VIRUNGA, NYIRAGONGO, AND SERENGETI SAFARI IN 8 DAYS
In this 8-day safari, you will combine two gifted destinations, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania, getting closer to spectacular attractions and engaging in rare but interesting activities. The safari will take you to Virunga National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas, trek them and see how it feels, then hike Mount Nyiragongo, the most active volcano, before heading to Serengeti National Park, famous for wild beast migration. The safari begins in Rwanda with a brief city tour and continues for 7 days in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania, where it concludes.
Day 1: Transfer to and from Virunga National Park.
Day 2: Morning gorilla hiking and afternoon cultural encounter
Move to the park in the company of a park ranger and an armed security guard for the real trekking exercise, which can last up to 6 hours depending on your fitness and how far the gorillas have roamed, you will be tracing them from the point they were last spotted until you find the apes, one hour is allotted to study these creatures, their unique behaviors, mothers feeding the young ones, the grumbling, and many more.
Descend to the park’s headquarters for lunch and leisure, then go to the village experience with the local locals, who will guide you through some amusing acts until late in the evening, when you will return to the lodge for dinner and stay.
Day 3: Mount Nyiragongo trekking.
After breakfast, pack your hiking boots, get a support stick, and drive to the Nyiragongo trailhead where the 6-7 hour hike to the summit begins, the briefing begins at 10:30 with the guides briefing the hikers on what they should expect during the journey, so ensure that you arrive by 10:00 am. Mount Nyiragongo is the most active volcano with a series of repeated eruptions that have caused massive destruction of property and displacement of locals.
Hiking is fascinating because of the panoramic view of the entire Virunga National Park, as well as the opportunity to see rare bird species and spend the night on top of the mountain, having fun around the fire until late at night, when the fires are extinguished and the only thing left is to sleep.
Day 4: Tracking gorillas and a cultural tour
After breakfast, go for the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for gorilla trekking.
The head ranger will inform you before driving you to the beginning place of your Gorilla Tracking and primary activities.
The ranger guide will bring you into the deep jungle for tracking, and once there, you will spend an hour with the gorillas as they go about their everyday lives.
Following the tracking, your driver Guide will take you to your accommodation for lunch. You will visit Ibyiwachu cultural village after lunch.
Day 5: Travel to the Virunga National Park.
Prepare to drive to the Democratic Republic of the Congo after breakfast.
Your guide will transport you from your accommodation to the park’s border through Gisenyi.
You’ll travel to Goma, settle into your lodge, eat lunch, and spend the afternoon unwinding before the hike.
Day 6: Hike up Mt. Nyiragongo.
Get up early and have breakfast. You will travel approximately 15 kilometers from Goma to the Virunga Park headquarters.
When you arrive, you will meet other trekkers, and a ranger guide will educate you on the journey. After that, you will be assigned a ranger who will lead you while you travel.
Trek through the thick greenery to reach the rim. Visitors may see down into a churning lava lake and watch and hear hot gases blasting up through a mosaic of molten lava from the vent.
You will spend the night at the camp on top of Nyiragongo and have the opportunity to feel and witness the red hot lava in the mountain’s vent.
Day 7: Return to the lodge after descending Nyiragongo.
After breakfast at the camp, you will descend and meet your driving guide, who will transport you to the lodge for a shower and lunch. Rest at your leisure or take a tour of Goma town.
Day 8: Virunga National Park gorilla tracking
After an early morning meal, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing.
After the briefing, you will begin gorilla trekking with a ranger guide, and after a few hours of hiking, you will come into touch with the gorilla family.
You will be permitted to spend an hour with the family, learning about them and seeing their everyday activities.
After that, return to camp for lunch. After lunch, you’ll return to your lodge and spend the night.
Day 9: Get back to Kigali.
Have breakfast at the lodge before driving back to the border. Check out of the DRC, and your driver will take you to Kigali.
On the trip, you will be treated to breathtaking vistas of Rwanda’s countryside. Spend the night in Kigali at a pre-arranged lodge or hotel.
Day 10: Tour of the city and departure
Today is the last day of the tour. After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge.
After a quick city tour that includes the genocide memorial, artisan markets, and souvenir shopping, have lunch at a local cuisine restaurant before going to the airport.