6 Days Great Ape package with Mount Nyiragongo (Gorillas, chimpanzees, and Nyiragongo)
6 Days Great Ape package with Mount Nyiragongo is conducted in Virunga National Park, one of the most visited parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where you will enjoy a double gorilla trekking safari, a chimpanzee trekking safari, and a hike up the most active volcanoes within the Virunga Massif, Mount Nyiragongo.
This 6 days great ape package with Mount Nyiragongo starts from Goma every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; thus, to enjoy this package, you must be in Goma in time to join the convoy and other tourists on the same package.
This package offers 3 nights in the Mikeno Lodge, the most luxurious lodge in Virunga National Park, and one night at the Bukima tented camp.
Highlights
- Day 1: Pick up from Kigali to Goma to start your great ape package
- Day 2: First gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
- Day 3: Second gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga National Park
- Day 5: Hike up Mount Nyiragongo (ascend)
- Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and drive back to Kigali for departures
DETAILED ITINERARY
Pick up from Kigali to Goma, Congo, and start
Early in the morning by 8:00am, you will be picked up from a hotel in Kigali and start the journey to Gisenyi, where you will enjoy an en route lunch before crossing over to Goma via the Grande Barrier border.
After crossing, you will visit the Virunga tourism office at the Grande Barrier to obtain a Congo visa, gorilla trekking permits, chimpanzee trekking permits, and a Mount Nyiragongo volcano hiking permit, then meet the convoy awaiting to transfer you to the Mikeno luxury lodge for check-in, have a late lunch, and spend your evening at leisure awaiting dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge
Day 2: First gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Enjoy an early breakfast, pack enough water to keep you hydrated while you trek gorillas in the wilderness of Virunga National Park, also pack some snacks, and put on the best gorilla trekking gear and be led to Bukima police post for a briefing.
After briefing, you will be in position to hire a porter and then set off for a forest walk in search of a habituated gorilla family, which you will spend an hour with and return to the pack headquarters for a certificate and head to Bukima tented camp for a relaxed evening, dinner, and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Bukima tented camp
Day 3: Second gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Wake for breakfast just like the previous day, pack all you might require, and be driven back to Bukima police post for a briefing before embarking on a second gorilla trekking adventure in Congo.
After briefing, you may inform rangers to offer you a similar gorilla family trek the previous day or request a different family. You will later start the adventure in the forest to search for the gorilla family under the protection of armed rangers.
Once you find the gorilla family, you will spend one hour of close interaction and finally exit the forest to be driven to Mikeno lodge for a relaxed evening, dinner, and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga National Park
Wake up as early as possible, and if time allows, enjoy breakfast; otherwise, you will have it after returning from chimpanzee trekking.
Well, be ready to be transferred to Mahura for a half-day chimpanzee trekking adventure, where you will trail in the forest alongside habituators, since the chimpanzees are not yet used to humans and are still undergoing the habituation process. After spending almost 4 hours with chimpanzees, you will return to the lodge for a relaxed evening.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge
Day 5: Hike Mount Nyiragongo (Ascend) in Virunga National Park
Wake up for breakfast at your lodge, then check out and be transferred to the Kibati ranger post, where a hike to the summit of Mount Nyiragongo starts. While at Kibati, you will meet rangers for a briefing, and by 10:00 am, start to ascend the most active volcano in the Virunga Massif that last erupted in 2002, destroying several properties and human lives.
During the hike, you will have an outstanding encounter with several wildlife species, including primates, mammals, birds, and many more. While at the top of Mount Nyiragongo, you will enjoy a stunning view of other neighboring volcanoes within different parks, including those in Uganda and Rwanda. Spend an overnight at the summit watching a glowing lava lake that glows brighter in case of any raindrops.
Meal plan: Breakfast at the lodge, packed lunch, and dinner at the summit
Accommodation: Camp or tent
Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali for departures.
Arise at the summit of Mount Nyiragongo overlooking Virunga National Park at a glance and meet other hikers and rangers to start descending back to Kibati, where a convoy will pick you up and be driven to Goma.
While in Goma, your safari driver will be waiting to take you back to Kigali, where you will enjoy an en route lunch. Enjoy a brief Kigali city tour and be dropped off at your agreed drop-off location.
Meal plan: breakfast at the summit and lunch en route
End of 6 Days Great Ape package with Mount Nyiragongo
Includes
- Kigali pickup and drop-off
- 2 gorilla trekking permits
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Mount Nyiragongo hike
- Congo tourist visa
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- Meals as per itinerary
- Accommodation for 4 nights as per itinerary
- Enough drinking water
- English/French speaking guide
Excludes
- International travel expenses such as visas and air tickets
- Rwanda visa
- Life insurance
- Tips
- Porter hire
- Laundry
- Insurance
- Optional activities
- Additional accommodation
- Other expenses of personal nature
