7 Days Gorilla trekking and Mount Karisimbi Hike.

Tour Overview

Gorilla trekking and hiking Mount Karisimbi. Both activities are fantastic experiences, for gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the hike to Mount Karisimbi, you’re in for a treat!

Gorilla Trekking:
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda (also possible in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo). Gorilla trekking offers a unique opportunity to observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The trek involves hiking through the dense rainforest, guided by experienced trackers, until you reach a gorilla family. You’ll spend a limited time with the gorillas to minimize disturbance, usually around an hour, observing their behavior and interactions.

Mount Karisimbi Hike:
The Virunga Mountains, which are shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mount Karisimbi is the highest of the eight volcanic peaks in the Virunga Range. The hike is a challenging but rewarding adventure, taking you through different vegetation zones and offering breathtaking views. The trek usually takes two days, with an overnight stay at high altitude. It requires a good level of fitness, and proper gear is essential.

Tips for Gorilla Trekking:
Secure a permit in advance, as the number of permits is limited.
Follow guidelines to minimize impact and ensure the safety of both visitors and gorillas.
Wear appropriate clothing, including long sleeves, pants, and sturdy hiking boots.
Bring a waterproof jacket, as rain is common in rainforests.
Consider hiring a porter to help carry your belongings and support local communities.

Tips for Mount Karisimbi Hike:
Acclimatize to the altitude before attempting the hike.
Hire a guide and porters for support and navigation.
Pack warm clothing as temperatures can drop significantly at higher altitudes.
Bring enough food and water for the duration of the hike.
Respect environmental guidelines to preserve the natural beauty of the area.
Both experiences offer a chance to connect with nature in a profound way, whether it’s observing the gentle giants of the gorilla family or conquering the summit of Mount Karisimbi.
Gorilla trekking and hiking mount Karisimbi is 7 days experience and features gorilla trekking, mount Karisimbi hike and a boat ride in Lake Kivu.

Tour Highlights

• Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes national park
• Day 2: gorilla trekking
• Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and cultural tour
• Day 4: Hike mount Karisimbi Volcano
• Day 5: Descend and drive to lake Kivu
• Day 6: Full day lake Kivu Exploration
• Day 7: Transfer to Kigali for your departure flight

Day by Day Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up for Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes

Depending on your time of arrival, you will pick up by the driver/guide from the airport or at the hotel after the morning breakfast and drive to Kigali for a city tour, during the tour, you will visit the Kigali genocide memorial, Belgian peace center. Break off for lunch and after, embark on the journey to volcanoes National Park driving through Ruhengeri. On arrival at the lodge, check in for relaxation later dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: one and only Gorilla Nest/ Wilderness Bisate lodge (super luxury), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/ Lebambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range), Kinigi Guesthouse/ La Palme Hotel (Budget).
Meal plan: lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park

Rise up and have morning breakfast and the driver/guide will pick you up and transfer your volcanoes national park headquarters for briefing about mountain gorilla trek, Thereafter, drive to trailhead where you will meet the rangers and the porters to begin your trek in the forest. The trek may last for about 2-6 hours depending on the location of the gorilla. When you found them, you will spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. After, drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and cultural tour

After morning breakfast, drive to the park offices for yet another pre trekking briefing about golden monkey. Although the process doesn’t differ from gorillas, Golden monkey trekking is less hectic compared to the gorillas, the golden monkeys are much nosier and playful thus making it easier to locate them. You will have one hour to observe them, take photos and videos. After, exit the forest and drive back to offices then to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will go on cultural tour to visit Ibwi’wacu cultural visit one of the designated tribes in Rwanda, you will immerse your self in t Rwandans culture and learn more about this people. You will also be entertained through the traditional dances among other community projects.

Day 4: Hike mount Karisimbi Volcano

After the wonderful trekking experience, today we will be hiking mount Karisimbi, after morning breakfast, you will dress up in hiking gears, overnight equipment’s, enough drinking water and snacks thereafter, the driver/ guide will pick you up and transfer you to volcanoes national park headquarters where you will meet the hiking team, rangers and porters and after which you will head out to the hiking start point. These two days hike takes through the through the incredible forests cover where you will encounter wildlife and several bird species. Depending on the paces you take, you may spend one day to reach the summit and then overnight stay on your back.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Descend and drive to lake Kivu

With the great memories from the hike, you will descent down through the incredible forest trails as you look out for birds and wildlife, upon reaching the endpoint your guide will receive you and transfer you to Lake Kivu where you will check in to the lodge and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Luxury), Kivu Lodge / Comoran Lodge (Mid-range)

Day 6: Full day lake Kivu Exploration

You will wake up to relaxed morning breakfast at the lodge and thereafter, take on a boat to Nyamirundi Island which is one of top places in Rwanda to get the bet Rwandan coffee. Upon arrival at the island, you will be taken through the whole coffee processing process, if you like, you can Rwandan coffee to take back with your home. relaxation and overnight. Lunch and them transfer back to the lodge for relaxation, Dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch ad Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Kigali for your departure flight

Have a relaxed morning breakfast and depending on your flight schedule, you will start your drive back to Kigali and have lunch and thereafter, the driver will drop you off at the airport in time for your departure fight back home or at your preferred location.

End of tour.

Getting There

The trip will start from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park to Mount Karisimbi to Lake Kivu and you will be dropped off at Kigali International Airport.

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