Congo Gorilla Trek & Nyiragongo Volcano – 4 Days
| Duration | 4 Days / 3 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Price From | $2,495 USD per person |
| Tour Style | Wildlife & Volcano, Gorilla Trekking, Private |
| Data Source | Gorilla Link Tours Africa — Virunga gorilla permit $400 + Nyiragongo $300 |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Goma — Lake Kivu
Arrive at Goma International Airport, situated dramatically on the shores of Lake Kivu with views of the Virunga volcano chain. Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure to acclimatize: stroll the lakeside promenade, visit the central market, and observe daily life in this resilient Congolese city. Evening dinner at a lakeside restaurant as the sun sets behind the volcanoes. Trip briefing with your guide.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
An early start — depart before dawn for Virunga National Park headquarters at Bukima. After the mandatory 7am briefing by Virunga rangers on gorilla etiquette and safety, enter the forest. The trek through dense montane rainforest varies from 1 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family’s location that day. Guided by experienced trackers who know each gorilla group intimately, you navigate through bamboo groves, across streams, and up misty slopes. The moment you find the gorilla family is profound — spend one precious hour observing these gentle giants: a silverback surveying his domain, mothers grooming infants, juveniles play-fighting. With fewer than 1,000 mountain gorillas remaining, this is one of the world’s rarest wildlife encounters. Return to Goma in the afternoon, exhilarated.
Day 3: Nyiragongo Volcano — The Lava Lake
Morning transfer to Kibati village for the Nyiragongo ascent. The 5-6 hour hike climbs 1,481m through changing ecosystems to the summit at 3,470m. Arrive in the afternoon at the crater rim to witness the world’s largest lava lake — a churning, incandescent cauldron that glows ever brighter as darkness falls. Stay in the summit shelters, watching the hypnotic dance of molten lava through the night. The contrast is surreal — the freezing mountain air against the heat rising from the crater, the infinite starry sky above the orange-red glow below.
Day 4: Summit Sunrise & Return
Wake at dawn for the sunrise spectacle over the lava lake. Breakfast at the summit, then begin the 3-4 hour descent to Kibati. Return to Goma for lunch, with time for a hot shower and a celebratory meal. Afternoon transfer to Goma Airport for departure. Take home the ultimate Congo double: standing face-to-face with mountain gorillas and spending a night above an active lava lake — two of Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences in one extraordinary journey.
What’s Included
• 3 nights accommodation (2 nights hotel + 1 night summit cabin)
• All meals
• English-speaking guide throughout
• Mountain gorilla trekking permit ($400)
• Nyiragongo volcano permit ($300)
• Virunga National Park entrance fees
• Armed ranger escorts
• All transfers (Goma-Park-Kibati-Goma)
• Porters for Nyiragongo hike
• Summit sleeping bag & gear
• Airport transfers
What’s Excluded
• International flights
• DR Congo visa
• Travel insurance (required)
• Tips for guides, rangers & porters
• Alcoholic beverages
• Personal trekking equipment
