Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe/ Kampala to Mgahinga National Park.
The Climbing Nyiragongo driver-guide will pick you up in Entebbe or Kampala and drive to Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda. Mgahinga's drive will pass through major western towns of Lukaya, Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, and Kabale. Two stopovers are planned along the way. The first stop at the Equator line crossing. The second stop at Igongo cultural center near Mbarara for lunch. The drive time from Entebbe/Kampala to Mgahinga national park is estimated to take like 8hrs.
Meal plan: Dinner and break fast.
Accomodation: Kisoro Tourist Hotel (Budget).
Mondi Lodge Kisoro (Mid Range).
Ikoro Hotel (Luxury).
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National park.
You will head to the Mgahinga National Park gate immediately after breakfast to get a briefing about the gorilla trek. The national park guide will conduct the presentation covering what to expect during the gorilla trek. The national guide will assign the gorilla trekking group during the pre-trekking briefing. Other visitors will likely join you. The gorilla trek can take from few to many hours, depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest. in the evining you will be taken back to the hotels of you choice.
Meal Plan: Dinner, Break fast
Day 3: Transfer Mgahinga National Park to Musanze/Gisenyi/Lake Kivu.
In the morning, choose from optional activities around Mgahinga gorilla national park. Optional activities to do in Kisoro before traveling to Musanze or Gisenyi in Rwanda include; coffee making tour, golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga gorilla national park, canoeing at Lake Mutanda, and Batwa cultural experience. Once the optional activity is done, we will transfer to either Musanze town throgh Kyanika border of Uganda and Rwanda or Lake Kivu/Gisenyi area overnight as you prepare for the Nyiragongo volcano starting the following day.
Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner, Break fast.
Accomodation:
Amahoro Guest House (Budget).
Gorilla Volcanoes Hotel (Mid Range)
Lake Kivu Lodge (Luxury)
Day 4: Ascend Nyiragongo Volcano and over night at the summit.
We will drive from Musanze town or Lake Kivu lodge to Goma Grande Barriere, check-in with the Virunga tourism office at 7:00 am and obtain the Nyiragongo hiking permits. Then transfer to the Nyiragongo hike trailhead at Kibati ranger post. When you arrive at Kibati, you will get introduced to the rangers and get an opportunity to hire a porter for the hike. The hike to the Nyiragongo volcano summit will start at 10:00 am with scheduled arrival at 5:00 pm. Stay overnight at the summit of the volcano.
Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner, Break fast
Accomodation: Nyiragongo summit shelters (cubin)
Day 5: Descend Nyiragongo Volcano and transfer to Kigali.
On Day 5, you will leave the volcano summit and descend back to the Kibati ranger post. The average descends time from the summit to the base of the volcano is 4 hrs. You will be driven back to Goma Grande Barriere from the volcano base, where you will meet a Climbing Nyiragongo driver. We will immediately clear with both the DRC and Rwanda immigration and drive back to Kigali airport or Kigali city hotel for overnight.
