8 Days Virunga, PNV And Bwindi
This is an 8 days Virunga, PNV and Bwindi safari that comprises a visit to Rwanda, Congo and Uganda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda for gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience. A visit to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, a visit to Iby’iwacu cultural village and a hike to Mount Bisoke. The last destination will be Virunga National Park for gorilla trekking, and then you will depart for Kigali Airport.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking and visit to Iby’iwacu cultural village
Day 5: Hike to Mount Bisoke
Day 6: Transfer to Goma, Congo
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Day 8: Depart for Kigali Airport
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
On the 1st day of the safari, you will meet up with a guide a Kigali Airport, and you will talk about the safari before it begins. You will have a visit to the Kigali genocide memorial, and then you will proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Cyanika border. You will have an enroute lunch and then proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will arrive in the evening, check into a lodge, and have dinner. You will then go to bed and sleep.
Accommodations
Luxury: Bwindi lodge
Midrange: Agandi lodge
Budget: Buhoma community rest camp
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience
On the 2nd day of the safari, you will have breakfast and then be briefed at the park headquarters about gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will then go for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with the company of an armed ranger guide. You will spend 1 hour with the gorillas in their natural habitat, and then you will be returned to the lodge.
You will have lunch, and the guide will take you for a Batwa cultural experience to the Batwa community. You will meet and interact with the Batwa people, who will expose you to their culture and traditions. You will be transferred back to the lodge. You will have dinner and then go to bed.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
On the 3rd day of the safari, you will be transferred to Volcanoes National Park after having breakfast at the lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will pass through the Cyanika border to get to Rwanda. You will arrive at Volcanoes National Park, and you will check into a lodge. You will then have lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing.
You will be served dinner in the evening, and then you retire to bed.
Accommodations
Luxury: One and only gorilla’s nest
Midrange: Le Bambou gorilla lodge
Budget: Hotel Muhabura
Day 4: Gorilla trekking and visit to Iby’iwacu cultural village
On the 4th day of the safari, you will have breakfast, and then you will be taken by the guide to the park headquarters for a briefing. After getting the guidelines to follow while gorilla trekking, you will then have an armed ranger guide to go with you for the trek. You will spend 1 hour with the gorillas after spotting them, and after observing their behaviour, you will get back to the lodge and have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go to Iby’iwacu cultural village, where you will learn about the culture and traditions of the Rwandese. You will then get back to the lodge, have dinner and then retire to bed.
Day 5: Hike to Mount Bisoke
On the 5th day of the safari, you will be served breakfast, and then you will go for a briefing. After the briefing, you will go for a hike to Mount Bisoke. This hike will take you approximately 4 hours to ascend to the summit and about 2 hours to descend to the starting point. You will have views of the neighbouring volcanic mountains while at the summit, and the guide will transfer you back to the lodge after descending Mount Bisoke. The hike will include sights of amazing wildlife species like mammals, primates and birds.
You will get back to the lodge, have lunch, and spend the rest of the day at leisure. You will then be served dinner, and you retire to bed.
Day 6: Transfer to Goma, Congo
On the 6th day of the safari, after having breakfast, you will be transferred from Volcanoes National Park to Goma in Congo, where you will have a lunch meal at a lodge, and then you will proceed to Virunga National Park, where you will have dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodations
Luxury: Virunga lodge
Midrange: Kibumba tented camp
Budget: Bukima tented camp
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
On the 7th day of the safari, you will have an early morning breakfast, and then you will be given a packed lunch at the lodge. You will then head to the park headquarters for a briefing. You will then go for gorilla trekking with a ranger guide who will help you to find the gorillas. After spotting the gorillas, you will have only one hour with them. After the time spent with them, you will head back to the lodge, freshen up and then have dinner in the evening. You will then retire to bed for your night’s rest.
Day 8: Depart for Kigali Airport
On the 8th day of the safari, you will be given breakfast, and then you will check out of the lodge after breakfast. The guide will transfer you back to Kigali airport to catch your flight.
End of the 8 Days Virunga – PNV and Bwindi Safari
Safari includes
Hiking permit
Gorilla trekking permit
All activity fees
English-speaking driver guide
Pick up and drop off
4 x 4 safari vehicle
Mineral-bottled water
Meals
Accommodation
Park entrance fees
Safari excludes
Visa fees
Air ticket fees
Personal insurance
Tips
Personal expenses
