Overview
The 6 days Virunga and Kahuzi Biega tour is one of the number Congo safari itineraries where you visit two National Parks and take part in two main activities gorilla trekking of both lowlands which takes place in Kahuzi Biega National Park and mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, another main activity is hiking Nyirangogo which is Africa’s active mountain. Your Safari will be starting from Kigali in Rwanda.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali to Congo
Every Congo safari starts and ends from Kigali of Rwanda and when you land at Kigali International airport, the company driver guide will welcome you and brief then drive from Kigali to Congo through the Rusizi border and you will pass through Nyungwe forest and you have a high chance of spotting some primates a lot the way. Check-in at the lodge in Bukavu city.
Day 2: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega NP
Have your breakfast in the morning and drive to the Kahuzi-Biega Park headquarters where you will meet the Park warden for a briefing about Lowland gorilla trekking. You are going to meet the other trekkers and then head into the forest to look for lowland gorillas. These gorillas are quite different from mountain gorillas and physically, they appear to be smaller than the mountain gorillas they can only survive in higher altitudes than the mountain gorillas and can only be found in Kahuzi-Biega of Congo. One hour is given to clients when they come closer to these gorillas.
Day 3: Transfer to Virunga National Park
Wake up early to catch up with the speed boat that sets off at 7 am from Bukavu to Goma city. The boat transfer will only take you 3 hours and you will reach Goma very early if you wish, you can have a short tour around the city and then check in at the hotel for your lunch. Relax at the hotel as you wait for tomorrow’s activity.
Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge then transfer to the park Headquarters with some energy-giving snacks. You are going to be briefed and then led to the forest to search for mountain gorillas, like lowland gorillas, when you successfully come to see the mountain gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour in the presence of these gentle giants as you take photos and learn their behaviors. Trek back to the offices then drive back to the lodge.
Day 5: Hike Nyiragongo mountain
Hiking to the top of this active volcano which last erupted in 2021 will need you to wake up very early, and enjoy breakfast then by 7:00 am, you will be needed at the Bukima ranger post for a briefing about the guide lines followed while hiking this active volcano. After being briefed, you will be asked to carry anything you would like to move with or hire a porter to help you carry what you may need to hike with.
Hiking to the summit will take 7 hours and you will be having several stop overs to take a breath, by 5 pm you would have reached the summit and you will enjoy the breathtaking scenery as you watch over the boiling volcano.
Day 6: Descend back and travel to Kigali
You are going to wake up enjoying the sweet calls of the birds in the forest than have breakfast and descend back to the starting where you will meet the driver guide who will transfer you back to Kigali for your flight back home.
