5 Days Nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike
5 days Nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike is one of the short combined Rwanda and Congo safari that takes you onto an adventure to trek the habituated chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park one of the best primate destinations in Rwanda with 13 primate species. After trekking chimpanzees, you will then head to Virunga national park where you will then hike up the world’s most active volcano “Mount Nyiragongo”. This 5 days Nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda.
Highlights of the 5 Days Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike
- Day 1: Kigali pick up and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 3: Transfer to Gisenyi
- Day 4: Drive to Goma and Hike Mount Nyiragongo (Ascend)
- Day 5: Descend Mount Nyiragongo back to Kigali for departures
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali pick up and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park: Start your day 1 of 5 days Nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike with a hotel pick up from Kigali and embark on a road transfer to Nyungwe forest national park. The distance is a bit long but so rewarding with lots of fascinating tourist attraction ranging from rolling hills of Kigali, stunning vegetation cover and all other possible views along the way to the park. Lunch will be enjoyed enroute and upon arrival, you will proceed for hotel check in, dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park: After breakfast on day 2 of 5 days Nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike, pack all that is crucial for the chimpanzee trekking adventure including the best attire and set off for a transfer to the park headquarters to attend the briefing after which you will be led into the forest to search for the habituated troop of chimpanzees as they are found of roaming the forest in search of food. During chimpanzee trekking, you will surely be rewarded with other encounters including other primates since the forest is a home to 13 species of primates, mammals, birds, and the entire flora that is eye catching. The entire trek will last from a few minutes to about 5 hours depending on the movement of chimpanzees, nature of the forest and many other factors. However, upon finding the chimpanzees, you will spend only one hour in their presence taking photographs and interacting with the chimpanzees closely and finally exit the forest to return to your lodge for lunch.
Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park: Upon accomplishing lunch, you will embark on an evening 2 hours canopy walk that start from Uwinka where you will take a walk on a 150M stretch raised at about 50M high. This canopy walk is still considered the best in the world and amongst the top activities done in Nyungwe forest national park Rwanda. Well, while on a canopy walk, you will be able to view more primates, mammals, birds, butterflies and identify different plant species including those met while on chimpanzee trekking. Later on, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Gisenyi
Transfer to Gisenyi: As soon as you are done with breakfast on day 3 of 5 days Nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike, check out of your lodge and meet your safari driver ready for a drive to Gisenyi where you will are expected to arrive during lunch time, proceed to have your lunch and spend your afternoon at Lake Kivu. There are lots of activities to engage in on Lake Kivu including boat cruise, nature walk among others. Close your day will a hotel check in for dinner and overnight stay in Gisenyi Rwanda.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Drive to Goma and Hike Mount Nyiragongo (Ascend)
Nyiragongo hiking safari (Ascend): On day 4 of 5 days Nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike, arise from the comfort of your bed as early as possible, have your heavy breakfast, pack all your requirements that you might need during the hike and while at the summit of Nyiragongo then check out of the lodge and be ready for transfer to Goma via Grande Barrier where you will be able to obtain a Congo Visa then visit the Virunga park official to obtain mount Nyiragongo permit and finally meet the convoy for a drive to Kibati ranger post for a briefing. As soon as the briefing is done, you will then start the journey into the wilderness of Virunga national park to start the ascension of the most active Volcano that last erupted in 2002 causing massing distraction of lives and property. During Mount Nyiragongo Hike, you will be able to encounter with several fauna and flora species and upon arrival at the summit, you will be able to have a whole night all by yourself to watch the boiling lava lake.
Meal plan: breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Day 5: Descend Mount Nyiragongo back to Kigali for departures
Descend back to Kigali for departures: On day 5 of 5 days Nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking and Nyiragongo hike which is yet the last day of your safari, you will be expected to arise up early in the morning at the summit of Mount Nyiragongo, enjoy your breakfast if available then meet other hikers ready to start descending back to Kibati ranger post where a convoy will then be ready to drive you back to Goma and crossover to Gisenyi Rwanda to meet your safari driver for a transfer to Kigali for a brief city tour, lunch and departures.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch.
END OF 5 DAYS NYUNGWE FOREST CHIMPANZEE TREKKING AND MOUNT NYIRAGONGO HIKE
