5 Days Rwanda & Congo Gorillas.
5 Days Rwanda & Congo Gorillas: This is a 5 days combined safari that will give you the opportunity to visit both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main highlight of the 5 days Rwanda and Congo combined safari will be a chance to trek the rare mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and also in Virunga National Park in Congo. The 5 days Rwanda & Congo Gorillas safari will begin in Kigali city in Rwanda, where you will then be transferred to Volcanoes national park. After trekking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes, you will then proceed with your transfer to Virunga national park, do gorilla trekking and later drive back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary of the 5 Days Rwanda & Congo Gorillas.
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and Transfer Volcanoes National Park.
Pick up and Kigali City Tour: On day 1 of your 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari, your guide from Explore Rwanda Tours will meet you at your designated pick up location in Kigali City. You will then embark on short tour of Kigali city where you will pay a visit to interesting tourist sites like; the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, Camp Kigali, Caplaki craft village, Nyamirambo Women’s center and Kimironko market among others.
Transfer to Volcanoes: Have lunch and proceed with your transfer to Volcanoes National Park. The national park is located about 106 kilometers away from Kigali city. It takes about a 2½ hours’ drive from Kigali to the national park.
Volcanoes national park is located in Ruhengeri district in the north-western park of Rwanda. The national park covers 160 square kilometers of rain forest and was established as a national park in 1925 by the Belgian colonial government. The park is home to 13 primate species and more than 200 species of birds.
Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’iwacu Cultural Tour.
Gorilla Trekking: Have your breakfast early in the morning and proceed to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi; where you will be briefed and place in groups of 8 members each. Your gorilla trekking safari will commence at 8am, therefore it is important to always keep time. Usually, tracking gorilla groups can take between 2-8 hours with an hour of direct contact with the gorillas once they have been located. Hiking through the forest might prove to be a bit cumbersome and thus calls for one to be physical and mentally fit for the vigorous activity. Also remember to come with a good pair of hiking boots and a raincoat, in case it rains while you are in the forest.
Iby’iwacu Community visit: After your gorilla trekking, you will have your packed lunch and later proceed to Iby’iwacu cultural village where you will been taken through the interesting cultural history of the people of Rwanda. While there, you will have a short peek into the day-to-day lifestyle of the locals, get to check out their traditional handcrafts and also watch dance performances from the local dance and drummer’s troupe.
Later head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Virunga National Park.
Transfer to Virunga: Have breakfast at your lodge early in the morning. You will be picked by your guide from your lodge and drive to the Congo border via Gisenyi Town, which is about an hour’s drive. Check-in at the immigrations office in Goma where you receive your Congo visa and gorilla trekking permit. From Goma town, you will proceed to drive to Virunga National Park; enjoy the scenic beauty of the Virunga Massif and amazing Lake Kivu, on your way to the national park. Check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga.
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga: Start your day with a delightful breakfast combo from your camp. Later, your guide will drop you off at Bukima Patrol post where your gorilla trekking activity will commence. You will be required to present your gorilla trekking permit to the officials at the park before heading for a short briefing by the head ranger. Later head out to the forest with your ranger guide and expect to hike for 1 to 3 hours until you locate a gorilla group. Once you have located the gorillas, you will be given only an hour to spend with the gorillas. You are permitted to take as many pictures as you want when with the gorillas; just many sure that your camera’s flashlight has been disabled, so as not to agitate or aggravate the gorillas because they are sensitive to flashlights. After your gorilla trekking experience, head back to the park’s headquarters in Bukima where you will receive your gorilla trekking certificated and then drive back to your camp for lunch. You can rest for the rest of the evening and later take a short stroll around the campsite where you will see lots of bird species and some primate species like monkeys. Drive back to your lodge/camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer Back to Kigali.
Transfer to Back Kigali: Have breakfast and check out of your lodge. You will drive back to Kigali in Rwanda where upon your arrival in the city, your guide will drop you off at any hotel of your choice or at the airport in time to board your flight back home. End of Tour.
