5 Days Mount Nyirangongo and mount karisimbi hike
5 Days Mount Nyirangongo and Mount Karisimbi hike is an ideal safari package for hikers, this safari is a combined safari taking you on a hike to two volcanoes that is mount Nyirangongo and Mount Karisimbi which offer amazing hiking safari experience. Mountain Nyirangongo and Mountain Karisimbi are both part of Virunga volcanoes, mount karisimbi is situated in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Mountain Nyirangongo is situated in Democratic republic of Congo.
Highlights of the safari
- Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi
- Day 2: Hike mount Nyirangongo
- Day 3: Descend Mount Nyirangongo and transfer to Volcanoes national park (Rwanda)
- Day4: hike mount karisimbi
- Day 5: reach the summit of mountain Karisimbi and descend back and transfer back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the safari
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi
On the 1st day of the safari you will be picked from the airport by your safari driver upon arrival, depending on the time of arrival you will go on a short city tour in Kigali city, on the city tour you will visit amazing historical and cultural sites such as the Kigali genocide memorial site and drive to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi. At Lake Kivu you will have a relaxing afternoon swim, take a boat cruise or take part in beach games like football. In the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation is got
Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Midrange: Gorillas Lake Kivu Hotel
Budget: Hakuna Matata Lodge View
Day 2: Hike mount Nyirangongo
On the 2nd of the safari you will checkout of your lodge after morning breakfast, together with your safari driver you will set off for Goma crossing from Rwanda to Democratic Republic of Congo using Cyangugu border. In Goma you drive to Kibatsi village, have lunch and head to the starting point of hiking mount Nyirangongo, you will be briefed about the experience and begin your hike aiming for the summit of the volcano . The hike to the summit of the volcano takes approximately 4-6 hours and as you hike you will enjoy amazing views of the surrounding, when you get to the summit you will have dinner and stay overnight at hut situated on the top of the summit
Day 3: Descend Mount Nyirangongo and transfer to Volcanoes national park (Rwanda)
On the 3rd day of the safari you will have breakfast at your camp and descend to the foothills of mount Nyirangongo where you will meet your safari driver and set off for Volcanoes national park in Rwanda which is a drive of approximately 5-6 hours, you will have en-route lunch in Kigali and then head to volcanoes national park where you will get in the evening, check into your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation is got from
Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day4: hike mount karisimbi
On the 4th day of the safari you will have morning breakfast at your lodge, meet your safari driver and drive to the park, you will be briefed about the hiking, be given the right equipment to use then drive to the starting point. From the starting point you will start hiking mount Karisimbi, as your heading to the top of the mountain you will encounter ridges, bamboo forests, calderas and many more. You will also make a stopover for lunch and a short rest then continue with the king heading to the camping site, in the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 5: reach the summit of mountain Karisimbi and descend back and transfer back to Kigali
On the 5th of the safari you will wake up as early as 2 am in the night, have breakfast at the camp and start hiking aiming for the summit, with a help of head lamps you will hike until you reach the summit which takes approximately 3-4 hours. At the summit you will get uninterrupted views of active volcano Nyamulagira, Nyirangongo and green surrounding. From the summit you will descend the volcano to the starting point where you will meet your safari driver and exit the park heading to Kigali city, on your way to Kigali you will have a stopover in Kinigi for lunch and once in Kigali you will be dropped either at the hotel or at Kigali international airport for your departure flight.
Safari inclusions
- full time private safari vehicle
- full time safari guide/driver
- gorilla trekking permit
- Olive Baboon tracking permit
- bottled drinking water
- pickup and drop-off
Safari exclusions
- international flights
- visas
- personal expenses on tips, beverages and many more
- personal insurance
