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Explore the Mountain Gorillas in Democratic republic of Congo and climb Rwenzori mountains all on your visit to the oldest national park of Virunga. Rwenzori Expeditions the reliable tour operator that offers Trekking tours to Nyiragongo & rwenzori Mountains national Park in Uganda has tailored the 14 Days Congo Gorilla trekking & Rwenzori Climbing via Congo side without crossing to Uganda.
Climbing Rwenzoris in Congo
Rwenzori Climbing in Congo is less tourists and it requires experienced mountaineers that have the expertise in Mountaineering. Are you planning to go for a gorilla trekking in Virunga national park and also trek the Rwenzori mountains of Congo? The encounter will surely provide the best experience as the country is known for hosting a number of animals especially primates within the same location.
The 14 Days Rwenzori trekking & Gorilla safari starts from Goma International airport where you will be picked by Rwenzori Expeditions Safari guide , transfer to Virunga national park for gorilla trekking safari. After, you will again have a flight to Beni for your transfer to Mutsora, the starting point of the Rwenzori hiking activity.
Virunga national park
Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is one of the oldest and most bio diverse national parks in Africa, covering an area of about 7,800 square kilometres (3,000 square miles). The park was established in 1925 and is named after the Virunga Mountains, a range of volcanoes that stretch across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC. The park is known for its rich biodiversity, with a wide variety of ecosystems including forests, savannas, wetlands, and volcanoes. It is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including endangered species such as mountain gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, okapis, and various species of birds.
Rwenzori mountains
Rwenzori Mountains are UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwenzori Mountains are known for its stunning and unique landscapes, characterized by the Rwenzori Mountains, also referred to as the "Mountains of the Moon’’ – the third highest on Africa and the highest in Uganda and Congo. These mountains are famous for their snow-capped peaks and glacial features, despite being located near the equator.
Trip Summary 14 Days Congo Gorillas & Rwenzori Trekking
Day 1: Pick up from Goma International airport and transfer to Virunga national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking safari
Day 3: Nyiragongo hike
Day 4: Descend from Nyiragongo
Day 5: Relaxation at Tchegera Island
Day 6: Flight to Mutsora via Beni airport
Day 7: Hike to Kalonge at 2138m
Day 8: Hike to Mahangu at 3310m
Day 9: Trek to Kiondo camp at 4200m
Day 10: Hike to Moraine camp at 4350m
Day 11: Hike to Margherita peak at 5109m
Day 12: Descend to Mahangu Camp at 3310m
Day 13: Descend to the starting point (Mutsora station)
Day 14: Drive to Kigali International airport
Activities
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Nyiragongo Hiking
Goma City Tour
Rwenzori Climbing
Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Goma International airport and transfer to Virunga national park
You will be welcomed by Rwenzori expeditions safari guide as he will brief you about the 14 days Rwenzori trekking and gorilla trekking in Virunga national park – a home to several primate species like the endangered mountain gorillas. You will hit the jeep to transfer to the lodge within Virunga National Park ( Kibumba Tented camp or Mikeno Lodge) where you will arrive at afternoon , enjoy lunch and relax at the lodge as you enjoy the feel of being in Virunga Mountains. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Congo Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Have your early breakfast, and transfer to the Virunga National park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking rules and regulations. The Virunga National Park has over 10 gorilla families and the gorilla trekking briefing depend on the location of your overnight stay , those at Kibumba tented camp trek the gorilla close to the lodge and even those of Mikeno lodge will visit the gorillas of that sector.
Virunga National Park has over 4 sectors of gorilla trekking and be prepared for this unique experience on your Congo gorilla trekking with Rwenzori expeditions.
You will then be dedicated to the gorilla group to trek depending on the hotel you spent your night and later hike to the park rain forests in search of the Mountain gorillas and once found, you will be given an hour with them as you take photos, videos and also enjoying their daily life styles like feeding, playing and others. You have the chance to compare the Congo gorilla trekking and that of Uganda gorilla trekking if you wish to have that extension.
Day 3: Nyiragongo Trekking
After your breakfast at the lodge, you will drive to Kibati station, the headquarters for all those going for Nyiragongo hikes for registration and briefing about the experience. Hiking starts at around 10:00am and takes about 6 hours to reach the summit of volcano. While at the peak of the volcano, have incredible views of the lava lake as you enjoy the its beautiful roars. Spend your night in the basic huts as you wait for the next day to descend.
Day 4: Descend Nyiragongo volcano
Have your breakfast at the top of the volcano and then start off the descend to the starting point where you will arrive at around 12:00noon. Meet your Safari guide to drive you to goma city where you will for your transfer back to the lodge for refreshment, and relaxation as you enjoy the views of the surrounding features.
Accommodation at Tchegera Island lodge
Day 5: Relaxation at Tchegera Island
From the challenging Nyiragongo hiking experience and in preparation for the magical Rwenzori mountains hike, have a peaceful and relaxed time in the Eastern Congo’s iconic island. The island is known as a best place for relaxation for those from gorilla trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hiking. Among the activities to do include swimming, kayaking and others. Spend your beautiful nights in the beautiful skies around Tchegera Island camps.
Day 6: Flight to Mutsora via Beni airport
Have a boat cruise very early in the morning plus your tasty breakfast and later meet your driver for the transfer to Goma International airport for a domestic flight to Beni Airstrip. Upon the arrival at the airstrip, you will meet the company representative for your transfer to Mutsora station for an overnight as you prepare for the Rwenzori hiking experience the next day.
Day 7: Hike to Kalonge camp at 2138m
After breakfast, you will depart to Kalevia which is located 4 km away from Mutsora for briefing about the hiking safari and also make the payment of porters. From Mutsora you will head to Kyandolirwe which is the hiking starting point (1700 m of altitude).
The hike to Kalonge camp where the first night will be had, takes about 6 hours. During the trek, you will spot different species including chimpanzees or your lucky days or hear their sound. You will spot Rwenzori Turaco, Guerrezzas monkey, Cercopithecus (Red tailed monkey guenon), You will see a rare tree called ‘’PIJOUM’’ which under threat from locals as its bark is key to curing prostate and many other diseases. Also, the trek will expose you to different features like rivers, waterfalls and others. Kalonge means Bamboo and comes from the Nande dialect.
Dinner and overnight in basic hut in Kalonge
Day 8: Hike to Mahangu at 3310m
Enjoy your breakfast at the camp and then continue with the hike to Mahangu camp at 3310m. Also, a Nande dialect, Mahangu means between two hills. During the summit, you will cross different water sources including Nyamuamba river where you will get water for use as you get to the summit. The hikes also provide you a good sight of different species like primates, reptiles, birds plus a beautiful vegetation cover.
Dinner and overnight at Mahangu hut
Day 9: Hike to Kiondo camp at 4200m
Leave Mahangu hut in the morning after breakfast and proceed to Kiondo camp – a Nande dialect that means mud. As you reach Kiondo, you might go to WASUWAMESO – the pleasure of the eyes located 262 m up from Kiondo at 4462m of altitude. WASUWAMESO is also known as a panoramic area at Pic Maria and while at this pic, you will get a chance of seeing others likes Pic Marguerite at 5119m, Pic Alexandra at 5098m, Pic Albert at 5088m and also the glaciers around. From here, you can spot a gallery of water sources including rivers and lakes like Semuliki river to Lac Edouard.
Dinner and overnight at Kiondo Basic camp
Day 10: Hike to Moraine camp at 4350m
Have your breakfast at the camp and continue with the hike to Moraine camp 4350 meters where you will spend the rest of the day and night as you prepare for the tough hike to the highest summit – Rwenzori. The hike to this camp is one of the most dangerous trails as trekkers cross the faults with the risk of falling or evening dying.
Moraine means a place that had glaciers but later disappeared.
Overnight at Moraine Camp
Day 11: Hike to Pic Margherita at 5109 meters
You will go for a 6 hours trek to the highest range on the mountain – Margherita (5,109m) and Alexander (5,083) on Mount Stanley the third highest on African continent after Kilimanjaro of Tanzania and Mount Kenya. On this day, you will climb through narrow ridges and the walk will be a steep one on land of ice. The conditions at this altitude are mostly chilly, with the peaks covered in glaciers on some occasions.
After enjoying the white and ice capped Margherita, you will descend to moraine camp within 3 hours for dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Descend to Mahangu camp
Enjoy your breakfast at the camp and descend to the foothills of Rwenzori massifs. You will spend the night at Mahangu camp as the descend is always easier than the hiking.
Day 13: Descend to the starting point (Mutsora station)
After your breakfast, leave Mahangu camp and slope to Mutsora station, the starting point of the mountains. You will meet your driver for your transfer to Beni Airstrip for the flight back to Goma international airport where you will be joined by the Safari guide to transfer you to Serena hotel goma for dinner and overnight.
Day 14: Drive to Kigali airport.
In the morning after breakfast, check out of the lodge and cross Grander barrier border post to Rwanda where you will proceed to connect to Kigali international airport for the flight back home. End of the 14 days Gorillas & Rwenzori trek which is the best suitable package for Rwenzori trekking via Democratic republic of Congo.
Learn About Rwenzori Mountains national park that offers breathtaking views of of glaciers, snow caped mountains, lakes, waterfalls, where it is contiguous with Virunga National Park in Congo which offers great chances of gorilla trekking.
Planning to visit Democratic republic of Congo, the last country to join the East African Community? Dont miss to visit the lovely and the oldest national park in Africa ( Virunga national park ) that hosts the Mountain gorillas in the virunga Massif and unique climbing to the most active Nyiragongo Volcano.
