8 days kahuzi biega and Virunga safari from Kigali takes you to the most adventurous national parks within Congo that is kahuzi biega national park and virunga national park. While on a safari to Congo, you will spend time with the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees where you will get to watch and learn more of their behaviors. Besides the primates, you will as well hike mount nyiragongo and enjoy the scenic view of the lava lake while at the summit.
HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1; Arrival to Kigali
Day 2; Transfer to Bukavu-DR Congo
Day 3; Transfer to lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary
Day 4; Transfer to Goma
Day 5; Transfer to Virunga national park
Day 6; Mountain gorilla trekking
Day 7; Nyiragongo hike
Day 8; Descend and transfer back to Kigali
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1; ARRIVAL TO KIGALI
On arrival at the airport, the safari guide will pick you and brief you about the safari. After the briefing you will be transferred to your hotel for a relaxation and lunch. After lunch, you will have a city tour where you will go to the genocide memorials, kimironko market as well as the surrounding areas. After the city tour, you will return to your hotel for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 2; TRANSFER TO BUKAVU-DR CONGO
In the morning, the safari guide will pick you and head southwards to Cyangugu border to bukavu in Democratic Republic of Congo. You will have a stopover in Butare where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, king’s palace and the Rwanda genocide memorial among others. After lunch, you will proceed with the journey to Bukavu and on arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 3; TRANSFER TO LWIRO CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast and drive to lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary for a chimpanzee trekking experience. The activity takes the whole day and it offers an opportunity to spend quality time with the researchers at the site as they give information about the chimpanzee project. Then after, you will have a walk to the forest to see the chimpanzees as they jump from one tree branch to the other as you take pictures and record each moment. After the trekking, you will head back to the lodge for a relaxation, dinner and night stay.
DAY 4; TRANSFER TO GOMA
After having morning breakfast, you will go for a boat cruise from Bukavu to Goma which takes 6 to 7 hours. On arrival in goma, you will be taken to your lodge for a rest and relaxation. Later in the evening, you will have a city tour in Goma and after head back to the lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 5; TRANSFER TO VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK
You will have morning breakfast and check out of the lodge then embark on the journey to Virunga national park. On arrival, you will head to your lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will have a nature walk and bird watching experience within kibumba village. After, you will return back to the lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 6; MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING
Early in the morning after breakfast, you will head to the parks headquarters for a briefing. After the briefing, you will be grouped into 8 individuals and assigned a gorilla family to trek. After you will enter the forest in search of the mountain gorillas. Once the gorillas are located, you will spend an hour with them as you watch their behaviors such as their feeding patterns, breast feeding, and hunt among others as you take pictures and record moments. After the trekking, you will return back to the lodge for a relaxation, dinner and night stay.
DAY 7; NYIRAGONGO HIKE
After having your breakfast, you will be transferred to kibati ranger post for a briefing. After the briefing, you will start the hike to mount nyiragongo summit. The trek takes 4 to 6 hours depending on the physical fitness of the hikers. On reaching at the summit, you will enjoy the amazing views of the lava lake and have dinner and a night stay at the summit.
DAY 8; DESCENDING AND TRANSFER BACK TO KIGALI
After the morning breakfast at the summit, you will descend mount nyiragongo and reach kibati ranger station. On arrival, you will embark on the journey back to Kigali where on arrival you will be dropped off at the international airport for your flight back home.
8 days kahuzi biega and Virunga safari from Kigali Includes
An English speaking guide
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Park entrance fees
Accommodation and meals
Transportation in a 4*4 safari vehicle
Hiking permit
All activities on the itinerary
Bottled drinking water
8 days kahuzi biega and Virunga safari from Kigali Excludes
Visas
Insurance
Optional activities
Personal expenses