6 DAYS RWANDA CONGO GORILLA SPECIAL
The six days’ safari is combined featuring tracking in Volcanoes and Virunga National park in Rwanda and D.R. Congo respectively which are all in the Virunga Range Conservation Area. You will track gorillas in Volcanoes and after cross to D.R. Congo for tracking in Virunga National park. After, return to Rwanda via Lake Kivu with an optional leisurely expedition and overnight before transferring to Kigali for your departure.
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National park.
Our guide will meet you at your hotel in Kigali or pick you from the airport. He will brief you about the tour before transferring to Volcanoes National park. You can opt for a city tour in Kigali, visit the Genocide Memorial Museum, markets and other city attractions. Later drive to Volcanoes NP in the North of the country.
Day 2: Gorilla tracking.
Enjoy your morning breakfast at the lodge after which you will transfer to the Kinigi briefing area where you will be briefed by park officials about the activity and will assign you a group that you will trek the Gorillas with. Gorilla tracking lasts between 2-8 hours depending on the location of the mountain gorillas on that particular day.
You will be led into the forest for tracking and your successful tracking and getting to the Gorillas, you will stay in close proximity with the Gorillas for an hour, you will descend as you return to your lodge for lunch.
After relaxation and lunch at the lodge, take a tour to Iby’iwachu cultural village at the park edge. You will enjoy local musical performances by a local musical cultural troupe and learn more about the Rwandese culture and history.
Day 3: Drive to Virunga national park-DR. Congo.
Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast and meet your guide for the transfer to Congo. Drive through Gisenyi and cross into Congo via Goma Town. You will check in at the tourism office for your permit which you will present at the start of the tracking the next day. You will then transfer to your pre-arranged accommodation facility.
Day 4: 2nd gorilla tracking session in Virunga NP.
You will have a morning breakfast and then your guide will transfer to the national park headquarters for briefing by the park rangers. Here, you will be briefed about what to do and not to do while trekking to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable experience.
You will then hike as a ranger guide leads you into the Virunga searching the allocated gorilla family. You will only be allowed one hour Interaction with the gorillas after which you will descend back to the starting point. The full activity can last up to 3 hours. Later return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu.
Have an early morning breakfast and depart from Virunga National park. You will drive through Goma to Lake Kivu, At Lake Kivu, you have the option of undertaking various birding expeditions, windsurfing, jet-skiing, kayaking, visiting tea and coffee plantations, speed boat trips, island exploration, traditional fishing, cycling and hikes along Congo Nile trail, and so much more. Spend the evening while relaxing at the resort overlooking the shimmering lake Kivu.
Day 6- Departure.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and drive to Kigali. You will have lunch in Kigali and if you have your flight in the evening, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.