5 Days Nyiragongo Hike & Kahuzi Biega Lowland Gorilla trekking
5 Days Nyiragongo Hike & Kahuzi Biega Lowland Gorilla trekking: Take on this 5 days Nyiragongo hike (5 Days Nyiragongo Hike & Kahuzi Biega Lowland Gorilla trekking) with a visit to the Kahuzi Biega national park for lowland gorilla trekking. This Congo safari can be booked any day of the year. The Congo tour starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda.
Mount Nyiragongo is situated in Virunga national park and has the world’s largest crater lake and is a 5 hour hike up hill. Kahuzi Biega national park is one of the national parks where you can visit the lowland gorillas in Africa.
Trip highlights of the 5 Days Nyiragongo Hike & Kahuzi Biega Lowland Gorilla trekking
- Day 1: Drive to Goma
- Day 2: Hike up Mount Nyiragongo
- Day 3: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kahuzi Biega national park.
- Day 4: Lowland Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
- Day 5: Drive back to Kigali
Trip description
Day 1: Drive to Goma
By 8 am, you will be expected to be at your pick up place ready for your driver guide to transfer to Goma. You will have a Kigali city tour visiting the Kimironko market and the Kigali Genocide Memorial grounds for a history of the 1994 Rwanda guerilla.
You will have lunch in Musanze and connect to cross into DR Congo to Goma to check in at your hotel for dinner and night stay.
Hotel options in Goma
- Hotel Linda for budget option
- Hotel Ihusi for midrange option
- Lac Kivu lodge for luxury option
Day 2: Hike up Mount Nyiragongo
Wake up early to have breakfast at your hotel in Goma and connect with your driver guide to transfer to the Kibati ranger post where the hikers of the day meet for the briefing before setting up hill. You will also get a chance to hire your porters and any other extras you may need overnight and start your hike by 9 am.
You will hike up for about 5 hours with 2 stopovers enroute. This hike gives you different stunning views of the country every level. You will reach the summit in the early evening hours and settle in as you wait for dinner to be served. Dinner and overnight will be the Nyiragongo shelters.
Ensure to carry warm clothing as it can get as low as 0 degrees.
Day 3: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kahuzi Biega national park
Get up early enough to catch the sun rise from above. Pack your bags and enjoy a simple breakfast shortly before you leave the summit. You will hike back down to the trailhead and be at the Kibati ranger post by midday. You will then join the convoy headed to Goma and further connect to the port to catch the afternoon boat headed to Bukavu. You will arrive in the evening hours and settle into your hotel as you wait for dinner and overnight.
Hotel options in Kahuzi Biega national park (Bukavu).
- Hotel Elizabeth for budget
- Panorama for midrange option
- Orchid Safari lodge for luxury option
Day 4: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
Trek lowland gorillas of Congo in Kahuzi Biega national park. Wake up ready for your experience. You will have breakfast, grab your lunch packs and after drive to the park headquarters to check in and attend the pre-trekking brief. Set out into the forest in search for these gentle giants. The trek will last about 2 to 4 hours depending on how far into the forest the mountain gorillas will be that day.
Enjoy one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas at a 6 meters distance and after you exit the park. Drive back to your hotel for a late lunch or to relax and spend the evening at leisure. You are up for an eventful evening; you may take on an optional community visit. Return before night fall and in time for dinner and overnight at your hotel as the night before.
Day 5: Drive back to Kigali via Nyungwe
Breakfast will be served at your hotel and you will check out of your hotel and drive to cross back to Kigali via the Rusizi border. You will drive for 6 hours through Nyungwe forest headed for Kigali. You will have an enroute visit to Butare museum and the King’s Palace and lunch in Butare. Continue further to Kigali to be dropped off at your preferred drop off point.
End of the 5 Days Nyiragongo Hike & Kahuzi Biega Lowland Gorilla trekking
Trip quote includes
- Full-time safari vehicle with fuel
- English/ French speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation
- Nyiragongo hike permit
- Lowland gorilla permit
- Boat transfer
- Meals; breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Bottled water
- DRCongo tourist visa
Trip quote excludes
- PCR/ Covid tests
- International flight fares
- Rwanda visa fees
- Optional activities
- Personal needs like airtime, medicines, laundry, gratuities, alcoholic beverages
