6 days Great Ape package with Nyiragongo- Virunga national park

Trip Summary

6 days Great Ape package with Nyiragongo- Virunga national park : On this 6 day Great Ape with Nyiragongo package in Virunga national park, get to visit the mountain gorillas and also top it up with a visit to the chimpanzee family in Mahura forest. Conclude the safari with a hike up the active Mount Nyiragongo.

Virunga national park is one of the most visited destinations in the DR Congo and this is majorly because of the mountain gorillas found in this park. It is one of the only four parks where you can do mountain gorilla trekking. This is located in the Goma town and can be accessed via the Grande Barrier border of Rwanda and DR Congo.

You should note this package departs Goma on Mondays at 13:00 so ensure to align your flights with this schedule.

Trip Highlights

• Day 1: Drive from Kigali and transfer to Virunga national park.
• Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park.
• Day 3: Chimpanzee habituation in Mahura forest
• Day 4: Second mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
• Day 5: Hike up Mount Nyiragongo
• Day 6: Descend the Mount Nyiragongo and drive to Kigali.

Trip Description

Day 1: Drive from Kigali and transfer to Virunga national park.

After you have received your test results and are cleared for movement, your driver guide will be waiting to transfer you to the Grande Barrier border building where the tourism office of Virunga national park is strategically located. This is a 5 hour road transfer via the Goma Gisenyi border.

You will check in and receive your permits for the following days’ activities. You will after join the security convoy headed to Virunga national park. You will drive and arrive at your hotel in the park in time for lunch. You will spend the rest of the day at leisure at your hotel.

Hotel options in Virunga national park

• Kibumba Tented camp for budget and midrange option
• Bukima Tented camp for midrange
• Mikeno lodge for luxury
• Ngila lodge for luxury

Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park.

A very big day as it is the day you will be trekking the mountain gorillas. You will leave your hotel after having breakfast and connect to the Bukima ranger post where you will attend the pre trekking morning briefing.

After the briefing, you will hire the necessary things you may need and head out into the forest. Trekking mountain gorillas will take abit longer than the lowland gorillas because these prefer to stay on the mountain slopes which are further in the forest. When you meet your gorilla family of the day, you will spend one hour in their presence and after exit the forest for a late lunch.

Dinner will be served and you will spend another night in Virunga national park.

Day 3: Chimpanzee habituation in Mahura forest

Have an early morning to head out to the Mahura forest to search for the chimpanzee family. This day you will be taking part in the habituation of the chimpanzee family of Virunga national park. This is will be a morning experience and after head back to your lodge for a late breakfast.

The rest of the day will be spent at leisure either visiting the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage or visiting the park’s headquarters in Rumangabo. You may opt to relax and wait for the next day’s second gorilla trekking experience. Return to the lodge in time for dinner and spend another night in Virunga national park.

Day 4: Second mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park

Wake up for an early breakfast before you head out to the briefing point. Your driver guide will drive you to the starting point for your second chance with the mountain gorillas. You will be allocated another gorilla family and you will enter the forest this time as an experienced trekker.

Spend the allotted one hour with the mountain gorillas and exit the park headed for lunch at your lodge and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner will be served and you will have another night in Virunga national park.

Day 5: Hike up the Mount Nyiragongo.

Wake up energized for this hike up Mount Nyiragongo. This is a 6 hour hike uphill. You will have a briefing at the trailhead that will give you allowance to also book a porter or hiking stick before you set out.

You will start by 9 am and have two breaks midway to rest abit and reach the summit by 5pm. You will be able to see the lava lake from the top and you will settle in at the Nyiragongo summit shelters for the night.

Day 6: Descend the Mount Nyiragongo and drive to Kigali.

You will rise early to catch the sun rise from the top and take breakfast. You will have a simple breakfast at the top and after get ready to descend back to the trailhead. You will be back to the start of the volcano by midday and your driver guide will be ready to transfer you back to Kigali.

You will drive to Goma or Gisenyi for lunch as you prefer and continue further to Kigali for drop off at the hotel or at the airport as you will advise.

Trip includes:

• Safari vehicle with fuel
• Full time English/ French speaking driver guide
• DR Congo tourist visa
• Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
• Mountain gorilla permits x2
• Chimpanzee habituation permit
• Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage visit
• Mount Nyiragongo hike
• Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Bottled water

Trip excludes:

• International flights
• PCR test
• Personal expenses like tips, laundry, gratuities, airtime
• Optional activities