6 Days Congo gorilla trekking safari and Nyiragongo hiking tour

Detailed Itinerary: 6 Days Congo gorilla trekking safari and Nyiragongo hiking tour

Day 1: Transfer to Congo

On the first day of your trip, your tour guide will ensure a transfer to Congo and ensure check in with Virunga tourism office. Most tourists to the country arrive through Kigali International Airport which takes about an 8 hours drive; therefore, early arrival is recommended or spend a night in Kigali. After receiving safari permits, the drive continues to a booked lodging facility in Congo. Check in and relax at the lodge. On early arrival to the lodge, you can Rumangabo’s several nature trails, go bird watching or visit Virunga’s Congo hounds.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge

Day 2: First gorilla trek in Virunga National Park

First gorilla trek in Virunga National Park

Early morning after breakfast at Mikeno Lodge you set off to Bukima Ranger post for briefing before setting off for gorilla trekking. On arrival at the ranger post by 8:00am local time, there’s briefing by park rangers on the do’s and don’ts of Congo gorilla safaris.

Gorilla trekking takes about 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted hour with the gorillas, trekkers will return to Bukima camp where a late lunch will be served. In the afternoon, you can explore Bukima with bird watching and visiting the Park’s bamboo project.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Bukima Camp

Day 3: Second gorilla trek at Virunga National Park

This morning, you have breakfast and go for a second gorilla trek in Virunga National Park. This time, you have chance to spend 1 hour with another gorilla family increasing on the gorilla encounters. After the trek, you return to Mikeno Lodge for relaxation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge

Day 4: Spend the day at leisure in Mikeno Lodge

The fourth day of your trip is spent at relaxation at Mikeno Lodge.  Relax at the peaceful surroundings of Mikeno Lodge as you relax from the trek and prepare for the hike the next day.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge

Day 5: Hike Nyiragongo and spend the night at the summit

Hike Nyiragongo

Have a morning breakfast at Mikeno Lodge and start the transfer to Kibati Ranger post, departure point for the Nyiragongo volcano trek. On arrival to Kibati, climbers will receive a briefing and have the opportunity to hire porters. Hiring porters takes an extra cost and therefore you need to carry some cash for this. The hike to the Nyirangongo summit lasts about 6 hours depending on the hikers’ ability.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Nyiragongo summit cabins

Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and depart

After a great night at the Nyiragongo summit, you then descend to the Kibati post. The descend is about four hours. Once at the bottom, you are transferred to your departure point.

End of 6 Days Congo gorilla trekking safari and Nyiragongo hiking tour