5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Safari

Tour Type

Explore Tours

5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Safari Overview

5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Safari covers two aspects which are Rwanda Gorilla tracking at Virunga national park and mountain Karisimbi hike with an inclusion of a Kigali city tour. Nextgen Safaris brings you the best 5 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari & Karisimbi Volcano Hike Rwanda itinerary.

5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Safari Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & Virunga National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
Day 3: Hiking the Karisimbi Mountain Volcano
Day 4: Continue to Karisimbi
Day 5: Kigali Airport Tour

5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Safari Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & Virunga National Park.

On the first day of your 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Rwanda, you will be met at Kigali International Airport by your Nextgen Safaris guide who will give you a brief tour of Kigali City before beginning your drive to the Virunga National Park. Lunch in Kigali at a local restaurant, to give you the opportunity to taste some Rwandese local food. In Kigali, there are also local markets for you to explore if you are interested. Your guide will introduce these options to you. After lunch you will proceed to Kinigi in the Virunga National Park for an afternoon Gorilla Trek in search of the Silverbacks and their families.

The drive from Kigali to the Park Gate is about 2 hours. After the Gorilla Trek, you will be taken to your hotel for relaxation or you may opt to do a short visit to a local community to meet the indigenous people in the area. Overnight at the preferred accommodation facility

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.

After breakfast on the second day of your 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Rwanda, you will be taken to the Virunga National Park headquarters where you will meet your Ranger-Guide who will lead you on a Gorilla track different from yesterday. It could take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours to spot the gorillas, depending on where they are on that day. After trekking, if time permits, you will be taken to Ruthengeri for lunch and a tour of the beautiful lakes in the region and later drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight. Overnight at the preferred accommodation facility.

Karisimbi mountain

Day 3: Hiking the Karisimbi Mountain Volcano.

An early breakfast, you will be taken to the base camp of the volcano on Karisimbi Mountain for a briefing, and then taken to the start point for the 2-day climb. You will be accompanied by a guide, as well as porters who will carry your luggage. On the first day, the climb will take about 6 hours. The first overnight will be at a camp at an elevation of 3,700 meters. Overnight at the mountain camp.

Day 4: Continue to Karisimbi.

After early morning breakfast at the camp, you will continue climbing to the top of Karisimbi Mountain. This will take about 4 hours to reach the summit. The fascinatingly unusual vegetation and the magnificent scenery will make the hard climb worth it. After reaching the summit, you will then descend the mountain for a meet at the base with the Nextgen Safari guide who will then transport you to Kigali. En route to Kigali, you may make a stop or two at a local market or handicraft shop. Overnight at the preferred accommodation facility.

Day 5: Kigali.

After breakfast on the last day of your 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Rwanda, you will be picked up at your hotel and given a further tour of Kigali and its environs. There are many sites to see in Kigali City and depending on your flight time, you will determine how many of these attractions you will be able to see before dropping off at the airport for your flight/ hotel. End of 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Karisimbi Volcano Hike Safari Accommodation is booked in accordance with your preferences and depending on your budget and availability.

ACCOMMODATION

KIGALI KIGALI SERENA HOTEL The Kigali Serena Hotel is centrally located in the city; the hotel has become Kigali’s natural business hub. This is a luxury property with all modern conveniences. There are inside and outside dining options, a swimming pool, and a lounge and bar that opens onto a wide sundeck with awesome views of Kigali’s many green hills. Features:

Business Center
Air Conditioning
Babysitting
Laundry service
Elevator
Fitness center
Free Parking
Wifi
Satellite TV
Spa services

VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK

VIRUNGA LODGE ‘The Virunga Lodge sits on a ridge with stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes and twin lakes Bulera and Ruhonda. The accommodation is a number of Bandas, each with a terrace, with breathtaking views as well. The property is powered by Solar; there are stone fireplaces, open living rooms, and private terraces in all the Bandas. Features:

Wifi,
Gift Shop
Complimentary Massage
Laundry service

GORILLA NEST LODGE

The Gorilla Nest Lodge offers you accommodation in a magical spot, where you feel you are sharing the Mountain Gorilla’s family space. There are breathtaking views from the lodge’s many terraces; the lodge is situated on the foothills of the Virunga Volcano Range. The surrounding Eucalyptus forest offers extraordinary solitude. Facilities

Close to Dian Fossey’s Karisoke Camp
Restaurant with authentic African cuisine

GENERAL INFORMATION ON 5 DAYS RWANDA GORILLA AND KARISIMBI VOLCANO HIKE

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

All visitors to Rwanda must have a valid passport with at least 4 consecutive blanks pages. Any applicable visa and/or relevant documentation are the responsibility of the traveler. For further information on Visa requirements visitors are advised to contact their nearest Rwanda Embassy or Consulate.

LANGUAGE:

English/ French

TIME:

GMT +3

VOLTAGE:

220 Volts/AC50Hz. Sockets are UK style, 3 pin square plugs. Power is from the government in the city/major towns and generator with inverter back up in the Safari Lodges and Camps.

CURRENCY:

Foreign currency must be changed at the Bank, Bureau de Change, and Hotel/Safari lodge/Camp/Resort. Major Credit Cards, Master card, Visa, American Express, are usually accepted throughout the country. Where credit cards are accepted, the payment will normally be recorded in US$ regardless of the card’s default currency.

CLOTHING:

Dress is mainly informal and should be comfortable as well as practical. Something warm should be brought along for early morning and evenings. Safari clothes are available from hotels/lodges/camps.

BAGGAGE:

Where possible, travel light. Baggage space on safari is limited to medium suitcase or soft bag per person plus reasonable amount of hand luggage. There is 15 Kilogram per person limit on all flights to the wildlife sanctuaries. Excess luggage must be stored in your arrival hotel.

WATER:

You will find many different of opinion of what is safe and what is not. We recommend for peace of mind, to drink local Bottled Mineral water. It is important to drink plenty of water especially during the hotter months. We would recommend that guests drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration.

HEALTH;

East Africa is a safe and secure destination; however, it is a good idea to take a few precautions. Kindly consult your GP or local doctor at least 6 weeks before you travel, with regards:

Malaria prophylactics. East Africa is a known malaria area and preventive measures are essential. You are advised to take one of the recommended anti-malarial drugs. Be sure to wear long sleeved shorts and trousers after sunset and spray the exposed parts of your body with a mosquito repellent spray

Remember to protect yourself from direct sun rays with sunscreen cream or safari hat.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS:

For those guests with specific dietary requirement, please ensure we are notified prior to travel

GRATUITIES:

As a guideline and dependent on how happy you are, we would suggest the following:

The General Hotel/Lodge/Camp Staff – Approximately U$ 10.00 per person per day

Driver Guides – Approximately US$ 15.00 to US$ 20.00 per person per day

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Please be careful when photographing public buildings, airports, bridges, the national flag and people in uniform. Ensure that you have sought permission before photographing local people and their villages. If in doubt, please check with your guide.

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