5 days Mountain Karisimbi hiking safari takes you to Volcanoes National Park known to be encompassed by five out of the entire eight volcanic Mountains that make up the Virunga massif. The Five Mountains include Mount Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Gahinga. Mountain Karisimbi is the highest standing at 4,507 meters above sea level and both its ascend and descend last 2 days with an overnight spent mid-way at an altitude of 3,700 meters. You will have an opportunity to have an eye to eye contact with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat which is a once in a life time experience. Having experienced the adventurous and strenuous hikes, you will make a visit to Rwanda’s twin Lakes where you will relax and unwind on a boat cruise.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Pick up will be at the airport where your driver guide will be waiting to take you through a briefing after which you will set off to embark on your drive to Volcanoes National Park. This adventurous drive lasts for about 2 and a half to 3 hours arriving to check-in at your reserved lodge and have an early lunch. After lunch you will make a visit to the Ibyi’wacu cultural center to have an insight into Rwanda’s culture. You will mingle with the locals and learn about their ancient style of living such as milking and milk storage, dressing code, constructing grass thatched houses and many more. You will enjoy their cultural performances before you get back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 2: Mount Karisimbi ascend
Today have your morning breakfast and report to the Park headquarters for a briefing about mountain hiking after which you will be driven to the starting point of your hike with the guidance of ranger guides. The hike takes you through several mountain zones such as thick forests before you make a stopover midway at an altitude of 3,700meters to have rest, dinner and an overnight.
Day 3: Summiting Mount Karisimbi & descend
Having endured a very cold night, you will wake up very early in the morning for your breakfast at the camp and continue with your hike to the summit which lasts for about an hour. Once you are at the summit, the scenery is spectacular and beautiful to behold. You will be able to capture great views of the Virunga mountain ranges, the region’s vegetation cover and the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo as well as a caldera at the summit. Having had enough time at the summit, you will descend back to where you started your hike from to be driven back to your lodge for late lunch and have a relaxed evening awaiting dinner and an overnight.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking & Relaxation on Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
Wake up to a scrumptious breakfast and return to the Park headquarters with parked lunch for a briefing about gorilla trekking dos and don’ts. Groups of maximum eight people will be made and proceed to the starting point of your gorilla trek. The gorilla search lasts for about 1 to 6 hours depending on how far the gorillas could have moved while foraging. An hour will be allowed with the gorillas having located your assigned gorilla family which is once in a life time experience. Get back to your lodge to have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali and departure
Today have a relaxed breakfast and check out of your lodge to meet your driver guide and set off to embark on your journey to Kigali where you will be making visits to some museums and genocide memorial sites to have an insight into Rwanda’s history. Places to be visited include Kigali genocide memorial, Kandt House museum and many more after which you will have your lunch in the city center. After lunch you will be driven to your preferred hotel or to the airport according to the time of your flight back home.
