5 Days Virunga Mountain Hiking Safari

The 5 days takes you to three of the 8 Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda and Congo which include Bisoke at 3700m ASL, Mount Karisimbi which is a strato volcano and is currently dormant. At 4,507 meters, Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major mountains of the range.

Then you will cross to Congo and hike the Nyiragongo active Volcano in North Kivu. You will hike and have an overnight camping and enjoying the view of the flaming magma. The next day descend and drive back to Rwanda.

Details.

Day 1- Transfer to Volcanoes National park and Bisoke Hike.

Wake up very early in the morning and transfer to Volcanoes National park about 2hrs drive from Kigali. Your driver guide will transfer you for briefing at the park headquarters, which starts at before 8.30am.

The trek starts early morning from the offices in Kinigi. Your guide will brief you on what to expect while you hike and will transfer you to the starting point. The hike gets steep, there will be porters at the point, and you are advised to take one to help carry your backpack and help support you when you are going down the slippery trails.

After 6 hours of trekking, you summit the Mountain and on the top is a beautiful crater. After relaxing and having your lunch at the top, starting the descent down and return to the lodge for refreshment and cross over from Gisenyi to Congo.

Day 2-Karisimbi hike

Wake Up early in the morning have breakfast and report at the park headquarters before 8:30am to receive short briefings from the park wardens or ranger guides about the dos and don’ts. The hike starts from the foothill of volcanoes or at the mount Bisoke. The hike starts very early in the morning and it takes about 6 hours reaching the first stopping place at an altitude of 3,700m for an overnight and then the next day you have breakfast and will continue up to the top.

While at the op you will be gifted a chance to view different volcanoes including distant views of the Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira volcanoes, you will also have a chance to view various species of birds, primates like monkeys and if lucky enough you will spot the wondering mountain gorillas.

Day 3- Descend Karisimbi and Transfer to D.R. Congo.

Today, you will hike unto the summit rewarding you with great views of the created lake at the top of the volcano and sights of other volcanoes of the Virunga conservation region. Later descent the volcano and find your guide waiting for you drive to your hotel for lunch after which, in the afternoon drive to back to Congo via Gisenyi for Nyiragongo Hike.

Day 4- Nyiragongo Hike.

After an early breakfast, today is the real adventure where you will spend a day hiking the live volcano, Mount Nyiragongo. The trek includes a walk through the lush forest and lava fields with a steep incline near the top and includes an overnight stay in the Nyiragongo Crater Cabanas on the volcano rim. The stunning views, both during the day and night, make this an unforgettable experience. Later on, you will stay for overnight in tents at the rim of the giant crater, high above the active lava lake.

Make sure you carry a sleeping bag, change of dry clothes, sturdy walking shoes, rain gear, warm clothes (sweater or jacket) since it is cold on the volcano rim, a hat, insect repellents, well charged torch and camera, toiletries and any other personal essentials.

Day 5- Descend back to the headquarters and transfer to Kigali and Departure

After breakfast, you will descend by 7:00am arriving at the trail head before lunch. You will continue back to Goma City for lunch. Thereafter, you will be transferred back to Rwanda, Kigali International Airport for departure.

Top Rwanda Gorilla Tours & Safari Packages

Known by many as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, remarkable Rwanda is a beautiful country. A gorilla safari in Rwanda does not only come alone, but with a lot of other optional experiences including wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee trekking tours in Nyungwe National Park and tours to Genocide Memorial Centers. See see some of our top gorilla tours in Rwanda and safari packages.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.