Tour overview
Your 5 days Rwanda gorillas and Congo gorillas is a double gorilla trekking safari in Both Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Kahuzi-Beiga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo. Volcanoes National Park is the only home to the endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda that can be seen along the Virunga mountain slopes after trekking through thick forests whereas Kahuzi-Beiga National Park houses eastern lowland gorillas that are only unique to Democratic Republic of Congo in the entire world. This is therefore an opportunity for you to draw differences between the two gorilla species which is awe-inspiring to get an eye to eye contact with them in their natural habitat. You will have cultural immersions throughout your safari during a city tour to Kigali, a visit to Ibyi’wacu cultural village and during your cruise along Lake Kivu in Bukavu which fosters proper understanding of their ways of living.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Kigali city tour & transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Pick up will be at the airport or your hotel where your driver guide will brief you through your safari itinerary and set off for a city tour majorly visiting the city’s iconic sites such as the Kigali genocide memorial, Rwanda Art museum and Kimironko market to make some shopping before you settle for your lunch. After lunch you will be driven to Kigali’s home of mountain gorillas for about 2 and a half hours arriving to check-in at your reserved lodge to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking & Ibyi’wacu cultural village
Arise early enough for your breakfast and report to Kinigi Park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking etiquettes. Proceed to the starting point of your trek to embark on the gentle giants’ search in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking lasts for about 1 to 6 hours including the 1 hour that you are authorized to spend with the gorillas in their natural habitat. Return to your lodge for lunch after which you will head off for a cultural immersion in the Ibyi’wacu cultural village. You will learn about their ancient ways of living, enjoy their cultural performances before you get back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Bukavu in DRC
Today morning enjoy your breakfast and checkout to embark on your drive to Democratic Republic of Congo via Cyangungu border. Along your drive, you will make stopovers in Butare to several museums and genocide memorial sites where you will have an insight of what transpired during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Lunch will be served in Butare after which you will proceed with your drive while you enjoy clear views of Lake Kivu. Arrival in Bukavu will be in the evening to check-in at your prearranged lodge waiting to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 4: Lowland gorilla trekking & Lake Kivu cruise
Arise very early for your breakfast and report to Tshivanga which is the Park headquarters of Kahuzi Beiga National Park. The drive from Bukavu to the National Park lasts for about 35minutes arriving in time for briefing about what is required of you during eastern lowland gorilla trekking. You will then be led by ranger guides into dense forests to encounter large groups of lowland gorillas in their natural habitat. The eastern lowland gorillas are the largest of all gorilla species distinguished by their stocky bodies, large hands and short muzzles. An hour will be allowed with the lowland gorillas after which you will sign out of Kahuzi-Beiga to embark on your drive to Bukavu for your lunch. After lunch you will head off for a relaxed boat cruise along Lake Kivu with an opportunity of having ample time with local fishermen after which you will be driven back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali & departure
Wake up to a relaxed breakfast and checkout of the lodge to meet your driver who will transfer you back to Kigali in Rwanda. You will enjoy a 7 hours adventurous drive to Kigali with a stopover along the way for your lunch arriving in the afternoon to either be dropped off at a hotel in the city center or directly to the airport for your departure flight back home.
