Fred is incredibly knowledgable about Ugandan and Rwandan cultures and traditions so the long drive was also a good opportunity to learn lots of interesting facts about the two countries. The vehicle (Land cruiser 4X4) is super comfortable and well sturdy which makes a big difference on “Africa’s massage roads” ie unpaved, full of holes and with landslides during the rainy season. Overall I’ve had a great experience with Bamboo Ecotours and would certainly recommend them to anyone interested in the gorilla trek.
3-Day Mount Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking Trek
Two Days of Volcano Hiking
Learn About & Visit Virunga National Park
Africa's Oldest National Park
Visit the active Nyiragongo volcano in Africa’s oldest national park! This spectacular volcano is the part of the eight volcanoes of the Mufumbiro ranges, in the border area of Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo. Enjoy the hikes and overnight stays at the summit of Nyiragongo Volcano and explore nature in Virunga National Park. This trip is the perfect addition to adventures in Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
Tour Highlights
Glimpse these rare creatures in the wild and observe their human-like interactions up close
Learn the meaning of adventure on this Uganda trekking tour through the rainforest with experienced local guides
Explore the green expanse of ancient rainforest and its abundance of wildlife
Try your hand at coffee-making, hiking, or canoeing on Lake Mutanda
Learn about the local community with visits to their villages and the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Museum
Make the most of your time with short (but scenic) connections from Kigali to Bwindi National Park
Click the Tabs to Find out More
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
Adults (15-80): $1,207
2 persons or more: $1,486 per person
3 persons or more: $1,437 per person
4 persons or more: $1,325 per person
Departure Time
6:00 am (Kigali, Rwanda timezone)
Meeting Point
We offer pick-up from the following places for this experience:
- Kigali International Airport (on day 1), Rwanda
- Your guesthouse in downtown Kigali, Rwanda
- Please inquire for information on a custom pick up
Availability
Monday to Sunday, year-round
Duration
3 days
Difficulty Level
Moderate – uphill trekking
Group size
1 to 6 persons
Included
- Meals: 2 x breakfasts, 2 x dinners, 2 x lunches
- Accommodation for two nights
- One volcano hiking permit per person
- Transport in a 4×4 vehicle and fuel
- Admission to Virunga National Park
Not Included
- Optional activities (see tab 4)
- Visas and other costs of personal nature
- Nyiragongo backpack ($100)
- Porter fees, gratuities, travel insurance, and medical expenses
- DRC tourist visa – $110 USD
- Any other costs not listed in the itinerary
What to Bring
- Hiking boots
- Garden gloves
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Long-sleeved shirt/blouse
- Cameras and extra batteries
- Hat/cap and sunglasses
- Pair of binoculars
- Flashlight (torch)
- Mosquito repellent
- Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites
Participation Requirements
- Age restriction: 15-80 years old
- A valid passport is required on the day of travel
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
- We advise against people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions participating on this tour
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Good to Know
The DRC tourist visa is required at least two weeks in advance of travel.
What You’ll Do
We will pick you up at Kigali Airport or downtown Kigali very early in the morning and drive you to Virunga National Park. The scenic drive to Congo will go through Rwanda’s northwestern town of Ruhengeri, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, a popular spot for mountain gorilla tracking. We will then circle the mountains to cross over into Congo via the Goma Grande Barriere. 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 Nyiragongo volcano hiking permits. The Bamboo Ecotours vehicle will park at the Grande Barriere, and you will then be driven in the Virunga National Park vehicle. Check-in at the lodge and rest as you prepare for the early morning hike.
Meal plan: Dinner
Today is the main event, our Nyiragongo volcano hike! You will embark on a full-day hiking adventure to summit Nyiragongo volcano in Virunga National Park. You will start the second day 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.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
On day four, you will depart the Nyiragongo volcano summit and descend back to the Kibati ranger post. The average descends time from the Nyiragongo summit to the base of the volcano is 4 hrs. From the base of the volcano, you will be driven back to Goma Grande Barriere, where you will meet a Bamboo Ecotours driver. We will immediately clear with both the DRC and Rwanda immigration and go back to Kigali for overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
Lodges & Accommodation
- Kibumba Tented Camp (first night)
- Nyiragongo Summit Shelters (second night)
These are the only available lodges during the 3-Day Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking Trek.
Optional Activities
- If time permits, there is a possibility to do a community experience near the lodge.
See What Our Previous Guests Have Said...
The first trip was to Bwindi to see the mountain gorillas. Jackson was the driver for this and he was fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable about the area and was a joy to talk to during the journey and I highly recommend him. Edison and Bamboo Ecotours took care of the gorilla permit and everything was completely ready upon my arrival to Bwindi.
The trip organised by Bamboo Ecotours was seamless, from the correspondence with Edison before our trip to our lovely driver, Fred, during the visit. Fred was always friendly, punctual and ready to help us with any request. The gorillas themselves are magnificent and we were extremely happy with the accommodation options Edison suggested. It was an all-round unforgettable weekend!
