It is hard to say which is the best experience in Congo, to stand on a volcano’s peak at night and watch a lava lake boiling away in a crater far below like a fiery vision of Hades, or to stand yards from a mountain gorilla in lush forest and sense the almost human intelligence behind its eyes, an unmistakable feeling of distant kinship, as you size each other up. This is fun filled adventure safari that combines two of the unique offers of Congo’s Virunga National Park.
While on your safari holiday in Uganda, D.R.C Congo and Rwanda budget gorilla trekking gives you an opportunity to visit mountain gorillas that few tourists visit in Africa. You will start your adventure in Virunga National Park in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border of Uganda and Rwanda. Virunga is Africa’s oldest national park and is also the continent’s most biologically diverse protected area.
The park’s 7800 km includes forests, Savannah, lava plains, swamps, erosion valleys, active volcanoes and the glaciated peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. This relatively undiscovered gem is home to about a quarter of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. Trekking through this vast and beautiful forest to meet the gorillas or climb one of the many volcanoes will suit all of those with an unquenchable thirst for the next chapter in their African adventure.
Following your breakfast on day 1 at your place of stay in Kigali, you will be picked up by our safari guide to embark on the transfer to Gisenyi one of the largest of all Lake Kivu towns. The place offers beautiful opportunity for boat cruise with scenic views of islands and far sights of the Nyiragongo volcano. Settle for lunch and after cross the Congo border to Goma in the province of North Kivu. It takes about three hours to reach the D.R.C border near Goma, from Kigali. You can stay at your desired accommodation: Mikeno Lodge is for luxury, Bukima Tented Camp mid-range, Kibumba Tented Camp Budget, Lulimbi Tented Camp mid-range.
Once here you will have some time to relax at the lodge and prepare for the next 2 days of trekking. Mikeno Lodge is a luxurious lodge tucked into a forested hillside at Virunga National Park Headquarters. You can do as little or as much as you like here. Ideally the lodge will be your starting point for gorilla, volcano and chimp adventures with your private guide. However, if you or some members of the group wish to purely chill out, Mikeno Lodge is the perfect place to have a relaxing time-out from life in a peaceful location. A stay here is an exceptional experience for all travelers among the wildlife and beauty of Virunga National Park.
On arrival you will have time to relax and prepare for the day of trekking ahead whilst enjoying the stunning views from the camp. Bukima tented camp is one of the main starting points for Virunga mountain gorilla treks. The camp was originally built for researchers, but is now used primarily by trekkers. Overnight guests at Bukima sleep in platform tents, but by camping standards they are quite plush. Each tent is equipped with a nicely appointed bed and dresser for clothes. The views from the tent sites and communal areas are spectacular.
Rise for early morning breakfast, with your packed bags and get ready to hike one of the most active Nyiragongo on the continent with the world’s most fluid and largest lava lake. Nyiragongo volcano is located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo rises majestically to an altitude of 3470m overlooking the Virunga National Park and associated Albertine Rift.
Treks to the summit of Nyiragongo volcano begin at the Kibati patrol post, which is 30 minutes by car from Goma and less than a one hour from Mikeno Lodge. You will transfer via road from Bukima tented Camp to Mikeno Lodge. The journey takes approximately 1 hour. Park rangers lead all treks and porters are available for hire. The time required to reach the summit depends on the average fitness of each group, but typically takes 5– 6 hours depending on your fitness and speed of hiking. Dinner and overnight at the Nyiragongo tented camps at summit on top of the volcano enjoy the bubbling and sparkling lava.
After breakfast, descend the volcano and drive back to Goma where you will later transfer to Kigali for an overnight or flight back home.
After an early breakfast, depart for Bukima ranger post for briefing about the gorillas and the park formalities. After the short briefing we transfer to the starting point of your gorilla trekking experience. We embark on a once in a lifetime experience of trekking these critically endangered mountain gorillas. Follow specific tracks into the forest in search of the allocated gorilla family and you may also encounter other animals such as elephants, chimpanzees and other primates like the black and white Colobus monkeys. You will get within a 7 metre of your gorilla family and be privileged to spend an awesome 1 hour with them as you watch and observe their daily way of interaction with each and taking memorable pictures and videos of them.
After the gorilla trekking activity in Virunga, we retire from the park and cross back to Rwanda to catch up with the flight departure back home.