5 Days Bwindi Gorilla trekking and Karisimbi Hiking

5 Days Bwindi Gorilla trekking and Karisimbi Hiking : Hiking Mount Karisimbi is more interesting when blended with Rwanda Gorilla trekking experience, a 5 Days hike to Mount Karisimbi and Bwindi gorilla trekking is a better way of making the adventure more interesting and reducing of costs despite the challenges that come with hiking the highest mountain of all the eight Virunga Mountains with a height of over 4,507 metres above sea level where you are required to be fit enough, in good health and stamina to reach the summit.  It takes approximately 2 days of ascending and descending of the Volcano with great scenic views of the scenery including, different bird species, vegetation types like the montane forest and bamboo forests. At the top of the mountain, visitors are rewarded with a Branc Caldera and some crater lakes with great views of other mountains like Nyamurangira, Nyiragongo and Muhabura Mountain. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park is also an incredible experience that shouldn’t be missed on this safari. Uusally visitors with limited budget are recommended to do this 5 days Bwindi gorilla trekking and Karisimbi hike experience. Bwindi is located in the far south western pert of Uganda close to the Uganda Rwanda borders. The main difference of trekking gorillas in Bwindi as compared to Volcanoes national park is the gorilla trekking permits. Volcanoes national park charges a permit at $1,500 per person while Bwindi national park charges a gorilla permit at $700 per person.

Highlight of the itinerary

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park

Depending on your location in Kigali city or upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be met by your safari guide and transfer to Ruhengeri where we find the Volcanoes national park. It is a 4-5 hours’ drive from the capital Kigali to cross to Uganda with beautiful views of the rolling hills of Rwanda with en-route lunch in Kabale/Kisoro towns of Uganda. On arrival at the Katuna/Cyanika border, you will clear with the immigration office then proceed to your booked accommodation to rest as you wait for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation and meals;

Day 2; Gorilla trekking – Bwindi Impenetrable national park

After enjoying breakfast at your lodge, your safari guide will drive you to the park headquarters for a briefing about the mountain gorillas in Bwindi national park and be allocated a gorilla family to visit depending on your ability. After the briefing, drive to the starting point along with tour trekking gears and ranger guides. Enter the montane forest and start the search of the gorillas. The search of gorilla may take 2 to 8 hours depending on the location of the gorillas. On finding the gorillas, take an hour in their presence before you return. Meet your waiting guide to drive you back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Community tour

After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and connect to the border to cross back to Rwanda via Cyanika border which is the closest to Volcanoes national park. It’s about 3-4 hours to connect to Musanze where you will have lunch. After lunch, drive to Ibya’cuwa community village for a cultural experience of the Banyarwanda people where you will learn and be entertained by the local people. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation and meals;

Day 4: Karisimbi Hiking

Wake up early, have enjoy breakfast at your lodge then, connect to the park headquarters for briefing about the activity at 7 am before you drive the starting point where you will begin the hike with your ranger guides. You start the hike through Bisoke and navigate your way up to Karisimbi volcano. The hike is quite challenging and steep taking about 7 to 8 hours to reach a height of about 3,700 metres above sea level where you will camp for an overnight.

What to carry; A sleeping bag, worm clothes, gloves and water proof pants and coats, Water proof hiking shoes, a walking stick, Heavy jackets, sweaters, and hats

Day 5: Descend from the summit

Enjoy your cup of tea, then proceed to the top of Mount Karisimbi at the 4,705 metres and enjoy the incredible views of the caldera and sights of Nyiragongo, Nyamulagira and Muhabura mountains. After taking pictures and enjoying the top of the mountain, you will start to descend from the top return to the starting point where you will meet your guide. It’s a 6 hours hike with great views of the mountain with chances of spotting the different birds, primates if you are lucky. Meet your guide, have lunch then embark on your journey to Kigali city. The driver will either drop you off at your own booked accommodation or at Kigali airport for your onward flight back home.