10 Days Nyiragongo Volcano and Uganda Gorillas
10 Days Nyiragongo Volcano and Uganda Gorillas
Our tailored safari will take you to Mount Nyiragongo which is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 3,470 m in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Albertine Rift. It is located inside Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, about 20 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just west of the border with Rwanda. The large lava lake contained in its deep summit crater, now active again, became famous in the 1960s and 70’s when volcanologists such as Krafft’s and Tazieff studied it. It had been active for half a century before it drained in one of the volcano’s recent most catastrophic eruptions in 1977: through openings in its outer flanks in 1977 and you will combine this with ultimate gorilla trekking experience in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Safari highlights
- Nyiragongo volcano hike
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale
Detailed safari itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Rwandan capital Kigali and transfer to Hotel for overnight
After your long flight in to the land of thousand hills our guide will be at the airport ready waiting for you, upon clearing immigration you will be received by our guide and transfer to your lodge in Kigali for relaxation and overnight.
Day 2: Drive to Goma town of DR Congo on the shores of Lake Kivu
After morning breakfast you will start your drive to Rwanda and DR Congo border, upon arrival you will head to the immigration for clearance, after the clearance you will then drive to your lodge in Goma for relaxation and Overnight.
Day 3: Hiking to the summit of Nyiragongo and overnight at the summit
After an early morning breakfast you will be transferred to the starting point at the base of mount Nyiragongo for your hike, here is where you will meet up with the expert hikers, after you will start your hike, after a couple of hours you will then reach the summit for a check in to your camp, after you will get ready to start your tour of the active burning lava after you will return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Decent to the base and transfer to Goma town for overnight
After morning breakfast you will enjoy your last views of the active lava and start descending hike to the base of the volcano, upon arrival your guide will receive you and transfer to Goma town for relaxation and overnight.
Day 5: Cross the border to Rwanda and drive to Southern Bwindi impenetrable national park
After morning breakfast you drive to the border of DR Congo and Rwanda for immigration clearance, after you will start your drive to Ugandan border at Cyanika border after you will clear immigration at the Uganda –Rwanda border after you will drive to Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park for relaxation and overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi forest
After morning breakfast at your lodge you will drive to the starting point for your gorilla trekking adventure, with packed lunch and enough drinking water you meet up the rangers for a gorilla trekking briefing, after you will be split in to different gorilla families, after you will start your trek into the rainforest to find the Mountain gorillas, upon locating the Mountain gorillas you will then spend 1 hour with them and later return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 7: Drive to Kibale forest national park
After morning breakfast you start your drive to Kibale forest national park via Queen Elizabeth national park, you will have a chance to spot common wildlife that graze freely in the park as you drive past, upon arrival in Kibale forest you will check in to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park
After morning breakfast you will transfer to Kanyanchu park station for a briefing about the chimpanzee trekking, after you will meet your lead guide and head in to the forest where you will start trekking the sounds using mostly sounds, upon locating the chimpanzees you will then view them for one hour and after return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 9: Drive to Entebbe for relaxation
After Lazily morning breakfast you will start your drive to Entebbe, upon arrival in Entebbe you will be transferred to your lodge on the shores of Lake Victoria for relaxation and overnight.
Day 10: Transfer to the Airport for your onward flight
Depending on your departure time you will enjoy the full day relaxation at the shores of Lake Victoria and later you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.
Trip includes
- Accommodation
- Vehicle guide and Fuel
- Nyiragongo hiking permits
- Uganda gorilla permit
- Uganda chimpanzee permit
- Enroute meals and drinking water
Trip excludes
- International flights
- Rwanda, DR Congo tourist visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and hotels
When to book this safari package
We recommend 6 months to 1 year in advance to allow us secure your gorilla trekking permits.
Best time to Hike Nyiragongo active Volcano
The best time to travel to DR Congo to Hike Nyiragongo is during the countries two dry seasons from June to September and from December to February.
