5 days volcanoes and Virunga gorilla trekking safari is one of the best Rwanda and DR Congo gorilla tour that takes on an adventure to trek rare mountain gorillas in Rwanda the land of a thousand hills and DR Congo to compare the difference between 2 gorilla trekking destinations in the central west and east Africa. Virunga national park is the oldest national park in DR Congo and is home to the rare endangered mountain gorillas. The other parks where you can find rare mountain gorillas include volcanoes national park of Rwanda and Uganda, you can meet them in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. This 5 days safari starts and ends in Kigali.

5 days volcanoes and Virunga gorilla trekking tour safari highlights

Day 1: Transfer to volcanoes national park Rwanda

Day 2: Rwanda gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park

Day 3: Transfer from volcanoes national park to Virunga national park

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park

Day 5: Drive back to Kigali city and departures

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to volcanoes national park Rwanda

On your first day of volcanoes and Virunga trekking safari tour, a driver guide from Africa adventure vacations will be ready to pick you from your preferred location in Kigali either at the airport or at your hotel. He will brief you about the safari and then you will start your journey to volcanoes national park which is about 2 – 3 hours. You will arrive at Ruhengeri at lunch hours and proceed to the park offices to obtain your gorilla permit thereafter head to your lodge for lunch. You will spend your evening at the lodge relaxing as you prepare for gorilla trekking the next day. Dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique hotel – luxury, Le Bambou Gorilla lodge – mid range, Garden palace Hotel – budget

Day 2: Rwanda gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park

After an early morning break first on your second day of 5 days volcanoes and Virunga trekking safari, pack everything that you will need for your trek and meet the driver ready to drive you to Kinigi park headquarters for a pre gorilla trekking briefing by the ranger guides who will tell you about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you will be grouped not exceeding 8 and each group will be given a ranger guide to lead them into the forest to search for these giant primates. During trekking, you will meet other different animals and birds. Finding mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park might last 30 minutes to several hours depending on your speed of trekking and their location and when you meet them you will be given a full one hour of interaction and viewing gorillas as you take photos and record videos. After an hour has elapsed you will lead out of the forest and meet your driver guide who will take you to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and return to your lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, your driver will take you to Iby’iwacu village for a fascinating cultural tour where you will enjoying entertainment by the local Rwandese and also get to learn more about Rwanda culture, listen to stories and their conservation plans since some of them are ex poachers but now also take part in conservation process to protect rare mountain gorillas from getting extinct. You will later return to your lodge and prepare for the next day’s transfer to Virunga national park of DR Congo.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique hotel – luxury, Le Bambou Gorilla lodge – mid range, Garden palace Hotel – budget

Day 3: Transfer from volcanoes national park to Virunga national park

After enjoying your relaxed morning breakfast at your lodge, you will check out of your lodge and meet your driver-guide for a transfer you from volcanoes national park to Gisenyi Rwanda where you will continue with your journey via Grande barrier into Goma to Virunga national park where you will pass by the tourism office to pick your gorilla trekking permit then join the convoy to be transferred to your lodge for a check-in 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: Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park

On your fourth day of 5 days volcanoes and Virunga trekking safari, wake up early in the morning for breakfast after which a transfer to Bukima police post where you will take part in gorilla briefing. While at the briefing center, you will be briefed about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you will be grouped nit exceeding 8 and each group will be led by a guide to the forest in search of these giant apes while encountering other animals in the park. As soon as you meet these gorillas, you will be given a maximum of one hour with them taking photos and recording videos as you watch them go about their daily activities in the forest feeding, copulating, breastfeeding, playing, grooming, and sometimes fighting. Trek back to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and return to your lodge for lunch and a relaxed evening.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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

Day 5: Drive back to Kigali city and departures

On the last day of your safari, you will wake up with a relaxed breakfast after which check out of your hotel and join to convoy to the Congo Rwanda border where you will meet your driver-guide ready to transfer you to Kigali Rwanda an en-route lunch. On reaching Kigali you will go for a city tour to visit several places among which include the Kigali genocide m3morial, art galleries, and Kimironko market. You will later be dropped at your hotel or Kigali international airport to end your 5 days volcanoes and Virunga gorilla trekking safari tour.

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Tour includes

Gorilla trekking permit

Congo Rwanda visa

Rangers and convoy

Accommodation and meals

Transport

Service of the English-speaking driver-guide

Drinking water

Tour excludes

International flights

Rwanda visa

Personal expenses

Optional activities

Soft and alcoholic drinks

Insurance

Tips to the porters and guides

What to pack for gorilla trekking?

Rain jacket

Waterproof back

Waterproof walking shoes

Gloves

Long-sleeved clothes

Camera