7 days Congo & Rwanda safari - Gorilla Trekking Adventure

7 days Congo and Rwanda safari – Gorilla Trekking Adventure

The 7 days Congo and Rwanda safari incorporates two magical countries-the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. This package involves you trekking golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and mountain gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park. It will start and end in Kigali Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park is found in Northwestern Rwanda and to get to this park, you need about 2-3 hours. It was gazetted in 1925 and it sits in an area of about 160sq.km, largely comprising of the tropical rain-forest where a section of mountain gorillas thrives plus other wildlife species such as golden monkeys, about 200 bird species, variety of plant species.

Virunga National Park is set in Eastern DR Congo and it occupies an area of about 7800sq.kms which makes one of the largest national parks in Africa. This park also inhabits a variety of birds including the Rwenzori turaco, Archer’s ground robin, white-browed crombec, black-throated wattle eye, bronze sunbird; reptiles and many other mammal species.

Activities to do on 7 days Congo Rwanda safari

• Kigali city tour
• Golden monkey tracking
• Mountain gorilla trekking
• Hiking Mount Nyiragongo

Brief itinerary of your Congo Rwanda safari

Day 1: Kigali city expedition and drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Drive to Virunga National Park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park
Day 6: Nyiragongo Volcano hike
Day 6: Descend from Nyiragongo Mountain and drive to Kigali

Detailed itinerary of your 7 days Congo Rwanda safari

Day 1: Kigali city expedition and drive to Volcanoes National Park

Meet our company representative at Kigali International Airport upon your early arrival. He will brief you on what you should expect on your 7 days Congo Rwanda safari and if you time allows, set off for city tour in Kigali for you to visit the Kigali genocide site and local markets. You will have lunch still in a hotel in Kigali and then drive to Volcanoes National Park for about 2-3 hours.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Five Volcanoes Lodge
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse, Hotel Muhabura

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park begins with an early morning breakfast and after, get your packed lunch plus bottled drinking water. You will be transferred to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing on the set rules and regulations that you will be required to observe when trekking to see these humble primates. The actual trek begins at 8:00 am and this can take you about 2-5 hours including an hour of magical encounter, photography. The length of the trek may differ depending on your speed of hiking, how the habitat is and where gorillas are found. Retreat from your adventure to relax in the lodge.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Five Volcanoes Lodge
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse, Hotel Muhabura

Day 3: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Have breakfast early in the morning and later, connect to the Kinigi visitor center for a briefing on the set guidelines for golden monkey tracking. Trekking golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park may take you about 2-4 hours which also includes an hour of magical encounter. Later, you will drive back to the lodge to enjoy your lunch and in the evening, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for a thrilling cultural experience. Dine and spend a night in the previous lodge.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Five Volcanoes Lodge
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse, Hotel Muhabura

Day 4: Drive to Virunga National Park

After an early morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and then embark on border crossing to Virunga National Park. En-route, get the best of the breathtaking view of the scenic rift valley, Nyiragongo and Mikeno Mountain. Arrive early to have lunch, dinner and night stay in Mikeno Lodge or Bukima Tented Camp and rest while waiting for your actual primate exploration the following day.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park

Today, you will embark on second gorilla trek but this time round in the Virunga National Park. Briefing begins at Bukima patrol station and you will be allocated to a gorilla group to trek in a group of 8 trekkers. Virunga National Park is comprised of eight habituated groups and they include Humba, Rugendo, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, Bageni, Lulengo and Mapuwa. Your adventure will cover about 2-6 hours and on finding these apes, you have only one hour of a face to face encounter with them, take their pictures and later return to Bukima Tented Camp or Mikeno Lodge for relaxation, dinner and a night stay.

Day 6: Nyiragongo Volcano hike

Have a tasty cup of tea or coffee and later head to Kitabi to catch up with briefing before embarking on actual hike to Nyiragongo Volcano. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo takes hikers about 4-6 hours although this depends on your speed of hiking. Along the way, you will come across bird species, primates and plants. At the summit, you will be mesmerized by the smoky lava lake, take pictures and later spend a night at Nyiragongo Shelters Summits.

Day 7: Descend from Nyiragongo Mountain and later, drive back to Kigali

Today, you will have breakfast and later, start descending from Mount Nyiragongo. You will meet your driver-guide at a point where you started your hike the previous day and then he will drive you back to Kigali.
End of your 7 days Congo Rwanda safari

Safari inclusions

• Golden monkey permit
• Gorilla permit in Rwanda ($1500) and DRC ($450)
• 6 nights and meals
• Travel in 4WD
• Fulltime English-speaking driver guide
• Bottled drinking water

Safari exclusions

• Visa fees
• Tips
• Laundry services
• Beverages
• International flight fares
• Cigarettes