4 Days Gorilla Trekking and Nyiragongo Hike
The 4 Days Gorilla Trekking and Nyiragongo Hike is an exceptional Congo safari experience designed for you to trek mountain gorillas and hike through Mount Nyiragongo in the Virunga National Park. Nyiragongo Volcano is one of the iconic attractions in the Congo Virunga National Park and the most active volcanoes on planet earth. This stratovolcano straddles at an elevation of about 3470 meters and hiking to its summits lets you catch a glimpse at its glowing lava on its Crater Lake. This volcano is believed to have erupted about 34 times with the recent eruption that took place in 2002. Virunga National Park is situated in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and features among the only 4 national parks where mountain gorillas thrive. It was gazetted in 1925 and sits in an area of about 7800sq.km. This national park inhabits not only mountain gorillas but also other wildlife species including golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, buffaloes, elephants, over 706 bird species and many more. Your 4 days gorilla and Nyiragongo hike safari will begin and end in Kigali.
Gorilla Trekking
Things to expect on your 4 Days Gorilla Trekking and Nyiragongo Hike
• Mountain gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park
• Hiking Mount Nyiragongo
• Border crossing from Rwanda to DR Congo
• Travel by 4×4 drive safari vehicle
• Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
Brief itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Virunga National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Day 3: Hiking Mount Nyiragongo
Day 4: Descend from Mount Nyiragongo and drive back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of your 4 days gorilla and Nyiragongo hike safari
Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Virunga National Parka
Meet your tour leader upon early arrival at Kigali International Airport or after your early morning breakfast. You will be briefed on what your 4 days gorilla and Nyiragongo hike safari are all about and later, set off for a quick Kigali city expedition where you will pay a visit to Kigali genocide site in Gisozi. After the Kigali city tour, drive to Virunga National Park for about 3 to 4 hours.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Virunga National Park
Luxury: Mikeno Lodge
Mid-range: Bukima Tented Camp
Budget: Kibumba Tented Camp
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Wake up early in the morning to prepare, have breakfast and later, with your packed lunch or energy-giving snacks plus bottled drinking water, gather at Bukima Patrol station where you will be briefed on the set guidelines for gorilla trekking. The park official will allocate to you a gorilla family to trek and an armed park ranger guide to take you through a trek to see, explore in-depth about the unique behaviors of endangered mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park is comprised of 8 habituated gorilla families and they include Humba, Kabirizi, Bageni, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, Rugendo and Nyakamwe group. You will spend about 2 to 6 hours and on finding mountain gorillas, you will spend one hour within then return to the lodge.
In the afternoon/evening, you may choose to relax at the lodge or embark on a guided nature walk which gets you the best bird sights, plant species and many more.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Where to stay in Virunga National Park
Luxury: Mikeno Lodge
Mid-range: Bukima Tented Camp
Budget: Kibumba Tented Camp
Day 3: Hiking Mount Nyiragongo
Wake up early to enjoy your cup of tea or coffee then set off to Kitabi station for a briefing from park officials before you begin your hike to Nyiragongo Volcano. You will be accompanied by a park ranger guide and joined by porters who will be carrying your luggage. On a hike to the summit of Mount Nyiragongo, higher chances are you will come across primate species, bird species, exceptional view of the glowing lava and surrounding areas. Because hiking through Nyiragongo Volcano requires some physical wellness, you will need some energy giving snacks and bottled drinking water to keep you fit so that you make a complete hike.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Where to stay
Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters
Nyiragongo Volcano Summit
Day 4: Descend from Mount Nyiragongo and drive back to Kigali
You will have breakfast and later, descend from Mount Nyiragongo to Kitabi where you will meet your tour leader ready to make a return journey to Kigali.
End of your 4 days gorilla and Nyiragongo hike safari
4 days gorilla and Nyiragongo hike safari includes
• Kigali city tour
• Gorilla permits (each costing $450)
• 3 nights and meals
• 4×4 drive safari vehicle
• Service of an English-speaking driver guide
• Bottled drinking water
• All activities in the travel plan apart from the optional ones
• Relevant government taxes
4 days gorilla and Nyiragongo hike safari excludes
• Tips
• Laundry services
• Telephone calls
• Beverages
• Personal insurance
• Visa fees
• Hotel fees in Kigali after the trip
Things to pack for gorilla trekking
• Bottled drinking water
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Long-sleeved shirts
• First aid kit
• Sun hat
• Sun glasses
• Camera with no flash light
• Rain jacket
• Gardening gloves
• Insect repellents
Guidelines for gorilla trekking
• Trekking mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park is limited to only 8 trekkers.
• Every trekker is advised to keep a distance of 7 meters away from mountain gorillas
• Once you come across mountain gorillas, you are given only an hour of magical encounter
• Flashlight cameras are not accepted while taking pictures of mountain gorillas
• Visitors are not allowed to trek mountain gorillas in case you are not feeling well.
• Cover your mouth in case you want to cough and your nose when sneezing.