10 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari
10 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari (Kahuzi Biega and Virunga classic package)
10 Days Congo gorilla trekking safari is a long safari in the Democratic Republic Congo offering ample time to tour and experience Congo to the fullest, on this safari you are to visit some of the best destinations in Congo and Africa that are Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park. This safari begins from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda and also ends in Kigali
Highlights of the 10 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari
- Day 1: arrival in Kigali
- Day 2: transfer to Bukavu
- Day 3: low land gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega
- Day 4: Transfer to Goma
- Day 5: check in and transfer to Mikeno lodge
- Day 6: first mountain gorilla trekking second gorilla trekking
- Day 7: second gorilla trekking experience
- Day 8: relaxing day
- Day 9: hike mount Nyiragongo
- Day 10: Descend and transfer back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the safari
Day 1: arrival in Kigali
On the 1st day of the safari you are to arrive in Kigali, upon your arrival you will be picked and welcomed our company’s safari guide then transfer to your hotel in Kigali city, depending on the time of your arrival you will have a short city trip if you arrive early. on the city tour you will visit Kigali genocide memorial grounds, Kimironko market and many other sites, in the evening you will head to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 2: transfer to Bukavu
On the 2nd day of 10 days Congo gorilla trekking safari, you are to transfer to Bukavu, after breakfast you will meet your safari driver and head towards Cyangugu border to Bukavu in DR Congo. On your way you will have a stopover in Butare visiting Rwanda’s national museum and another stopover Nyanza visiting the King’s palace and Rwanda genocide memorial site. You will also have lunch in Nyanza and then proceed to Bukavu, on your way you will pass through Nyungwe national park and enjoy scenic views of Lake Kivu. When you are in Bukavu you will have dinner and stay overnight at Panorama Hotel.
Day 3: low land gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega
On the 3rd day of 10 days Congo gorilla trekking safari you are to engage in the adventurous mountain gorilla trekking experience, after an early breakfast you will head to the headquarters of Kahuzi Biega national park for briefing. Unlike mountain gorillas, lowland gorillas live in larger groups, from the briefing you will set off in search for mountain gorillas and when you find them you will be given only 1 hours to be in their presence while taking pictures and observing their behavior. Then you will head back to your lodge, have lunch and in the evening you will have dinner and spend the night at Panorama Hotel.
Day 4: Transfer to Goma
On the 4th day of the 10 days Congo gorilla trekking safari, you are to transfer to Goma, after morning breakfast you will checkout of your lodge and transfer to Goma on a boat ride of about 3-4 hours. When you reach in Goma you will check into your hotel, freshen up and have an afternoon of relaxing. In the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight at Hotel Linda.
Day 5: check in and transfer to Mikeno lodge
On the 5th day of 10 days Congo gorilla trekking safari, you are to transfer to Goma and check into Mikeno lodge, after morning breakfast you will head to Grande Barrier border. As your heading to the Grande Barrier Border make sure you are at border by 10:30 am and check into the Virunga Tourism Office by 11:45 am. At the Virunga Tourism office you will receive your mountain gorilla trekking permits for gorilla trekking experience and after clearing you will head to Mikeno lodge where you will spend the night. Then you will have lunch and in the afternoon you will either rest for a while or for a community walk , dinner and overnight at your Mikeno lodge.
Day 6: first mountain gorilla trekking
On the 6th day of the 10 days Congo gorilla trekking safari, you are to engage in the first mountain gorilla trekking experience of the safari, after early morning breakfast at your lodge you will head to Bukima ranger post for briefing about the dos and don’ts of mountain gorilla trekking. At this post you will have an opportunity to hire local porters to assist you on the experience, later you will start your trekking which takes about 1-2 hours to find the mountain gorillas. When you find the gorillas you are allowed to stay only for 1 hour while observing the behavior of the gorillas and taking their pictures as long as your flashlight is off. After one hour you will head back to Bukima ranger post, have lunch and head back to your lodge for resting. In the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight at your lodge.
Day 7: second gorilla trekking experience
On the 7th day of the 10 days Congo gorilla trekking safari you are to do a second gorilla trekking visiting another mountain gorilla family, after early morning breakfast you will meet your safari driver and head to Bukima ranger post for briefing about mountain gorilla trekking. Then head into the forests looking for mountain gorillas then spend only hour in the presence of the gorillas while taking pictures, you will then transfer back to Bukima, have lunch and then head back to your lodge for afternoon of resting. In the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight at Mikeno lodge.
Day 8: relaxing day
On the 8th day of the safari is a free day for relaxing, on this day you will do nothing but to relax and lounge around your lodge enjoying the beautiful surrounding of your lodge, you can also engage in birding, community tours. You will have dinner and stay overnight at Mikeno lodge
Day 9: hike mount Nyiragongo
On the 9th day of the 10 days Congo gorilla trekking safari you are to engage in Mount Nyiragongo hike, after morning breakfast you will transfer to Kibati ranger post the starting point for briefing about the experience and hire porters to assist you with your belongings on the hike. Hiking to the summit of Mount Nyiragongo takes about 4-6 hours, when you reach the summit you will be rewarded with the spectacular view of the boiling lava. You will have dinner and stay overnight at the Mount Nyiragongo summit shelters.
Day 10: Descend and transfer back to Kigali
On the 10th and last day of the 10 days Congo gorilla trekking safari you are descend and transfer back to Kigali, after early morning breakfast at the camp you will start your 4 hours descending journey from the crater rim heading to Kibati Ranger post. At Kibati ranger post you will meet your driver and transfer to Goma then head for Kigali, when you arrive in Kigali you will have lunch and then be dropped off either at the airport or your residence.
End of the 10 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari
Quotation inclusions
- DRCongo Visa
- gorilla trekking permits
- vehicle fees
- 4X4 safari vehicle and fuel
- services of full-time English speaking driver/guide
- bottled mineral water
Quotation exclusions
- tips
- entry visas
- air ticket
- personal nature expenditure
- extra accommodation before and after the safari
- extra activity not include on the safari
