4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Karisimbi Hike

4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Karisimbi Hike is an interesting safari that starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda. The safari will take you to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda where you will be able to climb mount Karisimbi which is the highest volcanic mountain in the Virunga mountain ranges that rises at an altitude of 4507 meters above the sea level. The 4 days Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and Karisimbi hike will also take you to Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors the highest number of the endangered mountain gorillas in the world. While in Bwindi impenetrable national park you will have an opportunity of spending time with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Highlights of the4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Karisimbi Hike

Day 1: Pick up at Kigali airport and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 2: Hike mount Karisimbi
Day 3: Hike to the summit, descend down and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and departure to Kigali

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes national park, depending on your location in Rwanda on the first day of the 4 days Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and Karisimbi hike you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to Kigali for a city tour. Kigali city is one of the most beautiful and cleanest cities in Africa with different tourism attractions like Kigali genocide memorial center, craft markets, Kimironko local market, museums among others. After the city tour you will have lunch in one of the restaurants where you will be able to taste different dishes and after start the journey to Volcanoes national park. It’s a 2 to 3 hour drive journey and on the way you will have great views of the beautiful scenery, rolling hills, traditional homesteads, terraced farmlands among others. Upon arrival in the park you will proceed to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Mount Karisimbi hike

Mount Karisimbi hike, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 4 days Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and Karisimbi hike you will carry packed lunch, drinking water, camping gear, hiking gear and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about safety guidelines and expectations of hiking mount Karisimbi. After the briefing you will drive to the starting point where you will be given a walking stick, allocated an experienced guide who is knowledgeable about the mountain and then start hiking. While climbing mount Karisimbi you will pass through different vegetation zones like bamboo forests in the lower slopes, hagania hypericum forest on the higher slopes and giant lobelia where you will have great views of animals and bird species. When you reach 3700 meters you will have a midway for dinner and camp for an overnight.

4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Karisimbi Hike — Hiking Mount Karisimbi

Day 3: Hike to the summit, descend down and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Hike to the summit, on the third day of the 4 days Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and Karisimbi hike you will have breakfast and then embark on the journey to the summit of the mountain. Upon arrival on the top you will have great views of beautiful scenery, mount Nyirangongo and Nyamulagira of Democratic republic of Congo, Mount Muhabura, surrounding communities among others. After the breathtaking views you will start descending down to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for late lunch. After lunch you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in southwestern part of Uganda. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours drive passing through Cyanika border in Kisoro district or Katuna border in Kabale district. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking and departure to Kigali

Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the last day of the 4 days Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and karisimbi hike, you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who will lead you during trekking. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will have stunning views of other primate species like l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, mammals, different bird species, plant and tree species among others.

Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities like breastfeeding, feeding, playing, resting, learn about their behaviors, habits, take beautiful photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people back home after the safari. After the face to face encounter with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for late lunch. After lunch you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey to Kigali passing through Cyanika border or Katuna border. Upon arrival in Kigali your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of convenience.

End of 4 days Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and Karisimbi hike

4 days Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and Karisimbi hike includes

Gorilla trekking permit
Kigali city tour
Karisimbi hiking permit
Services of an English speaking driver guide
Full board accommodation
Pick up and drop off
Vehicle and fuel
Bottled water

4 days Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and Karisimbi hike excludes

Air flight tickets
Visas
Optional activities not included on the itinerary
Life insurance
Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips among others.