Trip highlights
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national Park
Day 2:Mountain gorilla trek
Day 3:Golden Monkey and Iby’lwachu Cultufral visit
Day 4:Transfer to Congo
Day 5:Ascent to the peak of Nyiragongo Volcano
Day 6:Descent to the base ans transfer to Kahuzi biega national park(Bukavu)
Day 7:Eastern lowland gorilla trekking
Day 8:Mount kahuzi hike;
Day 9:Transfer back to Kigali interfnational Airport
Day 1:Airport pickup and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Our guide will pick you from Kigali international airport from where you will be driven around the city to visit Kigali Genocide Memorial center, avenue where a tragic historical moment that befell the “land of a thousand hills” Rwanda. You will be able find proper presentation of a detailed picture of what exactly happened way back in 1994. Your personal city tour will depend on the arrival time, that is , early arrival will take to different genocide memorial site as well as visiting the Kimironko Market before the final transfer to volcanoes national park to retire for dinner and an overnight at Gorillas volcanoes hotel suitably situated at Ruhengeri.
Day 2:Mountain gorilla tracking
Wow, you just cant wait for this marvelous long awaited primate experience, when you will get upclose with the mighty mountain gorillas. After your morning breakfast, along with your packed lunch(mostly snacks and at least 1 and 1/2 litres of drinking water) will be driven to the park headquarters at Kinigi for briefing, where you will be given a few do’s and don’ts while trekking. It is after this session that you will embark on your gorilla trekking journey that may last for at least 2-8 hours as you search for their location. Your close encounter with the gorillas offers a maximum of an hour in their presence as you enjoy taking brilliant photographs with the mountain gorillas , after when you will descend to the base and be driven back by the guide to Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel.
Day 3:Golden monkey tracking and Ibyi’lwachu Cultural village
Awe inspiring day it is! This day is all yours to enjoy a double experience of meeting the golden monkeys, also one of the activities that makes your safari an epic adventure encounter with rare and beautiful species of monkeys and bird life. Like Gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking starts at 8:00am, after a brief preamble about the tracking process and a full hour to be spent on your groups encounter, after then you will be required to slope back to the base, so that, the driver can take you back to your lodge for your lunch. Since gorilla trekking takes a long 8 members for each group, golden monkey tracking takes a carrying capacity of less than eight persons.
After resting, embark on your incredible Iby’lwachu cultural excursion which provides tourist experiences including guided nature walks within communities, visiting the king’s house replica, observing the eight different cultural dances, famous songs of gorillas and many more. After this you will be driven back to your hotel of residence to catch up with your dinner and an overnight.
Day 4:Transfer from Volcanoes National park to Goma
Wake up at your own pace, have breakfast and check out of the hotel. The guide will then drive you to Goma border, which is about 1 and 1/2 hours. At the border you will be required to present your travel documents including your passport, congo tourist visa and a yellow fever card before continuing to your right destination. From the border, another 1 and 1/2 hours will be spent to reach bukima sector-the park headquarters, you will first be checked in at either Bukima tented Camp or Mikeno lodge.
Day 5: Nyiragongo Volcano hike
Now that you peaceful breakfast is over, for about 30 minutes, you will be driven to Kibati patrol station to for briefing. The park rangers will take the initiative to guide you together with your porters about the the hike to the top of the volcano. As you set off for the hike, a total of 4-6 hours will be spent to reach to the top. The route to the top seem not quite tough except for the volcanic rocks that are often hot and sometimes hot making which make it abit challenging but it’s worth the trek. Your hike, will be incredible since you will enjoy wonderful sightings of the rare birds, certain mammal groups along your way and a brillant view of the bubbling lava lava lake at the nyiragongo crater . You will then spend your night in the cabins at the edge of the huge crater lake, elevated above famous carter lava lake.
Day 6:Descent from the Nyiragongo and transfer to Kahuzi biega national park
After your break fast, you will embark on your descent to the base of Nyiragongo volcano, have your lunch at Mikeno lodge, check out, and leave for kahuzu beiga national park by a speed boat. check in at L’Orchids Lodge for dinner bed and breakfast.
Day 7:Eastern lowland Experience
It is from today that you will live to different experiences between the Eastern lowland gorillas and the mountain gorillas. You will leave for briefing at the park head quarters, after which you will depart with your guides for your lowland gorilla search, spend an hour in their presence and return back to your hotel for lunch and rest in preparation for the second hike of mount Kahuzi.
Day 8:Mount Kahuzi hike;
Not only is Kahuzi Biega National park famous for Eastern Lowland gorillas but also known for hgiking adventure to both it’s extinct Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega. Hike to each of these mountains, like Nyiragongo, it also takes 4-6 hours to the peak but only three hours back to the base.
You will be required to arrive early at the briefing point, then get set and kick off for your,mount kahuzi hike with your lunch en route. Since it is within the park, a 4 hours hike to the top and the other 3 hours descent offers great encounters with other primates such as golden monkeys, and bird life. the summit provides stunning views of lake Kivu and the city of Bukavu. Retire and rest at your lode for dinner and an over night.
Day 9:Transfer to kigali.
Being the last day of your vacation does not mean you will get bored sitting in the car. You still have one activity to catch up before your you catch up with your scheduled flight later during the day. Embark on your journey back to Kigali international airport, crossing through Cyangugu border via Nyungwe national Park, with an en route visit to Butare and Nyanza Natonal Museum with lunch en route before connecting to Kigali international airport, as that marks the end of your 9 days trip.