5 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Karisimbi Hike
5 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Karisimbi Hike will take you to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda where you will get a chance to visit the endangered mountain gorillas and climb mount Karisimbi which is the highest volcano within Virunga region and the eleventh highest mountain in Africa. Karisimbi is an inactive volcano that rises up to 4,507 meters above the sea level. During the 5 days Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi hike you will also take part in Kigali city tour where you will visit the historical Kigali genocide memorial centre, Kimironko market and visit the twin lakes of Lake Burera and Ruhondo.
Highlights of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Karisimbi Hike
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Day 3: Hike Mount Karisimbi
- Day 4: Hike to the summit and later descend down
- Day 5: Twin lakes tour and departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national park, depending on your location on the first day of the 5 days Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi hike, our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel or Kigali international airport, brief you about the safari and then transfer to Kigali city for a tour. During the Kigali city tour you will be able to visit Kigali genocide memorial centre where you will know more about the 1994 brutal killing between the Hutus and Tutsi, visit Kimironko market where you will interact with local traders among others. After the city tour you will go for lunch in one of the restaurants in Kigali where after you will start the journey to Volcanoes national park. The journey takes about 2 to 3 hours drive and on the way you will enjoy spectacular views of the rolling hills, landscape, countryside among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi hike you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trekking trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Volcanoes national park harbors different wildlife species including bird species, mammals, other primates like red tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, chimpanzees among others which will be spotted during trekking. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, playing, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, take photos and record the breathtaking moments with a flash less camera. After the one hour gorilla trekking experience you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide and return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Hike mount Karisimbi
Mount Karisimbi hike, after an early breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi hike you will carry your lunch box, enough drinking water, camping and hiking gears and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about hiking mount Karisimbi. After the briefing you will drive to the starting point where you will be given a walking stick, allocated an experienced guide who is knowledgeable about the mountain, hire a porter to carry your backpack and give you a pull or push and then start hiking in the forest. During mount Karisimbi hike you will pass through different vegetation zones such as bamboo forests in the lower slopes, Hagania Hypericum forest on the higher slopes and giant lobelia which harbor different wildlife species including mammals, primates and bird species. You will have a midway stopover when you reach at an altitude 3,700 meters for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Hike to the summit and later descend down
Hike to the summit, on the fourth day of the 4 days Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi hike you will freshen up, take breakfast and then embark on the journey ascending to the summit of mount Karisimbi. Upon arrival on the top you will enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful scenery, vegetation, views of mount Muhabura, mount Nyirangongo and Nyamulagira of Democratic republic of Congo, views of the surrounding communities, take beautiful photos among others. After having enough of the breathtaking views on the top, you will start descending down to the starting point which takes about 6 hours. You will have great views on the way and upon arrival you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for late lunch and later dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Twin lakes tour and departure to Kigali
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 5 days Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi hike, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a twin lake tour of Lake Burera and Ruhondo which are located at the base of mount Muhabura. Upon arrival at the twin lakes you will enjoy stunning views of lakes, beautiful scenery, steep hills, views of different bird species or engage in an amazing boat ride which is done in a dugout canoe. After the twin lakes tour you will drive back to the lodge for lunch where after you will check out and drive back to Kigali. Upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of your choice.
End of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Karisimbi Hike
5 days Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi hike includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Kigali city tour
- Karisimbi hiking permit
- Twin lakes tour
- Services of an English speaking driver-guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
5 days Rwanda gorillas and Karisimbi hike excludes
- Air flight tickets+
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips,hiring a porter among others.