Rwanda, a republic in east-central Africa, is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.
The Nyiragongo (Stratovolcano – 3469 m), one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is located at the southern end of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, in the Virunga Mountains range (Democratic Republic of the Congo).
The East African Rift is a giant collapse in the lithosphere of the African continent. It stretches from south of the Red Sea to north of the Zambezi more than 6000 km long and 40 to 60 km wide. It divides into two branches north of Lake Malawi. Large deep lakes occupy this rift: Lake Kiwu, Lake Tanganyka, Lake Malawi.
Arrival at the airport.
Transfer to Guest House / Boutique Hotel.
Dinner.
Transfer by 4×4 to Gisenyi. We cross the DR Congo border and enter Goma. Very few people enjoy this city, but it is without doubt one of our favourites in the whole continent.
Transport: 4 hours
Overnight in Hotel
Transfer by Jeep 4×4 to Rumangabo, the main base of the Virunga National Park. There we can learn about the work of these heroes to conserve the planet. We rest in an unimaginable place embedded in the jungle.
Transport: 1 hour and a half
Overnight at the lodge
Transfer by Jeep 4×4 to the base of Bukima through the deep Kivu, between peasant villages and dreamlike landscapes. Today we enter the jungle of the Mikeno volcano to track one of the families of Mountain Gorillas that live there.
Transport: 1 hour one way, 1 hour return. 3-5 hours trekking.
Overnight at the lodge
Transport by Jeep 4×4 to the base of Kibati. The road offers beautiful views of some of the Virunga, such as Karisimbi, Visoke and Nyamuragira. From there we start our ascent to the summit of Nyiragongo, at 3500 metres above sea level. The climb usually takes about 5-6 hours, with a difference in altitude of 1500 metres.
The Nyiragongo Trek is unique, crossing jungle, lava rivers and the Afro-Alpine biome, rich in endemic species of lobelia and giant senecios. A wild spectacle awaits us at the top.
1 hour trek.
6 hours of trekking.
Night at the summit
Descent from the volcano and transfer by 4×4 to the border of Goma and continue to the paradisiacal bay of Rubona, on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Transport: 45 minutes.
Overnight at -EcoLodge-.
Transfer by 4×4 to Kigali, with the last views of the Virunga.
Transport: 4 hours.
Overnight in flight.
Rwanda’s climate is tropical and its altitude makes the climate temperate. Temperatures vary with altitude. In the mountains, frost and snowfall occur. The average temperature in the Lake Kivu area, at an altitude of 1460m, is 23°C (73°F). Rwanda is considered the thunderstorm capital of the world because of the intensity of thunderstorms during its two rainy seasons: March to May and October to December.