6 Days Virunga & Kahuzi Biega Safari

6 Days Virunga & Kahuzi Biega Safari: Take on this 6 days Virunga national park visiting the mountain gorillas and hike Mount Nyiragongo and the Kahuzi Biega national park for lowland gorilla trekking. This Congo safari can be booked any day of the year. The Congo tour starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. 

6 Days Virunga & Kahuzi Biega Safari

Mount Nyiragongo is situated in Virunga national park and has the world’s largest crater lake and is a 5 hour hike up hill. Visit the mountain gorillas in Virunga national park Congo. Kahuzi Biega national park is one of the national parks where you can visit the lowland gorillas in Africa. 

Trip highlights

  • Day 1: Drive to Kibumba tented camp
  • Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
  • Day 3: Hike up Mount Nyiragongo
  • Day 4: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kahuzi Biega national park.
  • Day 5: Lowland Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
  • Day 6: Drive back to Kigali

Trip description

Day 1: Drive to Virunga national park 

By 8 am, you will be expected to be at your pick up place ready for your driver guide to transfer to Goma in DR Congo. You will drive 5 hours to check in at the Grande Barrier border building, receive your permits for the next few days. You will join the security team headed for Virunga national park. Arrive in time for a late lunch and settle in as you wait for night fall and dinner to be served.

Hotel options in Virunga national park

  • Kibumba tented camp for budget option
  • Bukima tented camp for midrange option
  • Mikeno lodge for luxury option

Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park 

Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park is one of the most authentic activities in DR Congo. Wake up ready for your experience. You will have breakfast, grab your lunch packs and after drive to the park headquarters to check in and attend the pre-trekking brief. Set out into the forest in search for these gentle giants. The trek will last about 4 to 6 hours depending on how far into the forest the mountain gorillas will be that day. 

6 Days Virunga Primates & Mount Nyiragongo Safari
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga

Enjoy one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas at a 6 meters distance and after you exit the park. Drive back to your hotel for a late lunch or to relax and spend the evening at leisure. You are up for an eventful evening; you may take on an optional cultural visit to the Batwa community. Return before night fall and in time for dinner and overnight at your hotel as the night before.

Day 3: Hike up Mount Nyiragongo

Wake up early to have breakfast at your hotel in Goma and connect with your driver guide to transfer to the Kibati ranger post where the hikers of the day meet for the briefing before setting up hill. You will also get a chance to hire your porters and any other extras you may need overnight and start your hike by 9 am. 

You will hike up for about 5 hours with 2 stopovers enroute. This hike gives you different stunning views of the country every level. You will reach the summit in the early evening hours and settle in as you wait for dinner to be served. Dinner and overnight will be the Nyiragongo shelters.

Ensure to carry warm clothing as it can get as low as 0 degrees.

Day 4: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kahuzi Biega national park  . 

Get up early enough to catch the sun rise from above. Pack your bags and enjoy a simple breakfast shortly before you leave the summit. You will hike back down to the trailhead and be at the Kibati ranger post by midday. You will then join the convoy headed to Goma and further connect to the port to catch the afternoon boat headed to Bukavu. You will arrive in the evening hours and settle into your hotel as you wait for dinner and overnight.

6 Days Virunga & Kahuzi Biega Safari
Mount Nyiragongo

Hotel options in Kahuzi Biega national park (Bukavu).

  • Hotel Elizabeth for budget 
  • Panorama for midrange option
  • Orchid Safari lodge for luxury option

Day 5: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park  

Trek lowland gorillas of Congo in Kahuzi Biega national park. Wake up ready for your experience. You will have breakfast, grab your lunch packs and after drive to the park headquarters to check in and attend the pre-trekking brief. Set out into the forest in search for these gentle giants. The trek will last about 2 to 4 hours depending on how far into the forest the mountain gorillas will be that day. 

Enjoy one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas at a 6 meters distance and after you exit the park. Drive back to your hotel for a late lunch or to relax and spend the evening at leisure. You are up for an eventful evening; you may take on an optional community visit. Return before night fall and in time for dinner and overnight at your hotel as the night before.

Day 6: Drive back to Kigali via Nyungwe

Breakfast will be served at your hotel and you will check out of your hotel and drive to cross back to Kigali via the Rusizi border. You will drive for 6 hours through Nyungwe forest headed for Kigali. You will have an enroute visit to Butare museum and the King’s Palace and lunch in Butare. Continue further to Kigali to be dropped off at your preferred drop off point.

End of the

Trip quote includes

  • Full time safari vehicle with fuel
  • English/ french speaking driver guide
  • Accommodation
  • Nyiragongo hike permit
  • Lowland gorilla permit
  • Mountain gorilla permit
  • Boat transfer
  • Meals; breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Bottled water
  • DRCongo tourist visa

Trip quote excludes

  • PCR/ Covid tests
  • International flight fares
  • Rwanda visa fees
  • Optional activities
  • Personal needs like airtime, medicines, laundry, gratuities, alcoholic beverages.

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