10 Days Congo Gorilla Safari

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali Rwanda & Enjoy City tour

Upon Arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be welcomed by the Rwanda Safaris guide and he will orient you about the entire travel plan , fit in the time for every safari activity as per your travel plan , later head to the hotel for check in and proceed with the Kigali city tour  visiting the local craft markets , genocide memorials and other kigali tourist attractions , later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodations ;

• Luxury- Kigali Serena hotel
• Mid range- Retreat Kigali
• Budget Lodge - The Nest Hotel

Day 2: Transfer to Bukavu Town

After Morning breakfast, you will start on the 7 hours drive connecting to Bukavu town located in the eastern part of Democratic republic of Congo, which is the business center in south of lake Kivu , you will have lunch in Butare town and later proceed to pass through Nyungwe forest national park the home for chimpanzee watching in Rwanda, descend on river Rusizi and cross to Congo via Rusisi Border one. Later check in at the lodge in Bukavu.

Optional En route attractions include the primates in Nyungwe , Butare Museum, Tea plantations

Accommodation :

• Orchid Safari Lodge
• Hotel Begonias

Day3: Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

You will enjoy your breakfast at the lodge , secure your packed lunch , start on the 1 hour and 30 minutes drive connecting to Kahuzi Biega National park which is the home for the Eastern lowland Gorillas and Tracking these apes in the entire world is only possible in Congo that has two parks that hosts them but watching is open to Kahuzi Biega National park.  Upon arrival at the park headquarter, you will be given coffees to taste the local coffee as you enjoy the briefing about the rules and regulations to be followed during the trek , the conservation methods of the Eastern Lowland gorillas is different from that of the Mountain Gorillas as you will discover this when your in Virunga national park. After your safari guide will transfer you with the park rangers to the gorilla family that you will be allocated and enter into the jungle to search for the gorillas , once found you will stay with them for one hour watching them play and feed in the wilderness of Kahuzi biega and later return to the park headquarter for the transfer back to Bukavu town for dinner and overnight.

Day4: Visit to the water Falls , Chimpanzee orphanage Centre

Special day to feel the different surrounding of Kahuzi Biega National park like visiting the water falls , Chimpanzee Centre and the Pole Pole Foundation that is responsible for the sensitization of the conservation of the Eastern Lowland Gorilla and the Park . Pole Pole Foundation is composed of ex Poachers and Local Community , please carry some donations as you will discuss with the former poachers and wives of Ex Rangers that turned to conversationalists for the betterment of Kahuzi Biega National park .

The Nature walk to Tshiabati Waterfalls Trail takes 2-3 hours and chimpanzee orphanage center takes 2 hours yet the afternoon you will stay with the local pole pole community before returning back to Bukavu for dinner and overnight.

If your a small group we can arrange home stay with the pole pole foundation and transfer back to Bukavu the next day when taking the boat to connect to Goma City the capital in the northern Kivu .

Day 5: Transfer to Virunga National park

After Breakfast at the lodge , you will take a ferry that leaves from Ihusi port connecting to Goma City and if your traveling more than 4 pax , we shall use private speed boat which takes 3 hours and upon arrival at the port , you will be transferred to  Serena Hotel Goma lunch.

In the After noon upon arrival of the guide from Bukavu, you will go for the city tour of Goma to explore the destinations that were affected by the Volcanic eruptions from Nyiragongo Volcanoes in 2002 and later returned to the hotel for dinner and overnight .

Accommodations

• Serena Hotel Goma

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park

You will leave Serena Hotel after your breakfast and transfer to Kibumba park headquarter for the briefing about the gorilla trekking dos and donts while in the jungle with the mountain gorillas, you will learn that the conservation approach of the mountain gorillas is different from that of the Eastern lowland gorillas. You will later enter the jungle to search for the Mountain Gorillas which may last between 4-6 hours depending on the region where they spent their last evenings. Later you will return to the lodge  for lunch ,in the evening you will enjoy the wild view of the Mikeno Mountain, Nyiragongo Volcano and Nyiramuragira Mountain which are all park of the 6 peaks that make up the Virunga Mountains. Accommodation:

• Bukima Tented Camp ( Mid Range )
• Mikeno Lodge ( Luxury )
• Kibumba Tented Camp ( Budget)

Day 7: Second Gorilla Trekking in Africa's Oldest National Park

You will secure the packed lunch and head to the park headquarter for briefing , mostly clients that will have stayed at Bukima Tented camp , will walk to the headquarter since its close to the camp, and after enter into the jungle to search for the mountain gorillas, you will be visiting a different gorilla family which is not the same like that of your previous trek , once found you will stay one hour with the gorillas and later return to the lodge . Optional Activities include the visit to the rangers homes for donations and community walk, this is to be arranged on ground with your Safari guide.

Dinner and overnight stay as Above

Day 8: Nyiragongo Volcanic Hike

After breakfast, you will be picked up the your  safari guide to transfer to Kibati Station which is the starting point for  Nyiragongo Hiking Tour . The Nyiragongo hike takes about 5 to 7 hours depending on the physical fitness but no one is left out during the hike. Upon the arrival at the summit, you will have amazing views of the Goma city, Virunga national Park, and the mystical Rwenzori mountains in Uganda. You will also go for the greatest experience on the mountain where you will view the boiling lava lake. After observing the volcano, you will go for your dinner prepared by the local chef and porters ,  then overnight on the top of the volcano.

Accommodation:

Nyiragongo Cabin Shelters.

Day 9: Descend Nyiragongo Volcano & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

You will enjoy break fast at the summit , morning comes too early compared to other part of Congo and you will start to descend the nyiragongo Mountain back to Kibati Station where your Safari guide is waiting to transfer you to the town of Goma for lunch and later proceed to cross the border and transfer to Volcanoes National park which is also part of the greater Virunga mountains . You will arrive in the later evening , check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight .

Accommodation :

• Mountain Gorilla View Lodge  ( Mid Range )
• Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge ( Luxury Lodge )
• Five Volcanoes Lodge (  Luxury Lodge )

Day 10: Golden Monkey Tracking, stop at Visit the Ellen De Generes Campus & Transfer to Kigali for flight back home .

Wake up for your breakfast and go for a golden monkey tracking experience by the guidance of a park ranger. You will enjoy these unique species as they play and move around different tree species in the forest. After, you will move back to the lodge for lunch , make a stop at the Ellen De Generes Campus for donations before proceeding to Drive to Kigali International Airport .

Note: Your advised to booked the late night flight.