6 Days Virunga National Park & Tchegera Island

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6 Days Virunga National Park & Tchegera Island

6 Days Virunga National Park & Tchegera Island: Take on a 6 day Congo safari visiting the mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park, add on a hike up the famous Mount Nyiragongo for a night at the summit. You will conclude this engaging safari with a more relaxed day at Tchegera Island. This safari package is available for booking throughout the year any day of the week.

Trip highlights of the 6 Days Virunga National Park & Tchegera Island

  • Day 1: Drive to Virunga national park
  • Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in DRCongo
  • Day 3: Mount Nyiragongo hike up
  • Day 4: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and boat to Tchegera island.
  • Day 5: Day at the Island
  • Day 6: Transfer back to Kigali

Trip description

Day 1: Drive to Virunga national park

Once you get your Covid-19 test results back or you are ready to set out on your safari, your driver guide will be waiting to transfer you to cross to Democratic republic of Congo. You will use the Grande barrier border where the tourism office of Virunga is strategically located in the building opposite the immigrations office. After clearance to enter the country, you will check in with the Virunga office, receive your permits for the next day’s activities and head out to join the security convoy headed to Virunga national park.

You will arrive at your hotel in the afternoon hours for a late lunch. Settle in and spend the evening at leisure. Have dinner later and spend your first night in Virunga national park.

Hotel options in Virunga national park

  • Kibumba Tented Camp for midrange
  • Bukima tented camp for midrange
  • Mikeno lodge for luxury

Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in DRCongo

As early as 7 am, be done with breakfast and drive with your driver guide to the briefing point of your activity of the day. Gorilla trekking briefing in Virunga national park is held at the Bukima ranger post. Get to connect with your driver guide and head out into the forest. You will trek for about 1 to 2 hours until you reach the mountain gorillas depending on how far into the forest the gorillas are that day. After your gorilla trek, you will drive back to your hotel for lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the terrace. Dinner will be served and you will spend the second night in the park at the hotel as the night before.

Day 3: Mount Nyiragongo hike up

Right after breakfast, you will drive with your driver guide headed to the Bukima ranger post which is the starting point of the Mount Nyiragongo hike up. You will hire all you need, grab your backpack and porters if need be and connect with your ranger up hill. You will trek for about 5 hours with 2 stops to catch your breath.

You will arrive at the summit in the later afternoon hours and spend the evening enjoying the breathtaking views of the boiling magma. You will be able to see the Goma city on a clear night. Spend a night at the summit.

Day 4: Descend mount Nyiragongo and boat to Tchegera Island.

Wake up at the top of Mount Nyiragongo and enjoy your last views as you take your breakfast. Gather your belongings and head back out to descend the Mount Nyiragongo to the trailhead. You will reach the trailhead at about 12pm and connect with your driver guide to drive to Kituku port to board the boat to Tchegera Island. 

Arrive at the Island in the afternoon for a late lunch. You will spend the night at the Tchegera Island Retreat. 

Day 5: Day at the Island

You will spend the day at leisure at the island taking on nature walks, kayaking, paddle boarding or snorkeling. You may opt to spend the day relaxing at the resort. You will have a BBQ lunch at the camp. Watch the sunset and later dinner will be served. Spend the last at resort as the night before.

Day 6: Transfer back to Kigali

Wake up at leisure and head out for breakfast at the hotel. Later, pack your bags and meet your driver guide to connect to Kituku port to get back on land. Drive towards Goma Grande barrier border to exit DRCongo. You will drive further to Kigali and be dropped off at your communicated drop off point. You may take on a brief Kigali city tour of the Kigali Genocide Memorial grounds and the Kimironko market if you have time before your drop off.

End of the 6 Days Virunga National Park & Tchegera Island

Trip quote to include:

  • Full time fueled safari vehicle
  • English speaking Driver guide
  • Accommodation
  • Mountain gorilla trek permit
  • Mount Nyiragongo hike permit
  • Tchegera island visit
  • Meals
  • DRCongo tourist visa
  • Bottled drinking water

Trip quote to exclude:

  • PCR Covid-19 test
  • Flight fares
  • Rwanda visa
  • Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal requests like insurance, airtime, laundry, gratuities, alcoholic beverages