Embark on a 7-day adventure in Nyiragongo and Kahuzi-Biega National Park. This perfectly planned tour offers two incredible activities: tracking rare eastern lowland gorillas and hiking the world’s active volcanic mountain, Mount Nyiragongo, known for its blazing lava lake. Explore Virunga National Park, one of Africa’s oldest national parks, and indulge in bird watching and optional cultural experiences. Enjoy comfortable lodging, transportation, and meals. Starting and ending in Kigali, Rwanda, this tour allows you to witness the beauty of nature, vibrant local culture, and African architectural style.
Detailed Nyiragongo Hiking & Lowland Gorilla Tour
Day 1: Pick up and drive to Virunga national park, home of Nyiragongo volcano
At Kigali international airport, a gentle and smart company representative will gladly meet you ahead of the adventure; taking you through the trip, destinations to be visited and activities to be done. In case it is time for breakfast, have it and hit the road to Goma in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo; a 5-6 hours’ drive; with eye-catching views of flourishing plantations, flowing streams and gentle sloping hills.
Day 2: Ascend Mount. Nyiragongo
At daybreak, you will enjoy your breakfast and then drive to the base of Mountain Nyiragongo for a hike that kick starts at 10:30am, at a trailhead found in Kibati village. The is done in the presence of other hikers, porters and armed personnel, for approximately 5-6 hours, with amazing views of plantations, primates, birds and an epic landscape.
You will have lunch at a certain Point; hit the summit for photography, and then dinner and a nap thereafter. Mount. Nyiragongo ranks among the most active volcanoes on earth, with the summit decorated with a blazing lava lake.
Day 3: Descend Mountain Nyiragongo
After having an unforgettable night at the mountain top; you will receive the beautiful rising sun with a hefty breakfast meal and then descend to the trailhead; as you watch the breathtaking landscape, scattered homesteads and flourishing plantations. You link up with your driver-guide at the trailhead, go for lunch and chill in the evening.
Day 4: Transfer to Kahuzi-Biega National Park
With a taste of energy giving breakfast; you will checkout of the lodge for a transfer to Kahuzi-Biega National Park; using a route that exposes you to the tone of beauty at Congo’s countryside; talk of the plantations, smiling natives and undulating hills. There will be lunch en-route, before entering the park late in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Tracking the eastern lowland gorillas
Your day starts warm with a cup of coffee, before driving to the park headquarters for briefing and an ultimate 1-6-hour eastern lowland gorilla trekking adventure, after a briefing and allocating you to a gorilla group. You will start an adventure, through the jungle where you will encounter several other residents, notably monkeys, reptiles, plants and birds among others. These lowland gorilla species are very exciting, with an appealing look and giant bodies.
After encountering and spending a maximum of one additional hour with them, you will return for lunch and then afternoon rest, with any other optional activity; notably plantation tours, or a cultural adventure. Call off the day with a taste of yummy dinner meal and a nap.
Day 6: Bird watching and community walks
After a yummy breakfast meal at the lodge, there will be a rewarding 5-hour birding experience in the forest; looking out for the different residents, non-endemic birds and the migrants namely; nightjars, pigeons, gene fowls, Turacos, eagles, and secretary birds among others.
You will take photos, while identifying their unique sounds and sights, thereafter return to the lodge for lunch, followed by a relaxed evening; resting from the back-to-back activities. You will end this day with Dinner and a night of peaceful sleep at the lodge.
Day 7: Departure
At sunrise, you will have an early morning breakfast at the hotel, before a short city tour in Bukavu. Afterwards, checkout for a drive to Kigali airport via Rusizi boarder for a departure flight or to your accommodation facility for a nap.
End of 7 Days Nyiragongo & Lowland Gorilla Trek safari.
