4 Days Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike
4 DAYS GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI RWANDA & KARISIMBI HIKE
4 days Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike: This 4 days/ 3 nights Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike is a life time experience allowing primate lovers as well as adventurous travelers on a Rwanda safari to spend only 1 hour with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats as well as hike up mount Karisimbi one of the most hiked volcanoes in Volcanoes national park.
Volcanoes which is the only gorilla trekking destination in Rwanda. Another population of similar mountain gorillas thrill in Uganda the pearl of Africa within its 2 stunning parks of Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park all in south western part of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo with in Virunga national park. An hour with these endangered mountain gorillas is a dream come true as you watch them feed, play, copulate, breastfeed and many more.
Mount Karisimbi as well thrills in Volcanoes national park and is part of the 8 volcanoes found in Virunga massif that is shared amongst Uganda, Rwanda and DRCongo. Other volcanoes include Mount Bisoke, Nyiragongo, Nyamulagira, Sabyinyo, Muhavura, Gahinga and Mount Mikeno.
Well this 4 days Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike starts and ends in Kigali.
Highlights of 4 days Rwanda Gorilla trekking safari &Karisimbi hike
- Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park Rwanda
- Day 3: Hike Mount Karisimbi (Ascend) up to 3700m
- Day 4: Ascend to the summit and descend back and transfer back to Kigali
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Kigali City to Volcanoes national park: Your 4 days Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike will start from Kigali city with a pick up either from the airport or from a hotel. Our experienced safari driver/ guide will take you through a briefing session where you will get to know about this 4 days Rwanda excursion as you head to a journey to Volcanoes national park. Depending on your pick up time, you may choose to have lunch in Kigali city or at the lodge in Volcanoes national park.
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park Rwanda
Rwanda Gorilla trekking: On this day 2 of 4 days Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike, you need to arise from the comfort of your bed as early as possible, have breakfast that will be served at your lodge. Wear your best gorilla trekking gear including the best waterproof yet light trekking shoes, long sleeved attire, a cap, sun glasses, garden gloves and pack your insect repellant in your backpack, lunch box and enough drinking water then meet your guide/ driver to be transferred to the park headquarters to attend briefing about gorilla trekking. At the end of briefing, you will be divided into different groups each with a maximum number of 8 persons. Keep in mind that all trekkers MUST be aged 15 years and above below which you won’t be allowed to participate in Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Well, after briefing and grouping, each group will be allocated experienced rangers and guides and embark on a forest walk to search for the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The entire forest walk might take you about 30 minutes to about 8 hours depending on the movement of Gorillas, and the trekkers since the entire group has to move together in favor of the slowest person. Upon meeting gorillas, you will spend a maximum duration of 1 hour closely viewing gorillas and taking photographs. After this, exit the forest and head back to your lodge. You have lots of options to choose from. First and foremost, you may decide to chill at your balcony, or have an optional guided walk to twin lakes of Burela and Ruhondo or have an optional cultural tour to Ibyiwacu cultural village also known as Gorilla guardian village.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Hike Mount Karisimbi (Ascend) up to 3700m
Mount Karisimbi Hike: On the 3rd day of your 4 days Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike, you will start your day with morning breakfast after which you will park everything needed during the Mount Karisimbi hike. Keeping in mind that you will spend a night along the hike, you need to pack appropriate equipment including warm attire, wear light hiking boats as you need not to have heavy shoes that will be heavy and uncomfortable to walk with. You will then check out of your lodge with a packed lunch box and be transferred to the briefing grounds to join the group of other hikers. You are advised to hire a porter that will assist you in carrying an extra backpack. After briefing, you will start ascending the mountain where you will be rewarded with some encounters with primates, view the neighboring volcanoes, have a view of Karisoke research center where the primatologist Dian Fossey was murdered and buried at her research center. You will then enjoy your enroute lunch and get to camp for overnight at 3,700M high above the sea level.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Packed lunch & dinner
Day 4: Ascend to the summit and descend back and transfer back to Kigali
Ascend to the summit and descend back: On day 4 which is your last day of this 4 days Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike, you will arise on a cup of coffee at your camp then proceed ascending to the summit of Mount Karisimbi at 4,507M. While at the summit of mount Karisimbi, you will be able to view plenty of stunning attractions including the caldera at the summit, neighboring volcanoes, an aerial view of Volcanoes national park and many more. Later on, you will start descending back to meet your driver who will be waiting for your return. You will then be driven to Kigali city with an enroute lunch. You will then be dropped off at your preferred drop – off location.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of 4 days Gorilla trekking Rwanda safari & Karisimbi Hike
Safari inclusions
- A 4×4 safari vehicle for all ground transportation
- Rwanda Gorilla trekking permit
- Mount Karisimbi Volcano hiking permit
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- English/ French speaking safari driver/ guide
- Rangers
- Pick up and drop off
Safari exclusions
- International travel Visa and flight air ticket
- Optional activities
- Tips and gratuity
- Porter hire fees
- Accommodation in Kigali before and after safari can be arranged upon request
- Personal expenses like Cigars, beers, tips, souvenirs, laundry services among others.
