5 Days volcanoes and virunga gorilla trekking safari
5 Days volcanoes and virunga gorilla trekking safari
5 Days volcanoes and virunga gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda and Congo gives you an opportunity to trek mountain gorillas in both Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This 5 days Double Gorilla Trekking Safari starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda. However, you can opt to depart from Goma International Airport in Congo.
Highlights of the 5 Days volcanoes and virunga gorilla trekking safari
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’iwacu Cultural Tour.
Day 3: Transfer to Virunga National Park in Congo.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.
Day 5: Departure (Kigali/Goma).
Detailed Itinerary for 5 Days volcanoes and virunga gorilla trekking safari
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Transfer to Volcanoes: On Day 1 of your 5 Days Double Gorilla Trekking Safari, you will be picked up from your designated hotel in Kigali City or directly from Kigali International Airport by your guide from Explore Rwanda Tours. After a brief meet and greet session, you will proceed with your transfer to Volcanoes National Park which will take roughly 2-3 hours. The national park is situated in Ruhengeri district in Rwanda, with its closet town as Musanze. The park covers about 160 square kilometers of rainforest and is home to over 300 mountain gorillas.
Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge for lunch and relax for the rest of the evening. Accommodation will be at Kinigi Guesthouse Budget/
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’iwacu Cultural Tour.
Gorilla Trekking: This day marks the highlight of your gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. Have an early morning breakfast and transfer to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi by 7am. Upon your arrival in Volcanoes national park; you will be met by the park’s head ranger, who will brief you and give you guidelines to follow while tracking the gorillas and also when you are in their presence. You will then be placed into tracking groups, comprising 8 members per gorilla trekking group. Gorilla trekking activities in Volcanoes begin at exactly 8am and you will be accompanied by armed park rangers, skilled guides and porters, in case you have luggage to carry with you. Don’t forget to carry packed lunch with you on this day, because gorilla trekking can take between 2-7 hours, trying to locate the gorillas. Once the mountain gorillas have been located, you will get to spend only an hour with the majestic giants. Use this time well and do take as many photos as you wish; only bear in mind that your camera’s flash is disabled. After your amazing gorilla trekking experience, you will return to the park’s headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and then drive back to your lodge.
Iby’iwacu Cultural Tour: Later in the afternoon, you will drive to the Iby’iwacu village and get an insightful peek into the spectacular Rwandan culture. You will get to interact with the local people, see their day-to-day lifestyles and also watch dance performances from the local intore dance troupe. While there, you will get to learn of how most of the members of the Iby’iwacu village, were once poachers, who have be rehabilitated and now take part in conservation programs in the national park.
Later return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Virunga National Park in Congo.
Transfer to Virunga: Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your lodge. Meet up with your guide and proceed with your transfer to Virunga National Park in Congo through Grande barrier at the Gisenyi-Goma border. Here you will be escorted in a convoy provided by Virunga National Park. Upon you arrival in the national park, you will check into your lodge, have dinner and accommodation at Kibumba Tented Camp/ Bukima Tented Camp/ Mikeno Lodge.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga: This is the day you have been waiting for! Wake up early and have your breakfast before you proceed to the park’s headquarters. Depending on wish gorilla group you wish to track, your guide will drive you to either Mikeno or Bukima visitor Centre, where all gorilla trekking activities begin.
Just like in Rwanda, while at Virunga national park, you will be briefed first and then placed into groups of a maximum of 8 members per gorilla group. You will be escorted by armed park rangers, experienced guides and porters, if you wish to hire one. There are 8 habituated mountain gorilla groups in Virunga national park, and are available for tourists to track.
Gorilla trekking activities in Virunga take between 2-4 hours, inclusive of an hour spent with the gorillas once they have been located. Gorilla trekking activities in Virunga national park don’t a lot of vigorous hiking activities and hence can be done by any adult. Get back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.
Later in the afternoon, you can opt to go on a cultural tour to one of the neighboring village communities or visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage for those staying in Mikeno lodge. Later return back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Departure (Kigali/Goma).
Departure: Today marks the end of your 5 Days Double Gorilla Trekking Safari. Have Breakfast early in the morning and check out of your lodge. Your guide will drop you off at your designated departure point either in Kigali or Goma. If you still have time on your travel schedule, you can do an optional tour of Kigali city or Goma town before setting off for your departure flight. End of 5 Days volcanoes and virunga gorilla trekking safari
