4 days Mountain Gorillas and Nyiragongo Volcano treks

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In these 4 days Mountain gorillas and Nyiragongo treks, Ubuntu Voyages brings you to the legendary Virunga National Park in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is among the first protected areas in Africa. It is known for its exceptional biodiversity, containing more bird, mammal and reptile species than any protected area on the continent of Africa. In this safari, enjoy a life-changing experience with the gorillas and watch the world’s largest active lava lake.

Day 1: Arrival

Meeting in Kigali at your hotel, after greetings, transfer to the border Grande Barrière Rwanda-DRC (3hours and half). Welcoming with our staff at the border. Assisted to clear with formalities. Ensure crossing the border at 10:30 am and check-in with Virunga tourism office by 11:15am which is located in the Grande Barrière border post building, opposite passport control. Once check-in is complete, transfer to Kibumba.

Day2: Mountain Gorilla Trek

After an early breakfast at Kibumba Tented Camp, trekkers will head down the hill to meet their Ranger guides and have a briefing before the gorilla trek. Treks usually require 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the gorilla group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted hour with the gorilla family group, trekkers will make their way back to camp, enjoy a late lunch and have the rest of the day at leisure, including time for nature walks and bird watching.

Day 3: Nyiragongo Volcano hiking

After breakfast in Kibumba, guests will be transported to the Kibati Ranger Post at 8:15am, where treks to the summit of Nyiragongo volcano begin. On arrival to Kibati, guests will receive a briefing. Park rangers lead all treks and porters (unaffiliated with the park) are available for hire at Kibati ranger station. The time required to reach the summit depends on the average fitness of each group, but typically takes 4 – 6 hours. It is possible for fitter people to climb up and descend in one day, but the vast majority chooses to overnight in the basic accommodations available at the top (included in the permit fee) because the best time to view the lava lake is at night. Sunset at the summit of Nyiragongo. Enjoy watching, in the night, the world’s largest lava lake. Dinner and overnight at the summit of Nyiragongo Volcano in the shelter.

Trekkers are strongly advised to bring full rain and cold weather gear (moisture-wicking base layer, sweater or fleece, jacket, rain resistant pants, long underwear, warm socks, hat, and a 0°C/32° – rated sleeping bag), good walking shoes, sun cream, etc.

Day 4: Nyiragongo Volcano descent and departure

After a very early morning visit to the lava lake, have your breakfast around 7:00 am. After breakfast, start descending the volcano and arrive back at Kibati station. Average descent time is four hours. Drive back to Goma town. Be transferred back to the border and return to Rwanda, to Kigali International Airport for departure.

End of mountain gorillas and Nyiragongo tour!

Included:

  • Gorilla permit
  • Volcano permit
  • All transportation to/from the park
  • 2 nights accommodation at Kibumba Tented Camp on a full board basis
  • One night stay on Nyiragongo

Excluded:

  • International/domestic flights
  • Round-trip airport taxi transfer (we can organize it on request)
  • Visa (After buying the Gorilla and volcano permits, we will start your visa process. It can take maximum 14 days, minimum 7days. And you’ll pay 105$ US visa fees at the border before entering the DRC. This is a special agreement between the park and the Ministry of internal affairs).
  • Other meals and drinks
  • Porter fees,
  • Gratuities
  • Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, etc.)
  • Tips

 

Accommodation

In the parks:

Kibumba Tented Camp is an excellent choice for those seeking a more affordable way to experience the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. The camp is conveniently located near the trailhead for Nyiragongo volcano, which makes it the perfect place to stay for those wanting to experience both gorillas and the world’s largest lava lake. Guests can also enjoy nature hikes just outside camp or walk down to the local Kibumba marketplace for a vibrant cultural experience. Kibumba Tented Camp features all the necessities of a classic tented camp: great food, full bar, well-appointed tents with comfortable beds, and ensuite bathrooms with hot showers.

Nyiragongo summit shelters: These are the only accommodation available at the Nyiragongo Volcano summit in the Virunga National Park.  The shelters are essentially two-person tents inside small wooden structures. Nyiragongo’s summit rim is largely devoid of vegetation and is frequently dusted with snow. From the rim, visitors can peer down into a churning lava lake and see and hear hot gases exploding up though a mosaic of molten lava. Nyiragongo’s eruptions are predictable, making it safe for tourists and a once in a lifetime opportunity for active travelers.

For travel inquiries and bookings, contact our travel consultants through +250 786 778 461 or +243 990 655 913 (also WhatsApp). Alternatively, send us an email at info@ubuntuvoyages.com

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