5 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike and Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda
This 5 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike and Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda takes you on an incredible hiking safari as you hike one of Rwanda’s highest mountains. During this safari, you will also enjoy gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda’s leading primate park.
Highlights of the 5 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike and Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda.
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 2: Climb mount Karisimbi
Day 3: Descend from the summit of the mountain
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Ibyi’wacu Village Tour
Day 5: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary for 5 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike and Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda.
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes national park
On the first day of the three-day Mount Karisimbi climb, you will be greeted by our driving guide, who will educate you on the safari before taking you on a city tour of Kigali. The Kigali city trip will include stops at the Kigali Memorial Center, Kimironko Market, and the Presidential Palace, among others.
After the city tour, you will have lunch at one of the restaurants before continuing to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda. On the trip, you will see rolling hills, gorgeous landscape, terraced farmlands, and locals, among other things. When you arrive, you will check into the lodge, have dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 2: Climb mount Karisimbi
Climbing mount Karisimbi, following an early breakfast on the second day of the three-day Mount Karisimbi hike, you will meet with your driver guide and go to the Kinigi park headquarters for a training on safety, precautions, and what to bring when hiking the volcanic peak. Following the briefing, you will be assigned a park guide and driven to the trekking trailhead, from which you will begin ascending Mount Karisimbi, which reaches 4507 meters above sea level.
Hiking Mount Karisimbi takes around 6 hours. You will travel through volcano edges, ridges, bamboo forest, severe elevations, calderas, and see fauna like as birds and primates. You will have a stopover at a camp at 3,700meters for an overnight and dinner will be arranged.
Day 3: Reach the summit of Karisimbi volcano and descend back to the starting point.
Climb to the summit and descend back, On the third day of the 3 day Mount Karisimbi hike, you will eat an early breakfast before beginning your hike to the summit, where you will take beautiful photos and enjoy spectacular views of the Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira active volcanoes, landscapes, forests, surrounding communities, and other Virunga ranges, among others. After the spectacular views, you will begin your descent down to the starting point, which will take around 3 to 4 hours, and upon arriving, you will be transferred to the lodge for lunch.
Retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Visit Ibyi’wacu Village
Wake up at first light, take a hot cup of coffee to warm you up and get in the moods of possibly the most exciting wildlife expedition activity; gorilla trekking. The safari guide will escort you to park tourism office to check your gorilla trekking preparedness, clear all formalities and the ranger guides will then lead you into the thick forests. Gorilla trekking is far more than meeting with the gorillas as you have nature all around you to interact with which the ranger guides will gladly interpret for you.
Using all their forests and gorilla trek experiences, they will locate the feeding areas of the gorilla family you are trekking and you have approximately an hour to take pictures, learn basic information about them and admire them. You will then descend the steep volcanic mountains to your trail head and reunite with your guide. You will get back to hotel for lunch, relaxing, sharing gorilla trek and Rwanda safari experiences with friends and family online.
Later in the evening, you will visit Ibyi’wacu village for a cultural tour where you will visit the former King’s palace, dress in traditional Rwanda attire, interact with the locals and watch folk dance performances from the intore dance troupe.
Retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer Back to Kigali
Departure to Kigali, after having breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and meet your driver guide to begin your journey to Kigali International Airport, where you will be dropped off for your departure flight. Advise of any other drop off location in Kigali.
End of 5 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike and Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda.
