10 day Tour Gorilla and Nyiragongo Trek Experiences

Burundi

Description

The 10-day tour Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo for cultural, birding, wildlife, chimpanzee and gorilla trekking, and Nyiragongo trek experiences.
The tour starts in Burundi and ends in Rwanda, and can be tailor-made for individuals, couples, small groups all year.

Day 1 : Arrival in Bujumbura and transfer to the Hotel

Meet our guide at Bujumbura airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Safari Gate Hotel

Day 2 : Bujumbura City Tour

After lunch, visit “Place de l’Independence”, mausoleum of Price Louis Rwagasore, a hero in the independence of Burundi, located in the “Belvedere” which is a dominating point of Bujumbura and offers a unique view over Lake Tanganyika; visit “La pierre de Stanley et Livingstone”, the commemorating stone of the place where the famous explorers Stanley and Livingstone rested during their attempt to find the source of Nile. Afterwards, proceed with a boat trip to Rusizi National park to explore closer the hippos and birds then visit the Albert’s crocodiles and the Sion market (optional) before transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at Safari Gate Hotel.

Day 3 : Source of Nile, Karera waterfalls & Burundi drummers

After breakfast at 7:00 A.M, drive to the Source of the Nile. Afterwards head to the stunning “Karera Falls”. In the afternoon drive to Gitega to visit the Burundi National Museum and enjoy a cultural visit to Gishora hill and drum performance before transfer back to Bujumbura. Overnight at Safari Gate Hotel.

Day 4: Nyungwe -Chimpanzee trekking & Nature walk

At 06:00 A.M after breakfast, drive to Nyungwe forest national park in Rwanda through the hilly country side after which Rwanda got its name as a country of a thousand hills. After lunch go for a nature walk for a probable trekking in the forest to find the blue monkeys and Angolan Columbus monkeys among others.

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking & Cultural tour

After breakfast, go on an early morning chimpanzee trek; walking in search of Chimps and other primates and return in time for lunch. After lunch drive to Butare where you will visit the Historical Museum of Rwanda and continue to Nyanza to visit the King’s Palace before overnight in Kigali at “Chez Lando” Hotel.

Day 6: Kigali City tour and transfer to Gisenyi

After breakfast, go for a Kigali City tour including: • Kigali Genocide memorial • Presidential Palace museum • Kandt museum • Nyamirambo women center • CAPLAKi handcrafts village to buy last minutes souvenirs In the afternoon, you will transfer to Gisenyi for overnight at Paradise Malahide Lodge. Next day: You will start a 4 day DR Congo expedition including three nights’ stay in Virunga National Park: two nights’ accommodation at Mikeno Lodge, mountain gorilla trek, volcano trek and one night on Nyiragongo volcano.

Day 7 : DR Congo border crossing and Leisure at Mikeno Lodge

Arrival at Grande Barriere border crossing by 10:30 am and ensure check-in with Virunga tourism office by 11:15 am. The tourism office is conveniently located in the Grande Barriere border post building, opposite passport control. Staff will provide guests with gorilla and volcano trek permits at check-in. These permits must be presented before the start of each trek. Once check-in is complete, guests will be transported to Mikeno Lodge at the Park headquarters in Rumangabo. On arrival to Mikeno, a late lunch will be served and the afternoon can be enjoyed at leisure, including exploring Rumangabo’s several nature trails, bird watching or paying a visit to the Congohounds.

Day 8: Gorilla trekking experience

After an early breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, guests will set off for the gorilla trek at Bukima Ranger Post. On arrival to Bukima, trekkers will meet their Ranger guides and local pisteurs to receive a briefing before starting the gorilla trek. Treks usually require 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted hour with the gorillas, trekkers will return to Bukima camp and then will be transported back to Mikeno Lodge where the remainder of the day can be spent relaxing on the lodge terrace or visiting the gorilla orphans at the Senkwekwe Center.

Day 9: Nyiragongo Volcano Trek

After breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, guests will be transported to the Kibati Ranger Post, departure point for the Nyiragongo volcano trek. On arrival to Kibati, climbers will receive a briefing and have the opportunity to hire porters. The climb up the volcano takes around four to six hours and trekkers will overnight on the summit.

Day 10: Nyiragongo Volcano descent-Transfer to Kigali.

Early in the morning, climbers will leave the crater rim and start the descent back to Kibati. Average descent time is four hours. Once at the bottom, guests will be transported back to Goma with drop-off at the Grande Barriere border crossing and our journey continues to Kigali for an evening flight.

Inclusions

All ground transport in 4x4 Vehicles. -English speaking Tour Guide drivers throughout the tour. - 3* Accommodation sharing with meals - Entry fees to all the National Parks and places of visit. - Gorilla and Chimp Tracking permits Mineral bottled water throughout the trip. - Drum fees. - All taxes

Exclusions

Anything not included in the itinerary will be considered as extra.