In this 5 Days Congo Safari and Mount. Karisimbi Hike, you will visit the Republic of Congo and Rwanda in East Africa. The two nations neighbor each other and both share the vast Virunga chain of mountains. It will be a road trip to the two destinations in two countries. In the expansive Virunga National Park, one of the biggest national parks in Africa, you will search for mountain gorillas.
Close to Volcanoes National Park, Mount. Karisimbi is where the hiking will take place. The journey begins and concludes in Kigali, but one must be physically able to navigate the mountainous terrain and beautiful forests. You will be traveling with guides that have in-depth knowledge of all attractions.
Detailed tour.
Day 1: Kigali city to Virunga National Park
At the pickup location, you will meet and greet your driver guide. While enjoying a cup of African coffee, you will be briefed and your paperwork will be validated. Have an unforgettable experience travelling through Kigali city to Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo. Kigali is one of the smartest cities in Africa. You will arrive in the park late afternoon or evening for dinner and spend the night.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Get up very early for breakfast, and then travel to the park headquarters for pre-trek briefing with packed lunch and other trekking requirements. The ranger guides will give you a briefing about the dos and don’ts of trekking, check the paperwork and offer necessary directions. Briefing lasts around 30 minutes, and the duration of the adventure depends on how far the gorillas have traveled. It can take anywhere from one to eight hours, plus an additional hour to spend with the apes, take pictures and listen to what the ranger guide has to say about them.
You will trek the apes on foot and the search is conducted along the route where the apes were last seen. It gives the opportunity to see animals like monkeys in the jungle, birds and rare plant species, among other things. After learning about the jungle’s inhabitants, lunch will be served in the forest.
You will return to the lodge to recover and rehydrate after your trekking adventure. If not, a nature walks along the approved routes, the evening is devoted to an optional activity. The day ends after dinner and before bed.
Day 3: Virunga National Park to Volcanoes National Park in Northern Rwanda
You will check out of the resort following a morning breakfast and depart for a transfer to Volcanoes National Park in the land of a thousand hills of the Republic of Rwanda. It’s a road trip with a lunch stop along the way. When you arrive at your lodging facility, you will be greeted and shown to your room, where you may have a relaxing nap and enjoy a delectable dinner.
Day 4: Ascend to Mount. Karisimbi
You will eat a hearty breakfast at the lodge very early in the morning before leaving for the trailhead for a hike that starts at the headquarters of Kinigi about 7:00 am. At 4,507 meters above sea level, Mount Karisimbi is surrounded by Mount Bisoke, Nyiragongo, and Mikeno. The mountain’s summit becomes snow-covered during the dry season, giving it the name Karisimbi, which is Kinyarwanda for “white shell” and comes from the region. It takes two days to finish climbing and descending the peak.
With views of the neighboring mountains that make up the vast Virunga network, the lush vegetation, birds, plants, and primates on a lucky day, you will travel about 3700m (midway up the mountain) today. Physical condition is crucial to complete the seven-hour climb. When you get to your camping spot, you’ll set up camp, have dinner, and take a restful nap before calling it a day. The hike includes a stop for lunch.
Day 5: Descend Mount. Karisimbi and return to Kigali
At day break, enjoy spectacular vistas of the dawn. The day finds you where you are, where you must switch to the mountain summit, snap pictures, enjoy the stunning scenery, distant views of lakes and more. When all activities are completed, you will descend to the location where the driver / guide will meet and drop you off in Kigali.
End of safari
