Overview
4 days of Rwanda and Congo lowland gorilla Safaris will have you enjoying the combination of the majestic mountain and lowland gorillas which will make for a unique experience. Looking at the land of a thousand hills and a unique park also listed as one of the world’s UNESCO heritage sites which will give you a clear difference between mountain and eastern lowland gorillas. Expect to see mammals like mountain gorillas, Eastern lowland gorillas, elephants, buffaloes, golden monkeys, duikers, spotted hyenas, baboons, mac laud’s horseback, chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and many more plus birds like Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, handsome francolin, strange weavers, African green broadbill, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, trogons, bushshrike and many more in addition to the beautiful landscape and views. The trip will start from Kigali through Congo and end in Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
You will be picked up at an agreed point at 8:00 am in Kigali by our driver guide from Glory Summit Tours, who will also brief you on how the trip will go, and then you will start with a city tour of Kigali by visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an important and sobering site that commemorates the victims of the 1994 genocide. With many of the guides as survivors, the memorial provides a historical overview of the events and serves as a place for reflection with a personal touch from the guide and this will take about 2 hours. You will have an early lunch, then set off for the Volcanoes National Park which will take about 2-3 hours as you enjoy the beautiful green scenery the countryside of Rwanda has to offer and arrive in the evening. You will check into your lodging and have dinner then rest for the night.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park
You will have an early breakfast, and head to the park offices at Kinigi for a briefing from the guide about the regulations and how to behave around the gorillas. With a guide and armed guard, your trek will start at 7:30 am and will take between 30mins-6hours depending on the location of the gorilla family you are tracking. Once the gorilla family is found you will be given an hour with them and get to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, how they live, care for each other, care for their young, and how and when they eat, during the trek you will be given water when you need it. Expect to see animals like golden monkeys, Angola colobus, blue monkeys, elephants, buffaloes, duikers, bushbucks, forest hogs, and birds like francolins, strange weavers, Rwenzori turacos, Rwenzori sunbirds, collared apalis, and woodland warblers away from the mountain gorillas. When the trek is done you will head back to your lodge, freshen up, check out of your lodge, and have lunch as you plan for your exit from the national park. Once lunch is done, you will leave Volcanoes for Kahuzi Biega which will take about 6-7 hours. On route to Bukavu expect a scenic and diverse landscape with a lush countryside, gazing at the tranquil waters of Lake Kivu, or navigating the forested mountains. Once at Kahuzi-Biega in the evening, you will check into your lodging, have dinner, and retire for the night in preparation for the next day.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and community tour
After an early breakfast, you will head out to the center for a briefing from the guide about the rules and regulations to be followed for a smooth experience after which they will be joined by a ranger to ensure protection then you will head into the forest in search of the eastern lowland gorillas. This will take between 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the family you are tracking. Once found, you will have an hour with the gorillas in their habitat and observe how they behave, nest, feed, and support the young ones, and also take some photos. Expect to see other primates like chimpanzees, monkeys, and baboons with animals like elephants, buffaloes, gannets, and birds like African green broadbill, Congo peafowl, Rockefeller’s sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, helmet shrike, yellow-chested helmet, handsome francolin and many more. Once done you will head back to your lodging, freshen up, and have lunch. With lunch out the way, you will head out for a pygmy community tour. You will have the opportunity to engage with local communities, learn about their traditions, and gain a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural heritage. Through traditional dances, music, drama, traditional crafts, storytelling, and visiting local markets a tourist can intimately engage to know more about the communities around the park. Once done you will head back to your lodging in the evening, have dinner then enjoy a fire as you relax for the night and retire at will.
Day 4: Checkout and departure
You will wake up, have your breakfast check out your lodging, and then exit Kahuzi Biega for Kigali. This will take about 6-7 hours with a lunch stop in Muhanga before you proceed to Kigali city. On your way to Kigali you will enjoy the dense forests near Kahuzi-Biega are home to diverse flora and fauna, creating an atmosphere of pristine natural beauty. When you get to Kigali, you will get to your drop-off point as agreed upon with the driver guide, and this will mark the end of the 4 days Rwanda and Congo lowland gorillas.
