14 days DR Congo and Rwanda safari
14 Days DR Congo and Rwanda safari
14 days DR Congo and Rwanda safari : Take on this 14 days DR Congo and Rwanda safari visiting the Volcanoes national park for golden monkey trekking, connect to the Virunga national park for the Mikeno mist package which is inclusive of a mountain gorilla trekking experience and an overnight Mount Nyiragongo hike and connect to the Kahuzi Biega national park, have a stopover at the Nyungwe forest national park and complete the safari with a visit to the Akagera national park.
Get to also enjoy a day at the Gisenyi Lake Kivu, one of the longest lakes in Africa. Mount Nyiragongo is an active volcanic mountain and on the hike to the summit you will be able to see the red boiling magma on a clear night. Visit the lowland gorillas and get to spot the largest numbers of gorillas in their natural habitat.
This safari package gives you a chance to trek the mountain gorillas of DR Congo as well and also spot some of the wildlife of Akagera national park. Enjoy some enroute museum visits and also cultural experiences.
Trip highlights
- Day 1: Day tour in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park and overnight in Gisenyi
- Day 3: Transfer to Virunga national park
- Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
- Day 5: Mount Nyiragongo hike up
- Day 6: Mount Nyiragongo hike down and boat transfer to Bukavu
- Day 7: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
- Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 10: Nature walk and tea plantation visit
- Day 11: Transfer to Akagera national park
- Day 12: Day Game drive and afternoon boat trip
- Day 13: Day game drive and afternoon cultural tour
- Day 14: Drive back to Kigali
Trip description
Day 1: Day tour in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Once you get your test results, you will meet up with your driver guide to set out on a leisurely transfer to Musanze. You will drive westwards for the start of this DR Congo and Rwanda safari. You will have a first stop at the Kigali Genocide memorial ground for a visit and also visit the Kimironko market for a chance to buy some locally made artifacts.
You will have lunch and continue for your afternoon cultural experience at the Iby’iwachu cultural center. Check in at your hotel and have dinner.
Accommodation options in Volcanoes national park
- Virunga lodge for luxury option
- Le Bambou gorilla lodge for midrange option
- Muhabura lodge for budget option
Day 2: Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park and overnight in Gisenyi
After breakfast has been served, you will head out to the park headquarters where you will receive a briefing ahead of your golden monkey trekking. Enter the forest in search of these unique looking primates and spot them swinging from one tree to another. After your golden monkey trekking, you will connect back to your hotel for lunch and check out.
Head out to your next destination- Gisenyi. You will be welcomed by the sandy beach where you may spend the evening or even take on an optional boat trip on Lake Kivu and check into your hotel in Gisenyi where you will spend the night.
Accommodation in Gisenyi
- Paradise Malahide for budget option
- Le Palme Beach hotel for midrange option
- Lake Kivu Serena lodge for luxury option
Day 3: Transfer to Virunga national park
Breakfast will be served and you will prepare to drive to cross into the DR Congo to check in at the Grande Barrier border building. You will check in at the Tourism office of Virunga located opposite the immigrations office and receive your permits for the next days’ activities.
You will thereafter join the security convoy heading to the Virunga national park and arrive in time for a late lunch at your camp. Settle in and watch the sunset from the terrace of your cottage as you wait for dinner to be served and you spend another night.
Options in Virunga national park
- Kibumba tented camp for budget option
- Bukima tented camp for midrange option
- Mikeno lodge for luxury option
Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
Right after breakfast, you will drive towards the Bukima ranger post where the treks in Virunga national park start from. You will attend the briefing and after enter the forest led by the ranger guides. You will trek for about 2 hours until you meet your gorilla family of the day.
Enjoy the 1 hour with the mountain gorillas after exit back to your hotel to spend the rest of the day and spend another night at the hotel as the night before.
Day 5: Mount Nyiragongo hike up
Have breakfast at your lodge and head out to the Bukima ranger post by 9 am and start on this 5 hour hike up hill. This is a strenuous hike so be sure to be physically ready for this hike.
You will have two stopovers uphill and arrive at the summit by 5 pm. You will have dinner and enjoy a night at the Nyiragongo summit shelters.
Day 6: Mount Nyiragongo hike down and boat transfer to Bukavu
Wake up at leisure and have breakfast at the top as you catch the sunrise from the top. Prepare your belongings to descend the mountain. You will arrive back at the trailhead by midday.
You will connect to Goma city tour visiting some of the historical points and also get to see the effects of the past eruptions of the Mount Nyiragongo on the city. You will have lunch in Goma and after connect to Bolengo for your boat transfer to Bukavu.
You will arrive in Bukavu in time to check in at your hotel and settle in as you wait for dinner to be served
Hotel options in Bukavu
- Hotel Elizabeth for budget option
- Panorama hotel for midrange option
- Orchid lodge for luxury option
Day 7: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
Wake up excited for this experience in Kahuzi Biega national park. You will have breakfast and later head out to the park headquarters to attend the briefing on the expectations and code of conduct while in the forest.
You will enter the forest searching for the lowland gorillas of the Kahuzi Biega national park and once you meet them, you will enjoy an hour in their natural habitat. You will after exit the park and head back to your hotel in Bukavu. You will spend the rest of the day at your hotel and dinner will be served and you enjoy another night in Bukavu.
Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
You will have breakfast at your hotel and check out of your hotel headed for your next destination. You will make your way to the Rusizi border to connect back into Rwanda for a Rwanda Safari. You will drive about 2 hours until you arrive in Nyungwe forest.
You will check in at your hotel in Nyungwe forest and have lunch. You may spend the rest of the day at leisure or opt to take on an optional activity like community visit or tea plantation visit and return to your hotel before night fall for dinner.
Hotel options in Nyungwe forest national park
- Gisakura Visitor Center for budget option
- Nyungwe top hill view for midrange option
- One and Only Nyungwe house for luxury option
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park
Be up as early as 5 am to connect with your driver guide who will be waiting to transfer you to the park reception for the briefing ahead of your chimpanzee trekking. You will enter the Nyungwe forest in search of the chimpanzees. You will spot these playful creatures swinging from one tree branch to another.
Once after the chimpanzee trekking, you will retire back to your accommodation for lunch. After lunch you will connect back to the park for the afternoon canopy walk experience in Nyungwe forest for the forest view from the top. Return before night fall to your accommodation and spend another night in Nyungwe forest.
Day 10: Nature walk and tea plantation visit
Breakfast will be served at the hotel and you will set out to the park for your nature walk on one of the trails of Nyungwe forest. This is a great chance to do some birding or spot some of the primates of the Nyungwe forest.
Return to your hotel for lunch and after the sun has cooled down abit, you will connect to a tea plantation for an experience of processing tea up to consumption level and get to taste different teas. You will thereafter return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Transfer to Akagera national park
Have an early breakfast and check out of the hotel looking forward to the enroute visits. You will drive northwards via Butare where you will visit the Ethnographic museum and also take some time at the Nyanza King’s palace.
Have lunch and drive further to Akagera national park via Kigali arriving in the evening hours. Check into your hotel and prepare for dinner and first night in Akagera national park.
Hotel options of Akagera national park
- Akagera Game lodge for budget option
- Karenge Bush Camp for midrange option
- Rusizi Tented camp for luxury option
Day 12: Day Game drive and afternoon boat trip
After breakfast you will head out to the savannah park with an aim to spot the wildlife of Akagera national park. You will spot the Big 5 animals these are the lions, leopards, the buffaloes, the rhino and the elephants. You will also spot other wildlife like the giraffes, the hyenas. Return to your accommodation for lunch.
After lunch, you will connect for your boat trip in Lake Ihema where you will spot the crocodiles and the hippos. Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay
Day 13: Day game drive and afternoon cultural tour
After breakfast has been served, you will head back to the park for another chance to spot more wildlife of the Akagera national park. You will spend about 4 hours before you connect for a barbeque lunch in the park.
Later in the day, you will connect with your driver guide to head out for the cultural tour experience. Get the cultural dances, folktales and also explore the ancient lifestyles of the Rwandan people. Connect back to your hotel for dinner and spend another night in the Akagera national park while on a Rwanda Safari.
Day 14: Drive back to Kigali
Your driver guide will be waiting for you after breakfast and once you are ready to leave the Akagera national park. You will drive through the park and catch a last glimpse of more game as you exit the park. You will drive back 2 hours until you reach Kigali. You may take on your Kigali city tour on this day if you may have missed out on it on the first day.
You will be dropped off at your hotel in Kigali or at the Kigali International airport for your flight back home as you will advise.
End of safari