
5 days Congo safari is a 4 nights/5-day safari in Congo offering Gorilla trekking safari in Congo’s Virunga National Park & Nyiragongo Volcano trek /Climbing with a blend of Primate watching and Adventure. In fact, the Safari features two of the most popular Africa Safari activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo namely; Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park which is part of the greater Virunga massif with 480 Mountain Gorillas and Nyiragongo Volcano Climbing – the largest and most violent lava lake. The 5 days trip starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda offering a remarkable sightseeing experience of Rwandan hillsides and Lake Kivu.
Transfer from Kigali after having breakfast at your place of stay driving through the scenic Rwandan countryside marked by beautiful hills that have earned Rwanda a slogan title as the land of a thousand hills. You spend the lunchtime around Gisenyi on Lake Kivu shores amidst soothing fresh atmosphere after which you cross to Congo entering Goma town – the largest in the North Kivu Province and do a town drive as you connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation: Luxury / Upmarket: Mikeno Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Bukima Tented Camp, Budget / Basic: Hotel Cape Kivu
Gather at Kibati Patrol Post at 9 am to set off for the historical adventure hike to Nyiragongo Volcano – one of the few remaining most active Volcanoes in Africa. The Mountain is marked by the world’s largest lava lake and can be very dangerous under eruption as evidenced by its recent two eruptions of 1997 and 2002 of which the latter destroyed half of Goma town 20km away. The trek to the summit 3470m above sea level lasts around 4 – 6 hours depending on one’s physical fitness and does not require complex mountaineering equipment. The night is spent at the crater rim and the lunch and dinner are packed since there is no food preparation on the Mountain.
Accommodation: Mountain Shelter
After breakfast, descend down the Mountain enjoying the views of the surroundings including Lake Kivu, the entire Virunga massif marked with Mountains of Nyamulagira, Karisimbi, Mikeno, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Sabyinyo and dense Equatorial tract of Congo only second to Amazon in a world scale. Upon reaching Kibati, connect to the lodge for relaxation and overnight. You can opt to go to Lake Kivu and stay at Tchegera Island Lodge.
Accommodation: Luxury / Upmarket: Mikeno Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Bukima Tented Camp, Budget / Basic: Hotel Cape Kivu
You congregate at the starting point for the Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park. Briefing by Virunga park staff after which you head to the jungle in their company to explore the Mountain Gorillas in the Virunga Park which have gone through the thick and thin especially due to the political instability that have locked the area for long. The experience with the Mountain Gorillas is limited to one hour after which you get back to the lodge spending the afternoon at leisure.
Accommodation: Luxury / Upmarket: Mikeno Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Bukima Tented Camp, Budget / Basic: Hotel Cape Kivu
Following breakfast, set off for the drive back to Kigali around 3 – 4 hours to mark the end of the tour. If time allows, you can visit the Gisozi genocide memorial before flight departure.
Airport transfers Transportation by safari van Accommodation and meals as per itinerary Gorilla permits, one per person to be paid in advance Driver allowances En-route lunches Visit the equator and Igongo cultural Center.
personal nature expenses of excludes: laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, Air fare, Visa, drinks, personal insurance, personal shopping bills and cigarettes.