6 Days Rwanda and Congo safari tour (Chimpanzee, Gorillas, and Nyiragongo)
6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour is one of the best short combined trip to Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Amongst the visited destinations during this 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour include Nyungwe forest national park a home to 13 species of Nyungwe forest national park and the only park in Rwanda where chimpanzee trekking is conducted. Another park to explore during this 6 days safari is Virunga national park for mountain gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hiking safari in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Highlights of 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour
- Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and transfer to Gisenyi and visit Lake Kivu
- Day 3: Transfer to Virunga National park
- Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
- Day 5: Hike mount Nyiragongo (Ascend)
- Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and return to Kigali for departures
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park
Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park: On day 1 of 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour, you will be ready for hotel pickup in Kigali by our company representative who will brief you and introduce you to your itinerary as you set off on a road drive to Nyungwe forest national park a home to 13 primate species including Chimpanzees which are the major primates of the forest trekked on a daily basis. There primates include Vervet monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkey, black and white Colobus monkey, Red tailed monkey, Blue monkey and many more.
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and transfer to Gisenyi and visit Lake Kivu
Chimpanzee trekking: On day 2 of 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour, enjoy an early breakfast and be driven to the forest as early as 5am for briefing before penetrating the forest to trek endangered chimpanzees. Depending on the number of trekkers, you will be divided into 2 groups where one group led by rangers will drive off to Cyamudongo trail head and the other group to Uwinka trail head. Chimpanzee trekking lasts from a few minutes to several hour depending on the movement of chimpanzees and after finding chimpanzees, you will spend only one hour in their presence watching them closely and taking photographs then exit the forest back to meet your safari driver and return to the lodge for lunch. Later in the evening, you will be driven to Lake Kivu where you will spend your evening relaxed at the beach, dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Virunga National park
Half day on Lake Kivu and transfer to Virunga national park: On day 3 of 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour, arise from the comfort of your bed for breakfast at the shores of Lake Kivu, spend a half day exploring the beauty on this fresh water lake after which you will return to the lodge for lunch and checkout of the lodge to embark on a road drive to Virunga national park via Grande Barrier border where you will be cleared to obtain your Congo visa before proceeding to the virunga park headquarters to pick your mountain gorilla trekking permit as well as Mount Nyiragongo hiking permit as you proceed to your reserved lodge for check in, dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
Congo Gorilla trekking: After breakfast on day 4 of 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour, pack enough water for drinking, snacks, wear the best gorilla trekking attire and be transferred to Bukima for a pre gorilla trekking briefing with other trekkers. During briefing, your ranger will inform of the park dos and don’ts while in presence of mountain gorillas. Upon completing briefing, penetrate the forest alongside armed rangers and start the search of endangered mountain gorillas which takes about 2-7hours after which only one hour is allowed in their presence interacting and taking photographs then exit the forest and be returned to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Hike mount Nyiragongo (Ascend)
Mount Nyiragongo Hike: On day 5 of 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour, you will arise from your bed, have breakfast served, pack enough eats and drinks in your backpack, insect repellant, warm stockings, gloves and warm sweater since the summit is very cold, a camera, wear light but waterproof hiking boats, long-sleeved attire and pack a sleeping bag in case you do not have a Nyiragongo backpack. Finally be transferred to Kibati ranger post where you will be briefed before starting to hike up this most active volcano in Virunga Massif. Mount Nyiragongo is the most Hiked amongst all the 8 volcanos in the Massif. Ascending starts at 10:00am and all hikers must set off at the same time so late comers always miss this adventure yet it comes with no refund at all. During the hike, you will be rewarded with lots of encounters including primates, mammals, birds, butterflies and many other attractions in Virunga national park that may cross your hiking trail. You will stopover for an enroute picnic lunch along the hike then proceed to summit the top in evening where you have all the overnight by yourself watching the boiling lava lake and overlooking the stunning city of Goma.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and return to Kigali for departures
Descend Nyiragongo and return to Kigali for departures: On day 6 of 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour, arise at the summit of Nyiragongo, have breakfast as early as possible and by 6:00 am meet other hikers and start to descend back to Kibati where you started the hike from. While on Kibati, you will be transferred by a convoy back to Goma where you will cross over into Rwanda, obtain a Rwanda visa and meet your safari driver to proceed with the drive to Kigali city with an enroute lunch. Upon arrival in Kigali, you may enjoy a city tour depending on your flight details.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
END OF 6 DAYS RWANDA AND CONGO SAFARI TOUR
6 days Rwanda and Congo safari tour
- Kigali pick up and drop off
- A 4×4 safari vehicle for ground transportation
- An English/ French speaking guide
- Chimpanzee trekking permit (Rwanda)
- Mountain gorilla trekking (Congo)
- Mount Nyiragongo permit (Congo)
- Congo visa
- Ranger
- Convoy (Congo)
- Meals and Accommodations as per Itinerary
- Enough drinking water
Exclusives in the 6 days Rwanda and Congo safari
- International travel visa and air ticket
- Rwanda Visa
- Porter hire fees
- Laundry fee
- Life insurance
- Optional activities
- Other drinks apart from water
- Souvenirs
- Other personal expenses
