The 5 Days safari offers an exceptional combination of gorilla trekking and volcano climbing adventure. Visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park mountain gorillas and cross to Rwanda to hike the tallest of the 8 Virunga Mountain ranges –Karisimbi Volcano rising at the elevation of 4507 meters.
Bwindi National Park harbors almost half of the rare mountain gorillas that are still surviving in the wild. This park is located far away from Kampala city, about 8-9 hours’ drive and from Kigali city, about 4-5 hours’ drive. Bwindi’s landscape is characterized by a dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and entirely, the park covers 331 sq.km.
Karisimbi Volcano is part of the chain Virunga Mountains, and it is the highest of all, rising at an altitude of 4507 meters. You will have two days to enjoy a trek to and from the summits of Mt. Karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park, Northwestern Rwanda.
Itinerary
Day 1: Visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP)
You will take a shorter route that is Kigali via Katuna/Chanika border to Bwindi Impenetrable NP. The road trip begins after a delicious breakfast at the hotel in Kigali city and you will spend fewer than 5 hours to be at Bwindi. En-route lunch at leisure be enjoyed in a classic restaurant in Kabale/Kisoro then proceed to check in at the gorilla safari lodge.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in the thick Bwindi Forest
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after, get your gear ready and report to Bwindi NP offices to register and get briefed about the guidelines for gorilla trekking. Tracking with Bwindi gorillas begins at 8:00 am once gorilla families and park guides have been allocated. It will be a remarkable trekking adventure expected to go for 2-6 hours that include one hour of a close encounter and photography when you come a group of gorillas. After the trek, you will proceed to the park offices, meet the driver guide for transfer to the lodge for relaxation and in the afternoon, you may opt to visit the Batwa pygmies in their community.
Day 3: Bwindi-Chanika/Katuna border-Volcanoes N.P
Check out of your accommodation property and set out for Rwanda tour in Volcanoes National Park. The border points to cross to access Rwanda include Chanika if you are driving from the Rushaga/Nkuringo sectors via Kisoro and Katuna border in case you are departing Buhoma/Ruhija to Volcanoes NP.
Day 4: Ascend up to 3700 meters with a guide
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and after, report to briefing point in Kinigi. Today’s trek takes 7-8 hours and you will be hiking through the steep slopes to 3700 meters summits of Bisoke. Have warm cloths, sleeping bag, jacket, good hiking boots and other essentials for your day hike to Karisimbi Volcano.
Day 5: Complete the hike to Karisimbi summit & descend back
Enjoy a hot cup of tea/coffee early in the morning, and after, begin your trek to the summit of Mt. Karisimbi. Being the highest point of the 8 Virungas, expect to enjoy excellent view of surrounding volcanoes: Nyamuragira, Nyiragongo and Mt. Muhabura. Begin descending to where you were briefed and the driver guide will then transfer you back to Kigali.
End of tour
