7-Day Nyiragongo Lava Lake and Gorillas - Congo & Rwanda

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Kigali

This large, modern hotel in central Kigali lies just 10 kilometres from Kigali International Airport, so it's the perfect stopover before returning home. It's a large hotel, popular for weddings and conferences (held fortunately in a large stand-alone conference and events centre). The rooms are quiet though, so take some down time, enjoy the varied cuisine at the restaurants, wander around the lush gardens and laze around the pool. And do visit the blissful spa. If you're simply overnighting, you'll probably only have time to enjoy the food, the pool and maybe a treatment at the spa. Explore Kigali (ask for advice at reception), visit the sobering Kigali Genocide Memorial and admire the bright artworks at the Inema Gallery. For families with young children, there's also a baby pool.

Main Destination:

Kigali (Rwanda)

Accommodation:

Hotel Des Mille Collines

• Luxury hotel located in Kigali (Rwanda)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kigali - Goma

After an early breakfast, we follow the road as it traverses the thousand hills, with spectacular views along the way. The inhabitants, mainly Hutu of Bantu origin with a Nilotic Tutsi minority, have after years of terrible problems, once again begun to appreciate the benefits of peace. A temperate climate explains the extraordinary diversity of farming: coffee, tobacco, sorghum, potatoes, beans, and bananas. The bends on the road afford us an unbelievable view of the entire Virunga chain. We drive from the vast undulating tea plantations to the hills around Gisenyi, and lying 1,460 metres above sea level Lake Kivu, whose beauty is magnified by the mountains and lush vegetation which surround it.

We cross the border into The Democratic Republic of Congo before stopping for the night at a charming little hotel in Goma.

Main Destination:

Goma (City, Congo (DRC))

Accommodation:

Goma Serena Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Goma (City, Congo (DRC))

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Nyiragongo

Situated in the east of the country, some 20 km north of Lake Kivu, the Nyiragongo volcano rises to an impressive 3,470 metres overlooking the town of Goma. The volcano is situated in the eastern stretch of the Rift Valley and belongs to the Virunga chain. Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano with two additional satellite volcanoes: Shaheru (2,800 m high, with a crater 80 m deep) and Baruta (standing 3,100m high, with a crater of over 300m in depth) as well as a number of other smaller scoria cones. At the summit is a crater almost 1,200m in diameter. Since the volcanic eruption in 1977 the area had enjoyed a period of relative calm until volcanic activity started again in 1994. The next day, we spend the entire day at the summit, walking, studying and observing the volcanic activity with fantastic views over Nyamulagira. Our backdrop to the west is the imposing forest of the Congo and the other extinct volcanoes which lie to the East.

Main Destination:

Mount Nyiragongo (Virunga NP, Congo (DRC))

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• In or near Mt Nyiragongo (Virunga NP, Congo (DRC))

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Goma - Volcanoes

At dawn we set out on our descent (3-4 hours). Return to and cross to Rwanda. The good tarmac road, which winds through the luxuriant vegetation of the banana and coffee plantations, takes us to Kinigi, at the entrance to the Parc National des Volcans. Overnight near to the park.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August (It is drier and hiking is easier)

High Season June to September (Permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Volcanoes NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeNone

ElephantRare

BuffaloRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LionNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Volcanoes NP (Gorillas, Rwanda)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Gorilla trekking Experience

As the first light of dawn breaks through the curtain of mist clinging to the summits of Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabinyio, Gahinga and Muhabura, we make our way into the Parc National des Volcans. Tracking the gorillas through the unique vegetation can take several hours of challenging walking in wet and muddy conditions. To see a gorilla, the trek will have been worth the hardship. Overnight near to the park.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Volcanoes NP (Gorillas, Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Volcanoes - Kigali

After a last look at the magnificent volcano range and Lake Ruhondo, drive to Kigali and transfer to the airport. However based on your time of departure you could visit the genocide Memorial centre and a tour in Kigali markets and other Art centres.

Main Destination:

Kigali International Airport (Kigali, Rwanda)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.