5 days Virunga gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hike is an adventure tour package taking you to Rwanda and DR Congo starting with a boat cruise along the most beautiful and biggest lake in Rwanda Lake Kivu then connect to Virunga national park to enjoy mountain gorilla trekking and hike Nyiragongo which happens to be the most active volcano within the Virunga massif. This 5 days Virunga gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hike combine both primate watching and volcano hiking starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda.

5 days Virunga gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hike Safari highlights

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to lake Kivu

Day 2: Transfer to Goma

Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park

Day 4: Hike mount Nyiragongo

Day 5: Descend mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali for departures

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to lake Kivu

On the first day of your 5 days Virunga gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hike, you will be picked up from your hotel or Kigali international airport. Our driver-guide will brief you about the entire safari as you drive to Gisenyi where Lake Kivu is found from Kigali. Once you get to Gisenyi. Check-in at your booked lodge for lunch and get to spend an afternoon cruising on the lake as you enjoy the cool breeze while overlooking mountain Nyiragongo, wildlife at the sores of the lake, and much more that will make your first day memorable. Later in the evening if there is time you will visit Gisenyi town and return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Lake Kivu, Serena – luxury, Inzoni Lodge – mid-range, Paradise Malahinde – Budget

Day 2: Transfer to Goma

After enjoying your morning breakfast along the shores of Lake Kivu, you will check out of your lodge and meet your safari driver ready to drive you from lake Kivu to Goma in Congo where you enter the country via Grande barrier for clearness, then visit Virunga park management to get your gorilla trekking permit and mountain Nyiragongo hiking permit before continuing to your lodge where you will check-in for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mount Kahuzi Hotel – luxury, Lulimbi Tented Camp – mid-range, Bukima Tented Camp – budget

Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park

Since mountain gorilla trekking is done early in the morning, you will wake up very early for a morning breakfast on your 3rd day of the safari, pack some energy giving snacks and drinking water, and then get ready to join the convoy for a transfer to Bukima police post where gorilla trekking briefing is done. During the briefing, you will get to know the rules, regulations, dos, and don’ts of gorilla trekking in the wilderness of Virunga national park. After the briefing, you will hire a porter to help you out in case of heavy luggage. In groups not exceeding 8, you will be lead by a ranger guide to the jungle in search of these great apes. Once you find the allocated habituated gorilla family you will be given a maximum of one hour to stay with these giant apes, takes as many photos as you want, and ask your ranger guide any question you want about mountain gorillas. You will later trek back to the starting point to get your gorilla trekking certificate and continue to your lodge for lunch, relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mount Kahuzi Hotel – luxury, Lulimbi Tented Camp – mid-range, Bukima Tented Camp – budget

Day 4: Hike mount Nyiragongo

After your morning breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and get driven to Kibati ranger post to join other hikers for an amazing adventure to view the most active lava lake at the top of Mount Nyiragongo. Make sure that you keep time not to miss on this adventure since all hikers must move in a group and there is no refund for the Nyiragongo hiking permit so be time conscious. Ensure that you have packed enough drinking water and a sleeping bag or else hire one at the beginning point. During the hike, you will come across a lot of wildlife among which include primates, mammals, birds, butterflies, and different vegetation covers. While at the top of the mountain you will be rewarded with a bright lava lake, beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, Virunga national park and Goma. You have dinner and a night stay at the summit.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Descend mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali for departures

After morning breakfast at the top of Mount Nyiragongo on the last day of 5 days Virunga gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hike, you will start descending with other hikers in the group as you return to Kibati ranger post where you will meet the security convoy ready to transfer you to Goma to meet your safari driver and get to a nearby hotel for lunch before starting on your journey to Kigali Rwanda. When you reach Kigali city and still have some time you can go for a Kigali city tour and visit some of the genocide memorials, markets, art galleries, and craft shops then be dropped at your hotel or the Kigali international airport to end your 5 days Virunga gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hike

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch