Itinerary
The 4-Day Congo Gorilla Trek and Nyiragongo Volcano Hike offered by Bamboo Ecotours takes you to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and hike the famous Nyiragongo volcano. The trek is planned to start in Kigali, Rwanda, on Day 1 and end in Kigali on Day 4. If you prefer a different start location, let us know and adjust the pickup location accordingly.
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali, Rwanda to Virunga National Park
Our representative will pick you up in Kigali at 6 am and drive to the DR Congo Grande Barriere at Goma. You will clear with both Rwanda and DRC Immigration; after that, check in with the Virunga National Park tourism office. Here you will receive your gorilla and volcano hiking permits. The Bamboo Ecotours vehicle will park at the Grande Barriere, and guests will then be driven in the Virunga National Park vehicle. You will stay the first night at Kibumba Tented Camp.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
You will start the day with an early morning breakfast at Kibumba Tented Camp. After breakfast, you will join the park rangers for a short briefing. The briefing will be conducted by the national park guide and will cover the basics of what to expect during the trek. It is at this point that you will be told which gorilla family to trek. The gorilla trek can take from 1.2.5 hours each way of the hike, depending on the forest’s gorillas’ location. After the gorilla trek, you will walk back to Kibumba Tented Camp for a late lunch. Take the afternoon to relax, read, or join local activities such as bird watching, community visits, and bird watching.
Day 3: Ascend Nyiragongo Volcano. Overnight at the summit
You will start the 3rd with breakfast at Kibumba Tented Camp. After breakfast, you will be transported to the Nyiragongo hike trailhead at Kibati ranger post at 8:15 am. When you arrive at Kibati, you will get introduced to the rangers and get an opportunity to hire a porter for the hike. The hike to the summit of Nyiragongo volcano will take four to six hours. Stay overnight at the summit of the volcano.
Day 4: Descend Nyiragongo Volcano and transfer to Kigali
On Day 4, you will leave the volcano summit and descend back to the Kibati ranger post. The average descends time from the summit to the base of the volcano is 4 hrs. You will be driven back to Goma Grande Barriere from the volcano base, where you will meet a Bamboo Ecotours driver. We will immediately clear with both the DRC and Rwanda immigration and drive back to Kigali for overnight.
The quotation for the 4-day Congo gorilla trek and Nyiragongo volcano hike typically covers the following:
-
Two-night accommodation at Kibumba Tented Camp
- One-night accommodation at Nyiragongo summit shelters
-
Gorilla trekking permit
- Nyiragongo volcano hiking permit
-
Transport both in Rwanda and DRC
-
Guide/driver and park entrance fee
Excluded in the quote:
-
Nyiragongo backpack (USD100) and porter fees (USD25/15kgs)
-
DRC tourist visa (USD105)
-
International and domestic flights
-
Accommodation in Kigali at the start and end of the tour
-
Tips/gratuities/porter fees
-
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
-
Soft and alcoholic Drinks