4 Days Mount Nyiragongo Hike and Gorilla Tour in Congo

1. Kigali city tour (City markets, artisan shops, the former presidential palace and the Gisozi Genocide memorial site)
2. Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
3. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo

Day 1: Pickup and Kigali city tour – Transfer to Congo

Our company Guide will receive you from the airport or pick you up from your hotel in Kigali. After the briefing, he will take you to start the Kigali city tour. Kigali is a small but very neat town with a lot to explore in a short time. You will first visit the Gisozi genocide memorial site where you will learn a lot about the 1994 genocide and how it has helped transform the country. Expect to also see short videos and presentations from people who lived through the tragic period. After the genocide center, you will also visit the main city market, artisan shops and the former presidential palace (used by Habyarimana before dying in plane crush that triggered the genocide). After the city tour, you will head out for lunch before starting the journey to the Congo border.

During your journey, expect to experience beautiful sights of the Rwanda countryside. You will bypass lakes, national parks and thousands of Rwanda hills. Once you reach the border, you will go to the immigration office and hand in all your important documents such as passports and the yellow fever vaccination card. Crossing the Congo Rwanda border takes a short time. Our tour guide will not cross the border with you. There will be a team from Virunga National Park on the other side of the border waiting to take you to your hotel through to Goma city in Congo.

Dinner and overnight at Mikeno Lodge (Luxury), Kibumba Tented Camp (Deluxe) and Lulimbi Tented Camp (Mid-range).

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Congo –  Evening Relaxation of Visiting the Senkwekwe Centre

Wake up early, take breakfast and pack some lunch as you wait to be picked by the team from Virunga National Park. You will be taken for briefing at the park offices. After that you will head to the starting point which is after Bukima. There are 8 habituated gorilla groups in Congo. The allocation of gorilla groups depends on your age and overall fitness but personal preferences may be considered. Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park involves hiking through dense forests before encountering the family. It can take between 1 to 2 hours to find the gorillas. After finding them, you have one hour to observe them and take photos/videos. You then have to walk back to the park offices and this can take one to two hours. Virunga is a very beautiful National Park with incredible scenery and so much to see. Expect to spot smaller primates, birds, forest mammals and chimpanzees too.

On getting back to the lodge, you should go straight back for refreshment and relaxation. If you are staying in Mikeno Lodge, you have a unique opportunity of visiting the Senkwekwe Centre. This is the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. All the 5 orphans being kept at the Centre were rescued after their parents got killed by poachers and pet traders. The Centre helps rehabilitate and provide them with high quality care. Visiting the Centre is free but only for those who book with the luxury Mikeno Lodge. The Centre is closer to Mikeno than any of the other lodges.

Dinner and overnight at Mikeno Lodge (Luxury), Kibumba Tented Camp (Deluxe) and Lulimbi Tented Camp (Mid-range).

Day 3: Mount Nyiragongo Hiking – Observing the Lava Lake and Overnight in Cabins

You will wake up very early to take breakfast in your hotel and wait to be picked up from your hotel by the team from Virunga. They will drive you to Kibatsi village which is the starting point for hiking the Nyiragongo volcano. Hiking mount Nyiragongo takes between 4 to 6 hours and depends on the overall fitness of the group. No one is left behind until you get to the final section of the hike. On reaching the top, you can get beautiful views of Goma town, the Virunga National Park, the Rwenzori mountains in Uganda, other Virunga Volcanoes, Lake Kivu, National Parks in Rwanda/Uganda and Kahuzi Biega National Park. After marveling at beautiful scenery from the top of the volcano, you will then go for an even greater experience of viewing the boiling lava lake. The best time to view the lava lake is at night. After observing the volcano for much of the night you will go for dinner prepared by a local chef and porters.

Dinner and overnight will be on top of the volcano and in cabins.

Day 4: Descend the Volcano – Transfer to Kigali for departure

Descending the volcano starts at 8:00am. It is the perfect time to get sustained views of the Virunga National Park and other landmarks already mentioned. You should reach Goma before mid-day and proceed to the border crossing point. The migration officials will ask you to pay for another visa to re-enter Rwanda. This costs $30. After crossing the border, you will find out Guide waiting for you on the Rwanda side for the journey back to Kigali.  There will be several stop-overs for sightseeing and taking photos as you drive back to Kigali. The driver will drop you at the airport or your hotel in Kigali.

End of Tour

In order to have the best experience during this 4 days gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo Hike tour, you will need to have sturdy hiking boots, thick cotton gloves, a raincoat, packed snack and water. It is important to hire the services of porters if you have a heavy bag or camera while tracking the gorillas. The porters we provide for Nyiragongo hiking are not personal. Their task is to carry supplies and help with setting up camp. Personal porters can be hired at a cost of $10 to $15. It is also a good gesture to give tip to the Rangers, hotel staff and Guides if you happen to have loose change. The 4 days tour will require that you are in good shape and fit enough to complete both sets of activities.

1. This travel plan does not include hotels and dinner the day before and after the tour but can be arranged on request
2. You need to be 15 years and above to see gorillas in the wild
3. You need a yellow fever immunization card to enter Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
4. The Rwanda Visa can be got online, at the airport or from border crossings. Getting the Congo Visa is very tricky and we will help you process it through the right channels.

The cost of the 4 days Nyiragongo Hike and gorilla trekking includes: –

1. The Congo Visa
2. A safari vehicle for the whole tour
3. A Driver/Guide for the whole tour
4. Fuel for 4 days
5. Gorilla Permits for Congo
6. Nyiragongo Hiking Permits
7. Water and meals while traveling or at the hotel
8. Full-board accommodation for 3 nights
9. Pickup from Kigali and drop-off at the airport
10. Everything else included in the itinerary
11. Tour of Kigali city
12. Nyiragongo Package which includes a chef and porters to carry supplies

The 4 days gorilla tour and Nyiragongo hike excludes air tickets, the Rwanda visa, personal expenses (tips, cigars, wines and insurance).

Mikeno Lodge: Mikeno is a luxury lodge found in Virunga National Park. It is built on a forested hill and next to the park headquarters in Rumangabo. Guests are treated with beautiful views of the Mikeno and Nyiragongo Volcanoes. The Lodge has 12 self-contained bungalows made of volcanic stones and thatched roofs. Each room is private and spacious. You will find a fireplace, large bed, sitting room, working tables, modern bathrooms, television, wireless internet and a personal terrace where you can enjoy great views of the park. Other amenities include a restaurant, a large deck and a warm fireplace were everyone gathers in the evening. One of the great things about booking with Mikeno is the opportunity to visit the Senkwekwe Gorilla orphanage. The park Managers visit the lodge for their meals and meeting.

Kibumba Tented Camp: Kibumba Tented Camp offers mid-range services that are more affordable but while also offering the same breathtaking scenery of the park and the Virunga volcanoes. It is also owned by the Virunga Foundation but is closer to Goma and the starting point for Nyiragongo hiking. Kibumba has 18 self-contained tents with everything that you would need for a comfortable time. There is a bar, private showers and comfortable beds. If you want a drink, you can go to the bar. If you want to eat something, you can go to the mess tents where food is served. There is also a central lounge were everybody gathers to relax and share their experiences in Africa.

Nyiragongo Cabins/Summit Shelters: The Nyiragongo cabins are built at the summit of the mountain. Only hikers who make it to the top of the Volcano can sleep in it. There are 12 of these summit shelters and each has two single beds where you put your sleeping bags. Nothing is luxurious here and everything is kept simple. Each cabin is built 5 feet high to allow hikers enjoy breathtaking views of the Virunga region and Goma town. If you don’t come with a sleeping bag, you will be offered one. Food is prepared by local porters using small cooking stoves to offer a true camping and wilderness experience.