6 Days Virunga Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Hike

6 Days Virunga Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Hike safari will take you visiting the mountain gorillas three times and hiking up Mount Nyiragongo is a perfect Congo safari if you are interested in spending ample time in Virunga national park with the mountain gorillas. Book this tour any day of the year. The 6 days Ngila classic package starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda. 

6 Days Virunga Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Hike

Virunga national park is among the oldest national parks of Africa as it was gazette as a national park in 1925 and is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Trip highlights of the 6 Days Virunga Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Hike

  • Day 1: Drive from Kigali and cross to Virunga national park
  • Day 2: Mountain gorilla trek in Virunga national park
  • Day 3: Second mountain gorilla trek in Virunga national park
  • Day 4: Third mountain gorilla trek in DR Congo
  • Day 5: Hike up Mount Nyiragongo
  • Day 6: Descend mount Nyiragongo and drive back to Kigali

Trip description

Day 1: Drive from Kigali and cross to Virunga national park

By 8 am, you will be expected to be ready to set out to start your transfer to Virunga national park. You will drive 5 hours west of Rwanda and check in at the Virunga tourism office at the Grande Barrier border building. After receiving your permits for your next day’s activities, you will join the team headed to the Virunga national park.

Arrive at your lodge in time for a late lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing at your lodge as you wait for nightfall. Dinner and overnight will be in Virunga national park.

Hotel options in Virunga national park.

  • Kibumba Tented camp for midrange
  • Bukima tented camp for midrange
  • Mikeno lodge for luxury

 

Day 2: Mountain gorilla trek in Virunga national park

By 7 am, you should be done with breakfast and ready to set out to the Bukima ranger post to receive the morning briefing before you enter the forest in search of the mountain gorillas. You will be assigned a gorilla family to trek and connect with a ranger guide for the experience.

You will trek for about 2 to 4 hours until you meet your gorilla family of the day. Spend an hour in their prescence after head out to exit the forest. You will have lunch at Bukima tented camp where you will spend the rest of the day and night. 

Day 3: Second mountain gorilla trek in Virunga national park

Wake up energized and ready for your second chance with the mountain gorillas. You will drive back to the Bukima ranger post for the morning briefing right after breakfast. Get allocated your mountain gorilla group of the day. You can opt to trek the same family or a different gorilla family for a change.

Set out into the forest searching for the mountain gorillas. When you meet you these gentle giants, spend one hour in their natural habitat and after exit the forest. You will drive back to Mikeno lodge where the rest of the day will be spent.

Day 4: Third mountain gorilla trek in DR Congo

A third chance with the mountain gorillas of Virunga national park. Have breakfast and set out to the Bukima ranger post where the rest of the team will be attending the briefing too. Connect with your ranger guides and set out back into the forest for your mountain gorilla trekking. 

After your trek, you will drive back to your hotel for lunch and spend the rest of the day at the lodge’s terrace or in your room as you wait for dinner to be served. You will have another night in the hotel as the night before.

Day 5: Hike up Mount Nyiragongo

Breakfast will be served and you will drive to the starting point of the Nyiragongo hike. Attend a briefing before you ascend uphill. Start your 5 hour hike up hill with 2 stopover points to refresh and cool off. 

6 Days Virunga Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Hike
6 Days Virunga Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Hike

You will reach the Nyiragongo summit in the early evening hours giving you ample time to enjoy the views from the top as dinner gets ready. You will spend the night in the Nyiragongo summit shelters.

Day 6: Descend mount Nyiragongo and drive back to Kigali

Wake up early enough to catch the sunrise at the top of Nyiragongo. Grab your simple breakfast shortly before you pack your bags to start on the descent. You will leave the crater rim headed to the trailhead arriving at around midday. 

Your driver guide will be waiting to transfer you back to Kigali for drop off. If you have time, you can take on a brief Kigali city tour and be dropped off as you will advise.

End of the 6 Days Virunga Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Hike

Trip quote includes:

  • Full time safari vehicle
  • English/ French speaking driver guide
  • DRCongo tourist visa
  • Accommodation all nights
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Bottled water
  • Mountain gorilla permit x3
  • Mount Nyiragongo hike permit

Trip quote excludes:

  • Rwanda visa
  • Flight fares
  • Optional activities
  • Personal needs like phone service, laundry, gratuities.

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