enjoy beautiful views along the route, and when you arrive, you will meet your driver guide and be transferred to the lodge for late lunch, dinner, and sleep.
Day 5: Twin lakes tour and departure to Kigali
After a leisurely breakfast on the final day of your 5-day Rwanda gorilla and Karisimbi trip, your driving guide will pick you up from the resort for a twin lakes tour of Lake Burera and Ruhondo, which are located at the foot of Mount Muhabura. When you get at the twin lakes, you will be able to experience breathtaking views of lakes, lovely terrain, high hills, and many bird species, as well as an outstanding boat trip in a dugout canoe. After the twin lakes excursion, you will return to the resort for lunch, check out and travel back to Kigali. Upon arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport for your departure flight or at a location of your choice.
End of 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Mount Karisimbi Hike tour
