4-Day 3 Night Congo Gorilla Tour and Nyiragongo Hike Safari.
This 4-Day 3 Night Congo Gorilla Tour and Nyiragongo Hike Safari is designed for travelers interested in hiking Mount Nyiragongo and doing gorilla trekking in Congo.
The 4-Day Congo Safari is an opportunity for a gorilla tour in the Virunga National Park, and a city tour in Kigali. This city tour to Kigali includes touring the genocide war memorial Centre, the former presidential palace (now a museum), city markets, and artisan shops.
Virunga National Park in Congo is the home of the Mountain gorilla where this tour is to take place and is considered the oldest in Africa. Virunga National Park in Congo was established in 1925 and included the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and parts of Mgahinga in Uganda. Virunga National Park has remarkable biodiversity and a pristine wilderness. It contains many of Africa’s famous mammals and primates. You can find the rare okapi, mountain gorillas, and chimpanzees.
The key attractions to tour in Virunga are the mountain gorillas and hiking Mount Nyiragongo. The Nyiragongo volcano is special because it is the only one in Africa where tourists can pay to see boiling magma up close.
The 4-day 3-night Congo Nyiragongo hiking safari and gorilla tour starts and ends in Rwanda. 4-day 3-night Congo Nyiragongo hiking safari and gorilla tour starts with a tour of Kigali before crossing to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The first activity is a gorilla trek tour in Virunga National Park and then a safari to hike Mount Nyiragongo. This will be a physically demanding 4 days and you need to be in good condition. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo and observing the boiling crater up close is one of world's the most amazing and adventurous activities. There is no other place like Nyiragongo Volcanoes. When you add gorilla trekking, it makes for a truly amazing experience.
Top Questions Asked About the Nyiragongo Hiking Tour?
1). How much does it cost to hike Mount Nyiragongo?
Under tour services, two hikers would be charged around $1000, which covers transportation, meals, and porters. The hike starts at 6,510 feet and ends when you reach the summit, so it's approximately 10 miles of walking up the mountain.
2). Is it safe to climb Mount Nyiragongo in DR. Congo?
Climbing Nyiragongo is a pretty safe way to spend 24 hours in the country while doing something badass at the same time. Know that you run the risk of seeing nothing: You can't predict the weather and we ended up being fortunate on our trip.
3). How do you get to Nyiragongo?
The journey to Mount Nyiragongo begins in Gisenyi town found in Rwanda and it takes about 30 minutes to drive to cross the border into Goma town in DR. Congo which is the nearest to this mountain. From Goma, it is approximately 9 miles to the Mount Nyiragongo volcano and it is here that all hiking adventures on Mount Nyiragongo are based.
4. Is the Nyiragongo volcano active?
Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano in the Virunga Mountains of east-central Africa. It lies in the volcano region of Virunga National Park, Congo (Kinshasa), near the border with Rwanda, 12 miles (19 km) north of Goma.
5). How long does it take to hike up Mount Nyiragongo?
The average climbing time is between 4 and 6 hours, with the descent of the volcano taking around 4 hours. Times are dependent on group speed and agility as the slowest person on the trek sets the pace. The first section of the trek will take guests through the dense forest at the base of Nyiragongo.
Itinerary In Summary of 4 Days Congo Gorilla Tour and Nyiragongo Hike|Congo Safari Tours | Congo gorilla tour| Congo Gorilla Safaris Tours| Nyiragongo Hiking| Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking Tour| Congo Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking
- Kigali city tour (City markets, artisan shops, the former presidential palace, and the Gisozi Genocide memorial site)
- Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
- Hiking Mount Nyiragongo
- Decent from Mount Nyiragongo Volcano and transfer to Rwanda
Detailed Itinerary of 4 Days Congo Gorilla Tour and Nyiragongo Hike
Day 1: Pickup and Kigali city tour – Transfer to Congo
Ultimate Wild Safaris Guide will receive you from Kigali International Airport or pick you up from your hotel in Kigali. After the briefing, he will take you to start the Kigali city tour.
Kigali is a small but very neat town with a lot to explore in a short time. You will first visit the Gisozi genocide memorial site where you will learn a lot about the 1994 genocide and how it has helped transform the country.
Expect to also see short videos and presentations from people who lived through the tragic period. After the genocide center, you will also visit the main city market, artisan shops, and the former presidential palace (used by Habyarimana before dying in the plane crash that triggered the genocide).
After the Kigali city tour, you will head out for lunch before starting the journey to the Congo border. During your journey, expect to experience the beautiful sights of the Rwanda countryside. You will bypass lakes, national parks, and thousands of Rwanda hills.
Once you reach the border, you will go to the immigration office and hand in all your important documents such as passports and the yellow fever vaccination card. Crossing the Congo-Rwanda border takes a short time. Our Ultimate Wilds Safaris tour guide will not cross the border with you. A team from Virunga National Park will be on the other side of the border waiting to take you to your hotel through to Goma city in Congo.
Dinner and overnight at Kibumba Tented Camp
Day 2: Gorilla trek in Congo – Evening Relaxation by Visiting the Senkwekwe Centre
Wake up early, have breakfast, and pack some lunch as you wait to be picked up by the team from Virunga National Park. You will be taken for briefing at the park offices. After that, you will head to the starting point of your Gorilla tour in Congo, which is after Bukima. There are over 8 habituated gorilla groups in Congo.
The allocation of Congo gorilla groups depends on your age and overall fitness but personal preferences may be considered. Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park involves hiking through dense forests before encountering the family. It can take between 1 to 2 hours to find the gorillas.
After finding them, you have one hour to observe them and take photos/videos. You then have to walk back to the park offices and this can take one to two hours.
Virunga is a very beautiful National Park with incredible scenery and so much to see. Expect to spot smaller primates, birds, forest mammals, and chimpanzees too. On getting back to the lodge, you should go straight back for refreshment and relaxation. If you are staying in Mikeno Lodge,
You have a unique opportunity to visit the Senkwekwe Centre at an extra charge. This is the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. All 5 orphans being kept at the Centre were rescued after poachers and pet traders killed their parents.
The Centre helps rehabilitate and provide them with high-quality care. Visiting the Centre is free but only for those who book with the luxury Mikeno Lodge. The Centre is closer to Mikeno than any of the other lodges.
Dinner and overnight at Kibumba Tented Camp
Day 3: Mount Nyiragongo Hiking on your 4 Days Congo Gorilla Tour and Nyiragongo Hike|
You will wake up very early to have breakfast in your hotel and wait to be picked up from your hotel by the team from Virunga National Park.
They will drive you to Kibatsi village, which is the starting point for hiking the Nyiragongo volcano. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo takes between 4 to 6 hours and depends on the overall fitness of the group. No one is left behind until you get to the final section of the hike.
On reaching the top, you can get beautiful views of Goma town, the Virunga National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda, other Virunga Volcanoes, and Lake Kivu, National Parks in Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park. After marveling at the beautiful scenery from the top of the volcano, you will then go for an even greater experience of viewing the boiling lava lake. The best time to view the lava lake is at night. After observing the volcano for much of the night you will go for dinner prepared by a local chef and porters. Dinner and overnight will be on top of the volcano and in cabins.
Day 4: Descend the Volcano – Travel to Kigali for departure
Descending the volcano starts at 8:00 am. It is the perfect time to get sustained views of the Virunga National Park and other landmarks already mentioned.
You should reach Goma before mid-day and proceed to the border crossing point. The migration officials will ask you to pay for another visa to re-enter Rwanda.
This costs $30. After crossing the border, the Ultimate Wild Safari Guide will drive directly to the airport or back to your hotel in Kigali.
End of Tour
Please Note:
- This travel plan does not include hotels and dinner the day before and after the tour but can be arranged on request
- You need to be 15 years and above to see gorillas in the wild
- The Rwanda Visa can be obtained online, at the airport, or from border crossings. Getting the Congo Visa is very tricky and we will help you process it through the right channels.
The cost of the 4 Days 3 Night Nyiragongo Hike and gorilla trek tour includes: –
- The Congo Visa
- A safari vehicle for the whole tour
- A Driver/Guide for the whole tour
- Fuel for 4 days
- Gorilla Permits for Congo
- Nyiragongo Hiking Permits
- Water and meals while traveling or at the hotel
- Full-board accommodation for 3 nights
- Pickup from Kigali and drop-off at the airport
- Everything else included in the itinerary
- Tour of Kigali city
- Nyiragongo Package which includes a chef and porters to carry supplies
The 4 Days 3 Night Nyiragongo Hike and gorilla trek tour exclude air tickets, the Rwanda visa, and personal expenses, (tips, cigars, wines, and insurance).
