9 days Virunga national park, Mount Nyiragongo and Kahuzi Biega national park
9 Days Virunga national park, Mount Nyiragongo and Kahuzi Biega national park
9 days Virunga national park, Mount Nyiragongo and Kahuzi Biega national park : Take on this 9 days Congo safari visiting the Virunga national park for the Mikeno mist package with 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 as well.
Trip Highlights
- Day 1: Day tour in Kigali and overnight in Gisenyi
- Day 2: Transfer to Virunga national park
- Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
- Day 4: Mount Nyiragongo hike up
- Day 5: Mount Nyiragongo hike down and boat transfer to Bukavu
- Day 6: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
- Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 9: Drive back to Kigali
Trip description
Day 1: Day tour in Kigali and overnight in Gisenyi
Once you get your test results, you will meet up with your driver guide to set out on a leisurely transfer to Gisenyi. You will drive westwards for the start of this 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 boat trip on the Lake Kivu. Enjoy a few hours on the lake shores and connect to your hotel where you will spend the rest of the day. Check in at your hotel and have dinner.
Accommodation in Gisenyi
- Paradise Malahide for budget option
- Le Palme Beach hotel for midrange option
- Lake Kivu Serena lodge for luxury option
Day 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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 Mount Nyiragongo 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 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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. 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 8: 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 9: Drive back to Kigali
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.
You will drive back 5 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
