14 Days Congo Gorilla Watching & Rwenzori Hike: Car Rental Congo.
Planning to go gorilla trekking in Virunga national park of congo & trek the Rwenzori mountains of Congo via the Virunga Side? Car Rental Congo Accepts that its hard challenge but once undertaken, the experience won’t leave you the same for the adventure n Africa. DR Congo has a lot of primates within the same National Park of Virunga, Learn more about Congo Parks.
For the past 3 Years, Virunga National Park had closed off the Rwenzori hiking adventure via Congo and even in 2019 Feb, the park reopened all safari activities except the hike of Rwenzori Mountains’ peak. This has left many tour operators that wish to offer Rwenzori Trekking tours via Congo to select and be using the Uganda Side that has 7 Days Rwenzori Trek, 9 Day Rwenzori Climbing using the two trails.
Car Rental Congo has tailored Virunga Rwenzori Trekking & Gorilla Watching tour with an optional hike to Nyiragongo Volcano in the largest national park in Virunga Mountains.
The Domestic Flight from Goma to Beni Airstrip, Later the private Safari Landcruisers will be used to transfer you to Mutsora which is the starting point for the Rwenzori Hike. This is where the hiking of the mountains will start and end here at Mutsora Base. Then when dealing with ground transportation we shall use a mixture of Fleet’s mainly 4wd Safari Landcruiser, 4×4 Landcruiser depending on the size of the group of Travelers.
Summary Travel Plan
Day1: Pick up from Goma International Airport.
Day2: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga & Visit Orphanage Gorillas
Day3: Nyiragongo Hike
Day4: Descend Nyiragongo Volcano
Day5: Chimpanzee Tracking & Take Flight to Beni & transfer to Mutsora in Lulimbi Sector
Day6: Start the Hike to the Rwenzori Mountains ( Mutsora – Kalonge)
Day7: Trek from Kalonge–Mahangu base
Day8: Hike from Mahangu – Kiondo Base
Day9: Trek to Peak Margherita Via Uganda Side.
Day10: Descend from Kalonge – Mutsora
Day11: Continue to Descend to Mutsora and Later proceed to Beni / Uganda border.
Day 12: Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day13: Relaxation at the Lodge
Day14: Transfer to Kigali International Airport.
Detailed Travel Plan.
The Logic behind the access of Margherita peak via Uganda is that you cannot Solely use the Congo trail to access the peak but it is recommended that we go via Uganda side. The Reason for the return to Beni other than using the Rwenzori Central Circuits is to enable us to get through the immigration process to be able to exit the DR congo as provided by Laws. Check on Congo Visa Guide
Day1: Pick up from Goma International Airport.
Depending on the flight to congo that you booked, Upon arrival at Goma International Airport, you will be welcomed by the experienced tour guide of Car Rental Congo or by the Safari Operator and transfer to the luxury, Mid Range hotels in Virunga National Park for Dinner and overnight. Mikeno Lodge for Luxury, Bukima Tented Camp & Kimbumba Tented Camp.
Please note: if your flight arrives early enough, you can take the Goma City tour to explore the local markets, areas that were affected by the lava of Nyiragongo, Lake Kivu, and then take the drive to your hotel in Virunga National Park.
Day2: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga & Visit Orphanage Gorillas.
After Early morning breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to the park headquarter for briefing about the gorilla trekking rule and regulations of the mountain gorillas in the wild Virunga Mountains. Depending on the hotel that you stayed the previous night, it dedicates the region of the park that you’re visiting on the gorilla trekking, You will enter into the jungle to search for the gorillas and once found you will spend one hour with them as you take photos and videos of them with their young ones. Later return to the lodge for Lunch.
Always remember to carry enough driving water during the trek and some simple Parked Lunch during the adventure in the largest National Park in Virunga Mountains that hosts Gorilla Trekking Experiences.
Note: Optional, Clients that are spending their nights in Mikeno Lodge ( Luxury ) will enjoy the extra Safari Activity of visiting the orphanage gorillas in Senkwekwe Center (mountain gorilla orphans in Congo) to watch th gorillas on the second time.
Day3: Nyiragongo Hike
As it is well known that its mountaineering adventure into congo ! this is the lovely safari activity that is enjoyed by any traveler that selects to explore the democratic republic of congo while on primate expeditions and trekking mountains.
This is a day for hiking to the summit of Mountain Nyiragongo an active volcano in the heart of Virunga national park. You will have a morning breakfast at the hotel, drive to kibati station which is the park headquarter for all those going to trek Nyiragongo, and go for briefing at the hiking starting point. Hiking starts at 10:00 am taking you roughly 6 hours to reach the summit of the volcano. Dinner and overnight at the tented camp.
Day4: Descend Nyiragongo Volcano
In the morning, you will begin the descend of the volcano reaching the base by 11 am and drive back to the hotel to refresh and take a simple shower, relax at the hotel as you enjoy the view of the Virunga Forest & Mountains. Dinner and overnight at Mikeno Lodge / Bukima Tented Camp.
Day5: Chimpanzee Tracking & Take Flight to Beni & transfer to Mutsora in Lulimbi Sector.
After Morning breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, you will be taken for the lovely primate Safari Experience in Virunga National Park of Chimpanzee Watching, this will be short-lived safari activity since you will be having a domestic flight waiting for you to travel to Beni in preparation for the Rwenzori Trek Experience using Congo Side.
Chimpanzee Experience in Congo: you can also visit Virunga national part for these amazing experiences in chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzee trekking safari is yet another activity that has attracted many tourists to the country to explore a number of attractions and different wildlife species.
After the Chimpanzee Tracking, you will drive back to Goma International Airpor to take the domestic flight to Beni Airstrip which is the closest city to Luilimbi Sector of Virunga National Park. Upon arrival at the airstrip, you will be transferred to Mutsora where you will spend the overnight awaiting the great Rwnori hiking adventure.
During the Rwenzori hiking, the accommodation is Camping Since there are no well developed Safari Lodge & Hotels but Huts that are used as Camping grounds on the Rwenzori Mountains. Learn More about Congo
Day6: Start the Hike to the Rwenzori Mountains ( Mutsora – Kalonge)
On this lovely first day morning of Rwenzori Trekking experience, you and experienced ranger guides, Porters leave Mutsora through Mutwanga and make your way to the first station Kyandolire, here mark the park limits. From Kyandolire, we will hike to the first hut Kalonge and spend the night.
The hike to Kalonge is approximately 5 – 6 hours and includes many stops. You will pass through a few rivers where you’re able to collect fairly clean water. Dinner and overnight at Kalonge Hut.
Level of Hike: It is not difficult compared to the other days ahead of Rwenzori Trek.
Day7: Trek from Kalonge–Mahangu base
After Morning Breakfast, you will start on the most difficult day of the Rwenzori hike Via Congo Side. It is very strenuous because you are constantly and gradually going uphill. Over the course of the day, you will ascend over 1500m taking you about 5 -5.5 hours. Dinner and Overnight at Mahangu hut (3310 meters).
Day8: Hike from Mahangu – Kiondo – Elena Hut
Trekking Rwenzori Mountains is the only experience that can’t be explained to anyone how it feels being on the Rwenzori Mountains but you have to trek it. Like Difficult it was yesterday, today involves constantly trekking over moss-covered tree trunks and roots while heading uphill. Today you will hike for about 5 hours and end up at Kiondu Hit, which sits at 4303 meters.
Kiondo hut offers a very beautiful view of the valley, the mountains, and the glacier.
Here, about an hour is recommended for a tea break before heading upward to Wasuwameso (4462m), if the weather permits. Wasuwameso is the highest point that a non-mountaineering expert can reach, and it offers an incredible view of everything – Lake Noir, the valley, Stanley Plateau, Lake Vert, Peak Albert, Peak Margherita, Peak Alexandra, and the glacier – all this, of course, depends on weather and visibility. Dinner and overnight at Kiondo Hut.
Note that Travelers who are having Magic dream of hiking the peak of Rwenzori Mountains will cross to Uganda Side via the RMS Central Circuit and they will spend their night at Elena Hut
Level of Trek: The hike can be a little slippery due to the moss-covered rocks.
Day9: Trek to Peak Margherita Via Uganda Side.
This day you will have to wake up as early as 2 am, Have breakfast at Elena hut, be ready in your warmest gear, put on your harness, warm hand gloves, and headsock, have your headlamps, and helmets and make sure you have sunglasses in the day pack on. trek to Mount Stanley, Margherita peak, through the Stanley plateau. On steep rocky areas, you will use the ropes to help you move. The guide will teach you how to use the equipment while on the ice. On the glacial parts, you will be required to use you, crampons, and ice axe.
After moving for a couple of hours after the Stanley plateau glacier, you will reach the bottom of the Margherita glacier. This is the most challenging part of the entire hiking Rwenzori experience. You will hike through this glacier up to the top of Mount Stanley, Margherita peak (5109m). At the top, you will have a view of Ireen Lake, mount Speke, and the surrounding environment. Then descend to Elena Hut for Lunch and later proceed to descend to as you cross to the DR congo side with the option of having a night at Kalonge or Elena Hut. The Group leader will guide you depending on the size of the group and the ability to cover the distance.
Day10: Descend from Kalonge – Mutsora
After Morning Breakfast, you will start on the descending adventure from Kalonge to Mutsora. The Distance s not that long as it takes around 4-5 hours. Dinner and overnight at Mutsora Camp.
You will take an additional Walk in the Lulimbi Sector of Virunga National Park that is purely Savanah area as compared to the other side where you participated in Gorilla trekking experience in Congo. Wildlife Safaris are also possible in this sector and game drives are possible.
Day11: Transfer to Beni / Uganda border.
After Morning Breakfast in the camp, you will take a drive from Virunga National Park to Beni town and cross to Uganda which is known as the pearl of Africa. The Republic of Uganda shares the Rwenzori Mountains with Congo and in Uganda its located in Rwenzori Mountains National Park which is mountaineering destination and wildlife adventure.
After Crossing to Uganda, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is a top wildlife destination when it comes to Tree Climbing Lions and Lion Experiential Tracking, elephants & other big five animals. Dinner and overnight at Kasenyi Safari Lodge or Bush Lodge ( Nature Lodge)
Day 12: Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will start the day with an early cup tea/coffee before embarking on a game drive along the Queen’s Mile plus the Kasenyi trail. On this trail, you will see elephants, waterbucks, lions, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs plus warthogs in addition to several birds. Return for breakfast plus lunch at the lodge.
In the afternoon, enjoy a 2 hours boat ride on the Kazinga Channel where you will encounter Buffaloes, Elephants, Hippos, kobs plus warthogs among others. This ride will also enable you to see an array of birds. Dine and slumber at Kasenyi Safari Lodge or Bush Lodge. Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day13: Relaxation at the Lodge.
You will spend the entire day at the hotel relaxation and swimming, in case you need to get around for the second time in Queen Elizabeth, Inform the guide. Dinner and overnight as Above.
Optional Safari Activities include Game Drive, Community visits, Crater Lake Visits.
Day14: Transfer to Kigali International Airport.
After Early Morning Breakfast, you will start on the journey to Kigali from Queen Elizabeth National Park which is approximately 6-7 hours including border Clearance via Katuna post. You will have your lunch in Kabale town located at the edges of lake Bunyonyi which is the second deepest lake in Africa. You will arrive in Kigali during the afternoon hours and be dropped off at the airport for the flight back home.
End of 14 Days Gorillas & Rwenzori Trekking >> Wildlife Uganda. Contact us or Reliable Tour Operators that work in a strong partnership with Car Rental Congo. Extensions tours are available to Kenya wildlife Trips
