5 Days Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike

5 Days Eastern lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike combines a Congo tour to Kahuzi Beiga national park for a thrilling Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking adventure and then Virunga national park to hike up the most active Mount Nyiragongo volcano. Since the 2 parks are the most visited in Democratic Republic of Congo, you will surely enjoy this 5 days adventure. This 5 days Eastern lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike starts from and ends in Kigali. You will land at Kigali international airport a day before your safari then connect to Bukavu where Kahuzi Beiga National park is situated. While in Bukavu you will enjoy eastern lowland gorilla trek and transferred by a boat along Lake Kivu from Bukavu to Goma for Mount Nyiragongo hike in Virunga national park.

Highlights of 5 days Eastern lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike

  • Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Day 2: Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Beiga national park
  • Day 3: Boat transfer from Bukavu to Goma and connect to Virunga national park
  • Day 4: Hike mount Nyiragongo (Ascend) in Virunga national park
  • Day 5: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and drive to Kigali for departures

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo

Transfer from Kigali to Bukavu: be ready for a pickup from your hotel in Kigali on day 1 of 5 days lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike and embark on a brief city tour in case your flight on the last day is a bit earlier otherwise I would recommend you explore the Kigali city on the last day of your safari.  Well, after city tour, proceed the journey heading to Bukavu Congo with an enroute lunch along the way since the journey is about 6-7 hours’ drive. Upon arrival in Bukavu, you will check in your reserved hotel, have dinner served to you and spend your night.

Meal plan: lunch and dinner

Day 2: Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Beiga national park

Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Beiga national park: Arise fully energized on a heavy breakfast on day 2 of 5 days Eastern lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike, pack enough water for drinking and a lunchbox then wear the best gorilla trekking attire and driven from your lodge to Kahuzi Beiga national park to join the group of trekkers for a briefing and finally penetrate the forest to search for the habituated Eastern Lowland gorillas in their natural habitats. Expect to spend from 30 minutes to 5 hours or even a full day searching for the gorillas but once you finally allocated the family, you have only one hour which is the maximum duration allowed in presence of gorillas. Take as much photographs as you can, watch the gorillas as they carry on with their daily activities and later on return to your lodge in Bukavu for dinner and overnight.

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Boat transfer from Bukavu to Goma and connect to virunga national park

Transfer to Goma and connect to Rumangabo in Virunga national park: After breakfast on day 3 of 5 days Eastern lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike, check out of the lodge and be transferred to Bukavu boat where you will take a boat cruise along the stunning Lake Kivu to crossover to Goma. The boat cruise will offer you a lot of attractions including fauna and flora along the lake shores, the view of Mount Nyiragongo in virunga national park among others. While in Goma, take a road drive to Grande barrier for clearance with the park management of virunga national park, obtain your gorilla trekking permit and proceed to check in your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Hike Mount Nyiragongo (Ascend) in virunga national park

Ascend mount Nyiragongo (Ascend): Breakfast is the first thing to think of in the morning on day 4 of 5 days Eastern lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike,  checkout of the lodge with a packed lunchbox and all that you require at the summit since once at the top, you won’t return down till the following day. Pack enough warm attire including gloves, stocking, sweater, rain jacket among others and finally head to Kibati ranger post where the hike to summit Mount Nyiragongo is conducted. While at Kibati, you will join other hikers for a briefing, hire a porter and sleeping bag and by 10:00am, your hike starts as you ascend the most active volcano that last erupted in 2002 causing massive destruction of property and lives. Along the hike, look out for different wildlife species including primates, mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies and many more. Enjoy your packed lunch along the hike and upon summiting the top, you will be rewarded by a stunning glowing Lava Lake and the neighboring volcanoes. Spend an overnight at the summit in either a tent or camp near the lava lake.

Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Nyiragongo

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and drive to Kigali for departures

Descend Nyiragongo: Arise at the summit of Mount Nyiragongo in the morning on the last day of 5 days lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike, pack all your belongings and meet join the rest of hikers to start descending back to Kibati where a convoy will transfer you from Kibati back to Goma to meet your safari driver. You will be driven to a nearby hotel for hot meat and embark on the journey to Kigali Rwanda for departures.

Note: in case you miss out a city tour on day 1 of 5 days Eastern lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike then ensure that youu create some time for it to explore different parts of the beautiful Kigali city with beautiful people.

Meal plan: breakfast and lunch

END OF 5 DAYS LOWLAND GORILLA TREKKING AND NYIRAGONGO HIKE

Inclusive in 5 days lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike

  • Kigali pick up and drop off
  • A 4×4 safari vehicle
  • English / French speaking guide
  • Convoy 
  • Eastern lowland gorilla trekking permit
  • Mount Nyiragongo volcano hiking permit
  • Congo visa
  • Rangers
  • Meals as per itinerary
  • Accommodations will be as per itinerary
  • Enough drinking water while on safari
  • All mentioned activities

Exclusive in 5 days lowland gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike

  • Visa and Air ticket
  • Nyiragongo backpack
  • Optional activities
  • Additional accommodation
  • Porter 
  • Souvenirs
  • Life insurance
  • Laundry
  • Alcoholic drinks and juices
  • Other personal expenses such as emails, calls, cigarettes etc.
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