8 days Kahuzi biega and Virunga safari from Kigali is an adventurous and long safari which begins and ends from Rwanda. While on the Congo safari, you will visit two national parks that are found in the eastern province of Democratic republic of Congo. The tour will still take you to hike the popular mount Nyiragongo as well spend time with the chimpanzees at lwiro sanctuary and the mountain gorillas in virunga national park.
HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1; Arrival to Kigali
Day 2; Transfer to Bukavu-DR Congo
Day 3; Transfer to Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary
Day 4; Transfer to Goma
Day 5; Transfer to Virunga National Park
Day 6; Mountain gorilla trekking
Day 7; Nyiragongo hike
Day 8; Descending and transfer back to Kigali
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1; ARRIVAL IN KIGALI
On arrival, the safari guide will pick you and brief you about the safari. After the briefing, you will be transferred to your lodge for a relaxation and lunch. After you can have a Kigali city tour where you will visit the Kimironko market and the genocide memorials as well as the surrounding areas. After you will head back to the lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 2; TRANSFER TO BUKAVU-DRCONGO
Early in the morning after breakfast, the guide will pick you and drive southwards to Cyangugu border on the way to Bukavu within Congo. You will have a stopover in Butare where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, king’s palace in Nyanza as well as the Rwanda genocide memorial site. After lunch, you will proceed with the journey to Bukavu. On arrival you will head to your lodge for a relaxation, dinner and night stay.
DAY 3; TRANSFER TO LWIRO CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY
In the morning after breakfast, you will drive to lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary for the chimpanzee trekking. The trekking takes a full day and thus you will spend quality time with the chimpanzees and the researchers as well as they share quality information about the chimpanzees and the project. After you will take a walk to the forest and see the chimpanzees jumping from one tree branch to another as you take photos and record memories. After, you will head back to the lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 4; TRANSFER TO GOMA
After breakfast early in the morning, you will check out of the lodge and take a boat from Bukavu to Goma which takes 6 to 7 hours. On arrival to goma, you will be transferred to your lodge for a relaxation. After in the evening you will have a city tour in goma and later return to the hotel for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 5; TRANSFER TO VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK
In the morning after your breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and embark on the journey to Virunga national park. On arrival you will check into your lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go for a nature walk and bird watching in kibumba village. After, you will head back to the lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 6; MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING
You will have an early morning breakfast, then head to the national parks headquarters for a briefing. After the briefing, you will be grouped and then enter into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas. Depending on the location of the mountain gorillas the trek takes 5 to 6 hours. Once the gorillas are found, you will spend an hour with them as you watch their behaviors and take pictures as well. After the trekking, you will head back to your lodge for a relaxation, dinner and night stay.
DAY 7; NYIRAGONGO HIKE
After an early morning breakfast, you will head to Kibati ranger post for a briefing. After the briefing, you will start to ascend mount Nyiragongo. The hike takes 5 to 6 hours with stopovers to relax and enjoy your parked lunch. On reaching at the summit, you will spend the night there as you enjoy the lava lake.
DAY 8; DESCENDING AND TRANSFER BACK TO KIGALI
After the morning breakfast at the summit, you will descend mount nyiragongo and reach Kibati ranger station. After you will embark on your journey back to Kigali where you will be dropped off at the international airport for your flight back home or any place as advised.
8 days Kahuzi biega and Virunga safari from Kigali Includes
Park entrance fees
An English speaking guide
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Gorilla trekking permit
Accommodation and meals
Hiking permit
Transportation in a 4*4 safari vehicle
All activities on the itinerary
Bottled drinking water
8 days Kahuzi biega and Virunga safari from Kigali Excludes
Tips
Visas
Personal expenses
Insurance
Optional activities
