11 Days Rwanda & Congo Safari
11 Days Rwanda & Congo Safari
11 Days Rwanda & Congo Safari: This is an 11 days combined safari to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Major highlights of these 11 days Rwanda and Congo safari include gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park and Virunga national park, wildlife viewing in Akagera national park, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park and not forgetting hiking Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Summary for 11 Days Rwanda & Congo Safari.
Day 1: Transfer to Ruhengeri / Musanze
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Day 4: Morning and Evening game drive
Day 5: Transfer Nyungwe National Park
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
Day 7: Transfer to Gisenyi Town.
Day 8: Cross to Goma and Transfer to Kibumba Camp.
Day 9: Trek Gorillas
Day 10: Transfer to Kibati Ranger Post and Ascend Mount Nyiragongo.
Day 11: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 11 Days Rwanda & Congo Safari.
Day 1: Transfer to Ruhengeri / Musanze
Pickup & Transfer to Ruhengeri: Our representative will meet you at Kigali International airport or pick you up from your hotel in Kigali and enjoy a brief tour of Kigali city including a visit to the local market and the Genocide memorial site. Later transfer you to Ruhengeri – the base town for Volcanoes national park arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Muhabura Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
Gorilla Trekking Rwanda: Breakfast will be served early and lunch will be packed. The briefing is at 7 am. Your guide will give you highlights of specific details about the way of life of the gorillas you will be tracking. The hike can take anything from one to seven hours.
Trekking through the steep, bamboo slopes and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away. Upon completion of this magical encounter, you will connect again with your driver / guide and transfer back to Kigali arriving in the evening. Spend the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at same lodge as above.
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Transfer to Akagera & Afternoon Boat Cruise: Have breakfast and transfer to Akagera national park where you will arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and later embark on the afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will see game like hippopotamuses, Crocodiles and many bird species that live around the lake and the surrounding swamps. Dinner and overnight Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 4: Full Day Game Drive.
Full Day Game Drive: Rise up early and go for a game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals which rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxing.
In the evening you will set back to the park for the evening game drive so that you can see the animals you might have missed out on in the morning. Dinner and overnight Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park.
Transfer to Nyungwe: Start your day early in the morning with breakfast at your lodge. Meet up with your guide and drive to Nyungwe national park which takes 6 to 7 hours of driving. Lunch will be enroute to the park. Check into your hotel near the park and later have dinner. Overnight stay at Gisakura Guesthouse/ Nyungwe Top View Hotel.
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk.
Chimpanzee Trekking: You will have an early morning breakfast then report to the park headquarters in Nyungwe forest for briefing before going for chimpanzee tracking. However, it is advisable to organize packed lunch and plenty of water prior to this expedition since it can sometimes last over 6 hours. In the forest, you will not only see chimpanzees to but also variety of animals and birds like the Rwenzori Turaco, black and white casqued horn bill, colobus monkeys – sometimes as many as 400 in a group. Return to your lodge for lunch and relax for a while.
Canopy Walk: After your lunch break, drive to the park for an afternoon hike along the renowned Canopy Walkway, which is a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you there after drive back to your hotel. Return for dinner and Overnight at same hotel as above.
Day 7: Transfer to Gisenyi Town.
Transfer to Gisenyi: Wake up early in the morning, have your breakfast and check out of your hotel. Today you will be driving to Gisenyi town which is near the border with Congo. It is about a 4 to 5 hours’ drive from Nyungwe national park to Gisenyi town. Once you get to Gisenyi town, have lunch at your hotel and relax for the rest of the afternoon.
Boat ride on Lake Kivu (Optional): Alternatively, you can opt to explore the beautiful scenery in Gisenyi by taking an evening boat ride on Lake Kivu. You will have a chance to view lots of bird species around the lake area and also interact with the local people.
Later head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Paradise Malahide/Lake Kivu Serena hotel
Day 8: Cross to Goma and Transfer to Kibumba Camp.
Cross to Goma & Transfer to Kibumba: Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your hotel. Embark on your drive to cross into Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Check in with the tourism office strategically located at the Grand Barrier border Post to receive Gorilla and Volcano permit that’s to be presented at the beginning of every trek. There after you will be transfer to Kibumba tented camp just near the trailhead of Nyiragongo volcano.
Day 9: Trek Gorillas.
Trek Gorillas: Have your first meal of the day – Breakfast and report to Bukima patrol passport with your passport and permit details for registration and briefing. All treks in Virunga national park begin here. Later head into the forest with your ranger guide and expect to hike for 1 to 3 hours until you find the mountain Gorillas in Virunga national park
When you get to see them, you will be in awe inspired by their huge size and gentle nature as you watch them go about their daily business with mothers tending to the young ones and the juveniles making an effort to impress. You will stay up to 1 hour maximum and head back to the camp enjoy a late lunch and have the rest of the day at leisure, including time for nature walks and bird watching. Dinner and overnight at Kibumba Tented Camp.
Day 10: Transfer to Kibati Ranger Post and Ascend Mount Nyiragongo.
Transfer to Kibati Ranger Post & Ascend Mount Nyiragongo: Prepare for early morning breakfast as you will are expected at the headquarters by 8am. Meet your ranger guide, a porter and begin your hike. Meals will be provided and you will stay overnight in wooden shelter at the top.
Please note that your Rwanda Visa will expire after crossing into Congo so you will apply for another immediately and you will find it ready on return.
Day 11: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Descend Nyiragongo & Transfer Back to Kigali: This morning, you will descend the Volcano and head down to Kibati by 11:00am. Here, you will connect with your driver / guide and transfer to back to Kigali. Depending on your departure flight time, you can either have your driver/guide drop you off at the airport of any preferred hotel of your choice. End of Tour
