Kivu Adventure – Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda

Itinerary:

Day 1. Bujumbura (Burundi).
Arrival in Bujumbura and transfer to our hotel for overnight. -/-/-

Day 2. Sightseeing Bujumbura
After breakfast we will start our city tour - we will visit “Place de l’Independence” and the mausoleum of Prince Louis Rwagasore - a hero in the independence of Burundi. The mausoleum is located in the “Belvedere” region, which is a dominating point of Bujumbura and offers a unique view over Lake Tanganyika. We will conitnue our tour with a visit to “La Pierre de Stanley et Livingstone”, the commemorating stone of the place where the famous explorers Stanley and Livingstone rested during their attempt to find the source of Nile. Afterward, we proceed with a boat trip to Rusizi National park where countless hippos and birds can be seen. Overnight in a hotel in Bujumbura. B/-/-

Day 3. Karera Waterfalls - Gitega
Early in the morning today we are heading to the Source of Nile. We continue then to Karera waterfalls, passing through magnificent tea plantations. After Karera waterfalls, we will drive to Gitega to visit the National Museum and Gishora drum sanctuary where we will experience the performance of the famous Gishora drummers. B/-/-

Day 4. Gitega - Bujumbura
After breakfast at the hotel, our visit begins at the National Museum of Gitega, then Boma the former residence of German governor before WW1; Drive back to Bujumbura for overnight. B/-/-

Day 5. Bujumbura – Nyungwe Forest National Park (Rwanda)
Today we will head to Rwanda border and after passing the border formalities we continue to Nyungwe NP on the Rwanda side. Nyungwe has incredibly high wildlife diversity and endemism having a quarter of all of Africa’s primates. 13 species can be found here, including the Eastern chimpanzee and two Albertine Rift endemics, L’Hoest’s monkey (Cercopithecus l’hoesti) and Hamlyn’s monkey (Cercopithecus hamlyni). The Rwenzori colobus has been observed in a single group of more than 400 individuals, the largest ever recorded of any primate on the continent. Overnight in a lodge close to the park. B/-/- 

Day 6. Nyungwe NP - Bukavu (DR Congo)
After an early morning breakfast, we can visit the national park. Optional activities as chimp tracking, canopy walkway or Nyungwe zipline are available in the morning before we  cross the border with DRCongo to reach Bukavu for overnight.  B/-/-

Day 7. Bukavu - Idjwi Island
We drive to the harbor of Bukavu and then take the speedboat to Idjwi Island, which is it is the second-largest lake island in Africa and the tenth largest in the world
Our hotel is located on the western side of the island half way between Goma and Bukavu, just 5 minute walk from the boat jetty. Free afternoon to relax along the lake shore. Later in the afternoon we pay a visit to a pygmy village,  just a walking distance from our hotel. B/L/D 

Day 8. Idjwi - Shushu Island - Idjwi
An optional boat trip to the neighboiring island of Shushu, a home to another pygmy community and a chimp family. B/L/D

Day 9. Idjwi - Goma
The boat trip in Kivu Lake continues to the North reaching Goma at about noon time. Goma lies only 15 km south of the active Nyiragongo Volcano. The recent history of Goma has been dominated by the volcano and the Rwandan genocide of 1994, which in turn fuelled the First and Second Congo Wars. City tour in the afternoon. Hotel overnight. B/-/-

Day 10. Goma – Kirotshe – Kitumbili Eden Garden - Goma
Obe day trip to the villages Kirotshe and Kitumbili, sitting along the RN2 road between Goma and Masisi. The region is shaped by volcanic landscapes and hills. We spend a couåple of hours to relax on the shore of Kivu lake before returning to Goma for overnight. B/-/-

Day 11. Goma - Kigali (Rwanda)
Today we will cross the border with Rwanda at Gisenyi. The trip will take about 4 hours. Hotel in Kigali. B/-/-

Day 12. Departure

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Please note: At the moment the Kahuzi Biega National Park and the Bukavu area are closed, we are working on a alternative itinerary with the same quality and experience. Booking are open for travelers.

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