During this 5 days D.R. Congo safari, you will explore the two national parks that inhabit the magical gorillas that is Kahuzi-Biega national park and Virunga National Park. This will give you a chance to learn and know about the difference between the two subspecies of gorillas. Also, you will have a chance to explore Mt. Nyiragongo which is an active volcano in Africa that has a boiling lava lake on top. The safari will begin and end in Kigali, Rwanda.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Kahuzi-Biega national park.
The driver guide will be at the airport ready to welcome you and take you through initial briefing session. You will then head to Kahuzi-Biega national park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where you will spend a night. Enjoy great scenery while in Rwanda that is covered by rolling hills and hospitality of the natives.
Kahuzi-Biega national park is one of the oldest national parks in Africa and it covers an area of 6,000 Square kilometers hence having diverse wildlife of over 1178 plant species, over 350 bird species, 136 mammal species including gorillas, chimpanzees, and owl-faced monkeys. Arrive and head straight to the booked hotel
Day 2: Eastern low land gorilla trekking and transfer to Virunga national park.
Head to the park offices after your breakfast at the lodge and attend a briefing session that will last for 30minutes, go through the guideline while in the forest that will create a memorable experience. Among other guidelines include; no feeding animals, no making noise, no littering the forest and always following the guidance of your park guide.
You will enter the forest with help of a park ranger to start the search but along the way, spot different attractions like birds, plants, primates, and other mammals. On locating them, you will have an hour in their presence as you watch them keenly feeding their young ones, walking, practicing leadership skills among others.
Return to the lodge for lunch as you check out to head to Virunga national park where you will spend another night. Virunga national park offers a great opportunity where you have a chance to trek mountain gorillas and take a hike to Nyiragongo peak. This park has wonders as it hosts this active volcano mountain. Arrive at the lodge and check-in.
Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking.
Enjoy your breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing and acquiring all the necessary requirements to be used. After, head to the forest to start a search for these great apes on planet earth in their natural habitat.
Mountain gorillas are different from low land gorillas in terms of appearance, weight and areas they live for example mountain gorillas live in mountains with an altitude of 1500m to 4000m than the low land gorillas. Have an hour in their presence while interacting with them and after head back to the lodge for leisure in the afternoon.
Day 4: Nyiragongo Hiking day.
Have a leisurely breakfast and then transfer to Kibati ranger station where you will receive briefing, acquiring of equipment together with porters and cooks and after start the hike at around 10:00hours that will be followed by a hike to Nyiragongo.
This is a tremendous opportunity for spotting different primates, bird species, and different plants. If the weather is favorable, you will have a view of different volcano mountains that are in Virunga massif. The summit offers the best view of the active volcanic mountain that boils. You will spend a night at the mountain huts.
Day 5: Descend and transfer back to Kigali / departure.
Have an early morning breakfast and start your descent to the base of mountain Nyiragongo which seems to be easier than ascending. You will then meet your driver guide who will take you to Kigali Rwanda, enjoy lunch and then be dropped at the airport.