7 days Congo Lowland and Mountain gorillas is a strictly a gorilla safari that starts in Kigali Rwanda and takes you to two National Parks in Democratic Republic of Congo namely Kahuzi Beiga National Park and Virunga National Park. Kahuzi Beiga National Park is one of DRC’s protected areas located on the western banks of Lake Kivu along the Congo-Rwanda border in Bukavu. Kahuzi Beiga National Park is the only National Park in the entire East Africa where visitors have the opportunity to encounter the famous eastern lowland gorillas in their natural habitat. While at Virunga National Park, expect to meet mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and make a hike to the top of Nyiragongo volcano that stands at 3470 meters above sea level. This is an active volcano that last erupted in 2002 when water was flowing in nearby communities. With this safari, expect to mingle with the locals living near the Parks where you will learn about Congo’s culture and how the locals earn a living.
Day 1: Arrival and Kigali city tour
You will arrive at Kigali international airport where a driver guide from Glory summit tours and travel will be waiting to receive you. He will then brief you through your 7 days itinerary and immediately transfer you to a hotel in Kigali where you will check-in, freshen up and have your lunch. After lunch you will proceed for a city tour around one of Africa’s cleanest cities while making visits to Kigali genocide memorial, museums and art galleries to have an insight into Rwanda’s culture and history. Return back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay as you wait to transfer to Democratic Republic of Congo in the next morning.
Day 2: Transfer to Kahuzi-Biega National Park
You will wake up to a relaxed breakfast today morning, checkout of your hotel in Kigali and transfer southwards to the Rusizi border of Congo and Rwanda. This is a 7 hours journey with stopovers at Nyanza to a genocide memorial and museums proceeding to Lake Kivu where you will have your day’s lunch and later cross over to Democratic Republic of Congo arriving at Bukavu town where you will check in at your pre-arranged lodge to relax, have dinner and an overnight as you wait to encounter the eastern lowland gorillas in their natural habitat.
Day 3: Eastern Lowland gorilla trek – cultural tour
Today morning, wake up very early in the morning for your breakfast and be driven to the Park headquarters to catchup with a briefing about the eastern lowland gorilla trekking. You will immediately be driven with ranger guides to the starting point known as the main trail to embark on the search of the low land gentle giants. Along your trek, you will encounter other primates and several bird types while an hour will be allowed with the gorillas after you have located the assigned gorilla family. Return back to your lodge for lunch before you proceed to mingle with the locals in their communities within and near the National Park. You will learn about the Congo cultural beliefs and traditions while you enjoy the local dance troupes’ performances. Get back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Virunga National Park
Grab yourself a cup of coffee and checkout of your lodge in Bukavu to meet your driver guide and be driven to Goma city. This is where you will have your lunch en-route before you jump on a boat that you will use to cross over to Virunga National Park where you will arrive in the evening to check-in at your reserved lodge to have dinner and an overnight. Virunga National Park is a protected National Park well known for its unique wildlife diversity with both flora and fauna species including the world’s endangered species for example the mountain gorillas and other primate species.
Day 5: Mountain gorilla trekking
Today morning have a hefty breakfast and be driven to the Park headquarters to catchup with a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. You will hit the Virunga forests to embark on the search of the gentle giants in their natural habitat as you spot various bird species and several other mammals for example the African bush elephants, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, Mona monkeys, olive baboons, hamyn’s monkeys to mention but a few. Upon encountering the allocated gorilla family, an hour will be allowed as closely follow after them while you watch them feed and nature their young ones. You will return back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and an overnight as you wait for a strenuous activity in the next morning.
Day 6: Nyiragongo hike
Enjoy your early morning breakfast and checkout of the lodge facility to be driven to Kibati Patrol post where all excursions to Mountain Nyiragongo volcano start from. Nyiragongo volcano is an active volcano that is so unique due to its molten magma and has the most fluid magma in the whole world. This volcano mountain stands at 3470meters above sea level and possesses the world’s largest lava lake. Here you will have a briefing about mount Nyiragongo hike after which you will set off with armed rangers and porters that you may hire to help you carry your luggage at a cost. You will set off with your hike as you may make stopovers to grab a breath as you have a snack and a soft drink to boost your energy upwards to the summit. Arrival at the summit will be in the evening as you enjoy the thrill in it. Your dinner will be at the summit while you may have a summit campfire and later have an overnight in the tents.
Day 7: Descend Nyiragongo volcano – departure
This beautiful day starts with breakfast as early as 5:30am at the top of Nyiragongo Mountain and start to descend back to the base of the mountain at Kibati patrol post. Your driver guide will be waiting for you at the base and upon your arrival at Kibati Patrol Post, you will immediately set off for your journey back to Kigali in Rwanda with your lunch en-route along the way. After your lunch, you will proceed with your drive to Kigali international airport for your outbound flight or a drop off to a hotel of your choice in Kigali.
