4 days Gorilla trekking and Karisimbi hike Safari is a fun-filled safari that takes you to the Volcanoes national park where you will hike mount Karisimbi known to be the highest volcanic mountain within the Virunga mountain ranges at an altitude of 4507 meters above sea level. This Uganda safari as well takes you to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is popular for having half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorillas. Therefore, you will have time to spend some time with the mountain gorillas in their habitat.
SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1; Transfer to volcanoes national park from Kigali
Day 2; Hike Mount Karisimbi
Day 3; Hike to the summit, descend and transfer to Bwindi national park
Day 4; Gorilla trekking in bwindi and departure to Kigali
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1; TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK FROM KIGALI
Depending on your location within Rwanda, you will be picked by the driver guide who will give you a briefing about the safari and then transfer to Kigali for a city tour. After the city tour, you will have lunch and after start the journey to the volcanoes national park. The journey takes 2 to 3 hours as you have beautiful scenery, hills traditional homesteads among others. On arrival, you will proceed to your lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 2; MOUNT KARISIMBI HIKE
Early morning, you will have breakfast, the driver guide will take you to the parks headquarters for a briefing and the safety measures as well as expectations of hiking mount karisimbi. After you will be dropped at the starting point and be given a walking stick and start off the hiking. While on the hike, you will pass through different vegetation zones such as bamboo forest, hagania hypericum forest on high slopes among others. When you reach 3700 meters, you will have reached midway and then have dinner and camp for an overnight.
DAY 3; HIKE TO THE SUMMIT, DESCEND DOWN AND TRANSFER TO BWINDI NATIONAL PARK
After having breakfast in the early morning, you will head to the summit of Mount Karisimbi where you will spot amazing views of beautiful sceneries, Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira of Congo, Mount Muhabura and the surrounding areas. After the amazing views, you will descend and head back to the lodge for late lunch.
After lunch the driver will embark on the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is found in the southwest region of Uganda. The journey takes 3 to 4 hours as you pass through Cyanika border in kisoro district or katuna border in kabale. On arrival, you will check into the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
DAY 4; GORILLA TREKKING AND DEPART TO KIGALI
After having breakfast in the morning, you will head to the national parks headquarters for a briefing. After the briefing by the park wardens, you will into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas. The trek takes 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of the gorillas. While on the trek you will be able to spot other primates such as chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, mammals and a number of bird species. When the gorillas are found, you will spend an hour with them as you learn their behaviors.
After the trek, you will drive to the lodge to have lunch and after check out of the lodge. After you will embark on a journey back to Kigali passing through Cyanika or katuna border. Upon arrival, you will be dropped at the airport for your flight or any place of convenience.
End of 4 days Gorilla trekking and Karisimbi hike Safari
4 days Gorilla trekking and Karisimbi hike Safari Includes
Gorilla trekking permit
Karisimbi hiking permit
Transportation in a 4*4 safari vehicle
Bottled drinking water
An English speaking guide
4 days Gorilla trekking and Karisimbi hike Safari Excludes
Tips
Visas
Optional activities
Personal expenses
Insurance