6 Days Mountain Gorilla trekking in DR Congo and Rwanda

On your arrival to Kigali international airport, you will be met by our professional driver guide who will transfer you to Mikeno Lodge in Virunga National Park in DRC. The drive transfer of about 3-4 hours without enroute stopovers to Mikeno lodge in Virunga national park will take through majestic landscape sceneries venerated with unique natural setting and local populations. On arrival to the park, you will advance to the lodge to check-in, have dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge (Luxury/Upmarket), Bukima Tented Camp (Mid-Range) Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters (Budget)

After an early morning relaxed breakfast, you will be driven to the Bukima park station in the Virunga National Park area where trekkers assemble at 7:00am to be allocated a gorilla group, be briefed on how to ”behave” while staying with a gorilla group. After the briefing, you will proceed to the appropriate starting point for the trek to confront the gorilla group you have been allocated. The length of the trek varies depending on movements of the gorillas as well as weather conditions. Meeting these gentle giants in their natural habitat is a unique and wonderful experience. When you meet these ape species, you will be given one hour to observe and take photos of these stunning Apes. After the one magical hour allocated to you, you will retire back to the trekking base and thereafter retreat back to your hotel/lodge for the late lunch, relaxation. Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge (Luxury/Upmarket), Bukima Tented Camp (Mid-Range) Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters (Budget)

After breakfast, you will embark on 30 kms transfer drive from your Mikeno lodge to Kibat Patrol Post in Nyiragongo Volcano. On arrival to the hike trail head, Park rangers will lead you with your porters to start hiking to the top of Nyiragongo Volcanoes. Nyiragongo Volcano hike will take you around 4-6 hours to reach to the summit of the world’s most active Volcano. The path to the summit of the Volcano is relatively easy but a bit strenuous, often in hot and uncomfortable conditions. Along the trial, you may enjoy the views and sights of rare bird species and small mammal species. Upon reaching the top, you will enjoy the views of lakes of hot lava and relax on top of the volcano. The night will be spent in tents on the rim of the giant crater, high above the active lava lake.

After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your descent by 7:00am from the summit of Nyiragongo to the head trail in Kibat Patrol Post. Arrive at the trail head before lunch and transfer to the lodge to have lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on transfer distance of 162 kilometers from Virunga to Volcanoes National for yet another interesting mountain gorilla trekking experience of its own. The transfer journey will take you through the impressive country side landscapes with rural setting and local populations as you head to the Volcanoes National Park. Upon your arrival in the park, you will drive to your reserved lodge to check-in, have dinner and overnight. Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Standard/Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Budget).

In the morning after hearty breakfast, you will be driven by your driver guide to the park headquarters for a briefing at 70:30am to 8:00am regarding gorilla trekking etiquettes in Volcanoes Park. While at the park headquarters, you will meet other trekkers and you will be divided in groups of eight individuals who are allowed to trek one habituated mountain gorilla group. After briefing, you will be led by ranger guide to hike through the verdant jungle searching for mountain gorillas. The activity which will take 2-8 hours needs someone to be physical fit since it involves a lot of hiking the hills and slopping the Valleys. Gorilla trekking process is tedious but impressive when you finally set your small eyes direct to bit big round eyes of the mountain gorillas. When you eventually meet the gorillas, you will be allowed one hour with them, seeing them feed, play and look for their young ones. While staying with the gorillas, you will be required to maintain a distance of 7 meters away, also turn off the flash of your camera as you take pictures. Right after one hour, you will retire back to the starting point and transfer to your lodge for late lunch and relaxation. After lunch, you will embark on an evening cultural encounter with the local communities around volcanoes national park. The cultural encounter will give you a rare opportunity to interact with the local people in their natural environment, with a taste of their unique culture and traditions. On arrival to the village, you will be genuinely welcomed by the community as special Visitors. After cultural refreshment, entrainment, you will retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Standard/Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Budget).

Take an early Morning breakfast and embark on visit to Dian Fossey Tomb. The trek will offer you unique opportunity to visit the Dian Fossey Tomb and visit the house where this prominent American researcher was killed from and also learn the process of mountain gorilla’s conservation and protection. After the exploring the Karisoke Research Centre, you will embark on transfer drive to Kigali. On arrival to the city, the driver guide will take you around to Gisozi genocide memorial center where you will have time to listen to the comprehensive history of Rwanda during the 1994 genocide and the events of the massacres, including personal accounts. Thereafter, the driver guide will drive you to your Kigali lodge or Kanombe Airport for your scheduled flight back home. End of the 6 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari.