5 Days of Mount Nyiragongo & Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda

The Gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda and Mount Nyiragongo 5 Day Rwanda Hiking Package is designed for those who want to hike Mount Nyiragongo but want to follow the firsts in Rwanda. During the tour, we will visit Lake Kivu and the Kazuko Ebi Cultural Village. You will also have the opportunity to discover the beautiful landscape.

Silver Gorilla Tours is even more thrilling when combined with other exciting activities like mountain hikes, cultural tours, and game tours. This five-day Rwanda and Congo safari include visits to two of Africa’s most popular national parks, Virunga National Park and Volcanoes National Park.

Virunga is the oldest garden in Africa. Established in 1925, it was once a much larger wildlife sanctuary, including Rwanda’s Volcanic National Park and parts of Mgahinga in Uganda. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its extraordinary biodiversity. It is home to mountain gorillas, lions, and the elusive okapi of many other animal species.

Main Activities in Virunga National Park

The main activities in Virunga National Park are trekking with gorillas and hiking on the mighty Nyiragongo Volcano. Nyiragongo volcano is home to the largest lava lake in the world, open to tourism. The latest explosion in 2002 forced more than 350,000 people to flee the area.

The lava flowed so fast that it reached the rain on Lake Kivu within minutes, killing 170 people. The volcano has been stable and safe for tourists for over 20 years, with thousands of people visiting the park to observe the lava lake.

Volcanoes National Park, on the other hand, is the most visited tourist destination in Rwanda. It is located at a high altitude and is blessed with five different volcanoes. It was a famous primatologist known as Dian Fossey who made the park famous when she founded the Gorilla Research Center there. The park is home to 35% of the remaining mountain gorilla populations and is a more expensive but affordable place for primate monitoring.

What Else to do in Volcanoes National Park?

In addition to gorillas, the park is home to hyenas, forest elephants, and golden monkeys. The main activities in the Volcanoes National Park include gorilla trekking, visiting Dian Fossey’s grave, hunting for the golden monkey, hiking in the mountains, visiting Gorilla Guardians village, and exploring Mossan cave.

Climbing Mount Nyiragongo and following the gorillas will test your overall stamina. You must be the n good physical condition and mentally ready. If you’re only interested in Mount Nyiragongo, check out the Mount Nyiragongo 2-Day Hiking Package.

If you want to do both activities in Congo, check out the 4-day Congo Gorilla Trekking Tour and Mount Nyiragongo Hiking Package. You can also organize a 15-day safari in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.

Main activities on 5 Days Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda

Kigali City Tour (Genocide Monument, Major City Markets, Craft Shops, Presidential Palace Museum)

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Height of Mount Nyiragongo

See Gorilla Guards. Village

Safari Inclusive and Exclusions

Safari Inclusions

Rwanda gorilla trekking permit

Airport or hotel pick up and drop off

All meals as per itinerary

Water for drinking while on safari

Porter hire fees

Congo tourist visa

A 4×4 safari vehicle for ground transportation

Accommodation as per itinerary

Convoy in Congo

Ranger fees

Safari excludes

Rwanda visa

International travel visa and air ticket

Tips and gratuity

Optional activities

Accommodation before and after the trip can be organized upon request

Expenses of personal nature like Alcohol, emails, airtime, laundry, etc.

Detailed 5 Days of Mount Nyiragongo & Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda

Day 1: Kigali City Tour – Transfer to Congo

A company guide/driver will come to the hotel early in the morning to start the tour. If you are not yet at the hotel, we will pick you up at the airport. Start with a Kigali city tour. Here we will visit the Giuseppe Genocide Memorial to find out what happened during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. You will also visit other important landmarks, the central market, craft shops, and the former presidential residence.

Then begin your journey to the Congolese border through Lake Kivu and its beautiful landscape. You must arrive in Jisan Yi before 2:00 pm and have lunch before going to the immigration office. Make sure you have your yellow fever vaccination card and passport on hand so you can travel to Congo. Your visa will be in order when you speak to the immigration office. After immigration, the Virunga team will be waiting for you on the Congolese side.

Dinner and overnight at Mikeno Lodge (Luxury) and Kibun Batented Camp (Midrange).

Day 2 of 5 Days of Mount Nyiragongo & Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda: Excursion to Mount Nyiragongo – View of Lake Lava

On the second day, we have an early breakfast and wait for the park authorities to pick us up at the hotel. Heading to Goma, you turn to the village of Kibati, the starting point for your hike to Mount Nyiragongo. The park staff will teach you about hiking and introduce you to porters carrying supplies up the mountain. Your chef will be one of the porters.

Everything remains fundamental when climbing Mount Nyiragongo. Don’t expect the luxury you had in the hostel. Climbing to the top of the volcano can take 4-6 hours depending on the fitness level of the group. No one will be left behind until the fourth section is reached. Five sections must be completed before reaching the top. When you get to the top, the cabin will be waiting for you. The best time to see hot magma is at night.

Dinner and overnight in the refuge, where you can enjoy the beautiful lava landscape all night long.

Day 3 of 5 Days of Mount Nyiragongo & Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda: Descent from Volcano-Transfer to the Volcano National Park

Wake up from the shelter at 7 am to have breakfast and wait for everyone to start descending the volcano at 8 am. Climbing Mount Nyiragongo isn’t just about seeing lava lakes. It is also an opportunity to enjoy beautiful views of the other Virunga Volcanoes, Lake Kivu, Virunga National Park, Rwanda Volcanoes National Park, Rwenzori Mountains, and Uganda National Parks. The best time to see these views is in the morning and during the descent of the volcano.

Upon arrival at the departure point, park officials will take you to Goma and then to the border office, where the Rwandan Immigration Office will solve the problem. They will charge you an extra $ 30 for a Rwandan visa. Our driver is waiting for you to take you to the Volcanic National Park on the Rwandan side of the border. The trip from the Congo / Rwanda border to the Volcanic National Park takes 2-3 hours. 5 Accommodation and dinner at Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury), Davinci Lodge (Midrange), and Hotel Muhabura (Budget).

Day 4 of 5 Days of Mount Nyiragongo & Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda: Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Guardian Village Tour

The Gorilla Trekking Briefing will take place at the Kiniji Park headquarters before 8:00 am. All trackers must be at the park office in time for the briefing led by the park guide. The gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park includes a selection of 10 known gorilla groups. You will be assigned one based on your general health condition. Monitoring can take 2-6 hours depending on the assigned family member. Activities can be challenging, especially if you feel unwell or mentally unprepared to complete them.

But an hour spent with a gorilla family is an unforgettable life experience. It’s annoying to see groups of wild gorillas, just to remind you how often they come. You can spend hours watching the babies roll and play. Mountain gorillas can be very playful and curious, especially when you see something unfamiliar. It is important to listen to your guide’s instructions while you are with the gorilla family. Always keep calm and don’t make sudden movements.

After spending an hour in the gorilla group, return to the starting point, meet your guide, and make your way to your hotel for lunch and a break. In the late afternoon, we visit the Ibiwak Cultural Village in Musanze. Now known as Gorilla Guardians Village, this center is where former fishermen display their wares.

The Rwandan government refurbished the site and rebuilt it as the best cultural center in East Africa. All the tribes of Rwanda, including the Batwa, perform cultural dances and chants. You can also participate by wearing a local dress, entering a traditional hut, or dancing with a band.5 Accommodation and dinner at Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury), Davinci Lodge (Midrange), and Hotel Muhabura (Budget).

Day 5 of 5 Days of Mount Nyiragongo & Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda: Return to Kigali Departure

Rise at your leisure and have breakfast as you prepare for the flight back to Kigali. It takes about 3 hours from the Volcanoes National Park to Kigali. If for some reason you can’t take the Kigali city tour on the first day, take it for the day before breaking up with your guide.

End of 5 Days of Mount Nyiragongo & Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda