Overview
The 4 Day Congo Gorilla Tour and Nyiragongo Hiking Package is created for those who want to hike Mount Nyiragongo and go gorilla trekking in Congo. The safari will include visits to Congo’s Virunga National Park as well as a city tour of Kigali. The city trip includes stops at the Genocide War Memorial Centre, the former presidential palace (now a museum), city markets, and artisan stores.
Virunga National Park in Congo is Africa’s oldest. It was formed in 1925 and encompassed Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park as well as sections of Uganda’s Mgahinga. Virunga is a park with a rich biodiversity and virgin nature. It is home to several of Africa’s most famous species and primates.
You can see uncommon okapi, mountain gorillas, and chimps. Virunga’s main attractions are the mountain gorillas and the hike up Mount Nyiragongo. The Nyiragongo volcano stands out because it is the only one in Africa where tourists may pay to observe boiling lava up close.
Safari Highlights(Congo gorillas & Nyiragongo)
- Hiking
- Gorilla trekking
Detailed Itinerary(Congo gorillas & Nyiragongo)
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Congo
Your safari guide will meet you at the airport or at your accommodation in Kigali and have a simple briefing about your safari. Following the briefing, he will take you on the Kigali city tour. You will first visit the Gisozi genocide memorial site, where you will learn about the 1994 genocide and how it influenced the country’s transformation. Expect to witness brief movies and lectures from those who lived through the sad events.
Following the genocide center, you will visit the major city market, artisan stores, and the former presidential palace (used by Habyarimana before his death in the plane crash that began the massacre). After the city tour, you will go out for lunch before continuing your journey to the Congo border.
you will head to the immigration office and turn in all of your vital paperwork, including your passport and yellow fever vaccination card. It takes a little time to cross the Congo-Rwanda border. Your tour guide will not accompany you beyond the border. A staff from Virunga National Park will be waiting on the opposite side of the border to transport you to your accommodation in Congo’s Goma city.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking Congo.
Wake up early, have breakfast, and pack a lunch as you wait for the Virunga National Park crew to arrive. You will be brought for a briefing at the park’s headquarters. There are eight habituated gorilla populations in Congo. The distribution of gorilla groups is based on your age and general fitness, however personal preferences may be considered. Going gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park entails trudging through deep forests before seeing the family. It might take between 1 and 2 hours to locate the gorillas. After locating them, you have one hour to observe and photograph/video them.
You then have to trek back to the park headquarters, which can take one to two hours. Expect to see smaller primates, birds, forest creatures, and chimpanzees during the hikes. Head back to the lodge for refreshments and rest.
Day 3: Nyiragongo hiking.
You will get up early to eat breakfast at your lodge and wait to be picked up by the Virunga team. They will transport you to Kibatsi village, which is the beginning point for ascending Mount Nyiragongo. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo takes 4 to 6 hours, depending on the group’s general fitness level. No one is left behind until you reach the end of the hike.(Congo gorillas & Nyiragongo)
At the peak, you can see Goma town, the Virunga National Park, the Rwenzori mountains in Uganda, other Virunga volcanoes, Lake Kivu, Rwanda/Uganda national parks, and Kahuzi Biega National Park.
After admiring the breathtaking panorama from the summit of the volcano, you will head for an even more exciting experience by watching the boiling lava lake. The best time to see the lava lake is at night. After spending part of the night studying the volcano, you’ll head for dinner, which will be served by a local chef and porter. Dinner and sleep will take place on top of the volcano.
Day 4: Descending and Departure.
Descending the volcano begins at 8:00 a.m. It is the ideal time to enjoy uninterrupted views of Virunga National Park and the other sights mentioned above. You should arrive in Goma before midday and head to the border crossing point. Meet up with your safari guide and proceed with the drive back to Kigali for your departure flight or a drop at your hotel.
End of Tour
Tour Includes(Congo gorillas & Nyiragongo)
- Travel in a 4×4 car
- Professional guide
- Park fees
- Accommodation
- Meals
- All Activities In Itinerary
Tour Excludes
- Alcoholic drinks
- Laundry
- Tips
- Shopping
- Insurance
- Anything not included per itinerary