5 Days Congo Safari Adventure
Tour Overview
The 5 Days Congo tour to Virunga national park and mount Nyiragongo hiking adventure is a special primate and climbing adventure package. Expect to explore the scenic Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its wonders. This tour covers adventures like gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo Volcano hiking in the Virunga National Park in the eastern Congo.
Gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park Congo will involve exploring the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. The park protects a significant population of mountain gorillas and about 8 habituated gorilla groups for visitors to track. These include Humba group, Lulego, Mapuwa, Baraka, Nyakamwe, Munyaga, Kabiriza, and Bageni.
Each of these gorilla group families will be visited by a maximum of 8 (eight) guests per day. The park official assigns gorilla families to visitors with valid gorilla permits, each costing USD 450 per person.
Nyiragongo Volcano hiking still in the Virunga National Park involves conquering the summits of the world’s powerful volcano –Mount Nyiragongo (3470 m). At the summits of this violet volcano, there is a 1.3 miles about 2 km wide, and 820 feet approximately 250 m deep crater with a liquid lava pool. The overall 5 days Congo tour will begin and end in Kigali.
Tour Details
Highlights of the 5 Days Congo tour
- Gorilla trekking
- Nyiragongo hike
- An experienced driver guide full time
- Travel by safari vehicle
- Border crossing from Rwanda to Congo
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up & travel to Gisenyi
Day 2: Cross to the lodge in the Virunga National Park
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park Congo
Day 4: Transfer to Kibati for Nyiragongo hike
Day 5: Descend from Nyiragongo summits & drive to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up & travel to Gisenyi
When you arrive at the Kigali International Airport (KGL), you will meet our experienced driver guide. Today, you will be picked up and transferred to Gisenyi, about 3 hours’ drive from Kigali. You will have briefing about the 5 days Congo tour from our company representative. In your respective lodges, you will spend some time organizing everything for tomorrow’s road trip.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Midrange: Inzozi Lodge
- Budget: Paradise Malahide
Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast
Travel time: 3 hours
Day 2: Cross to the lodge in the Virunga National Park
Have a delicious breakfast and after, proceed to the Grande Barriere where you will cross to check in your pre-booked lodges for relaxation. Ensure that you have all the relevant documents to clear with the border authorities. On crossing, you will be spending great time at the lodge.
Accommodation options
- Kibumba Tented Camp/Bukima Tented Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Travel time: 1 hour
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park Congo
Enjoy a delicious cup of tea or coffee and after, be prepared to exit the lodge for Virunga National Park. Arrive at Bukima ranger post where you will get briefed about your gorilla trekking guidelines and the official will also allocate park ranger guides to accompany you on a search for the Virunga mountain gorillas in the wild. Expect to spend about 2-6 hours in the jungle of the Virunga National Park and the trek includes an hour for up close and personal encounter with a group of mountain gorillas.
You will walk back from the Virunga jungle and settle at the lodge. You will have the long evening chilling and sharing your day experiences while interacting with a group of gorillas in the wild.
Accommodation options
- Kibumba Tented Camp/Bukima Tented Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Kibati for Nyiragongo hike
At leisure, you will enjoy a hefty breakfast and after, your driver guide will pick you up. Set off from Bukima area to Kibati for briefing about Nyiragongo hiking tour. Today, your focus will be based on the Nyiragongo Volcano hike about 6 hours to the summits 3470 meters.
The length of the Nyiragongo Volcano hike will vary depending on climber’s speed or fitness levels. Navigate via the lush forested-dominated lava rocks while viewing the scenic surrounding. On arrival at the summits, you will be having a great moment to observe the powerful Nyiragongo glowing lava.
Accommodation options
- Nyiragongo summits
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Descend from Nyiragongo summits & drive to Kigali
Wake up early to prepare and after, begin descending back to Kibati to meet your driver guide. From Kibati, you will be driven to the Grande Barriere for you to cross to Rwanda where you will depart back home.
End of tour
Inclusions
- Valid gorilla permits
- Nyiragongo Volcano hike
- Driver or park ranger guide services
- Accommodation and all meals as per the trip plan
- All transportation on the ground
- A bottled water
- All relevant government taxes
Exclusions
- Visas
- Insurance
- Telephones
- Laundry services
- Passports
- Yellow fever certificate
- Alcoholic drinks
What to take
Things to carry for your 5 days Congo tour include long-sleeved shirts, a daypack, long trousers, a waterproof hiking poncho, a rain jacket, sturdy hiking boots, a pair of socks, gardening gloves, first aid kit, long pants, a good camera plus extra batteries, a safari hat, and more.
Best time to visit
The Virunga National Park is open to visitors to explored on 5 days Congo tour at any time of the year. However, the peak dry season is the best period to enjoy excellent experiences in the Virunga National Park, especially if your target is gorilla trekking, Nyiragongo hike. The peak dry months include June, July, August, and September, as well as December, January, and February.
Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is located in eastern Congo and provides refuge to more than 218 mammal species inclusive of 22 primate species. The different mammals in this park include hippos, elephants, mountain gorillas, okapis, and many others.
Over 706 bird species also survive in the Virunga National Park including the collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, Rwenzori turacos, Shelley’s crimson wing, Archer’s ground robin, Kivu ground thrush, handsome spurfowl, Rwenzori batis, red-faced woodland warblers, blue headed sunbirds, and many others.
