7 DAYS CONGO LOWLAND AND MOUNTAIN GORILLA TRACKING AND NYIRAGONGO HIKING.
This 7 days tour will offer an opportunity to explore Eastern Congo stretching from the Goma to Bukavu area. You will explore one of the active Volcano in the Virunga mountain ranges, lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas. This consists of two nights at Kibumba tented camp, one night in Goma, two nights in Bukavu and one night at the top of the volcano, the tour starting and ending in Kigali.
Day 1: Transfer to Virunga NP.
In the morning after breakfast, you will be picked from your hotel in Kigali and set off to Virunga National Park in DR Congo crossing via Grande Barriere border at 11am and drive through Goma. You will enjoy the scenic views of the well-terraced hills and escarpments enroute to Gisenyi, with clear view of the Virunga mountain ranges. You will continue to Virunga National Park and check in at Kibumba tented camp located on the edge of the gorilla sector. You will have a relaxed evening where you will be briefed about the life of the gorillas, dos and don’s while with the gorillas for the following day’s adventure. Dinner and overnight at Kibumba tented camp.
Day 2: Gorilla tracking adventure.
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will head down to the park where you will meet your ranger guides for final briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas, and well as allocation of the family to track. You will then head to the forest at 8:30am and start the trek in search of the gorillas. This will take 1-3 hours before reaching the gorillas depending on the movement of these gentle giants in the forest. Once you encounter the gorillas, you will be allotted one hour with them, while observing their behavior and asking questions from the rangers. On return, you will have late lunch at the lodge and relax in the evening at leisure. You may have a nature walk in the forest as you look out for birds around the forest. Dinner and overnight at Kibumba tented Camp.
Day 3: Nyiragongo Hiking.
After breakfast, you will set off to Kibati Ranger Post, which is the starting point for the Nyiragongo volcano hike. You will receive briefing from this point; hire the porters in case you need to before setting off for the hike. The hike takes 6 hours depending on the strength and speed of the hikers. You will arrive at the top early in the evening, where you will have overnight at the Top shelters as you enjoy the views of the active lava lake.
Day 4: Descend the Nyiragongo volcano and transfer to Tchegera Island.
In the morning, you will start descending the volcano reaching down in
the afternoon. You will then cross over to Tchegera island where you
will have an overnight at Tchegera tented Camp.
Day 5: Tchegera Island – Bukavu
After lunch, visit the ‘Goma Volcano Observatory’ to find out about the measures taken to monitor the 2 volcanoes as well as other geological activities. Then, drive to Emmanuel Port to take big Emmanuel boat from Goma to Bukavu. Boat leaves at 18h00 and reaches Bukavu the next day at 06h00 in the morning. Dinner on board. Spend the night in the comfortable room on the boat.
Day 6: Lowland gorilla tracking.
On arrival in Bukavu and receiving at Emmanuel Port, Bukavu, after Immigration, you will drive to Kahuzi Biega National Park reaching early for briefing. The park covers an area of 6000 sqkm and protects a mountain forest in Eastern Congo, which is the most densely populated region of the country. Have a quick cup of coffee, enter into the park accompanied by armed Park rangers and trek towards the mountains. After the trekking, drive to Lwiro (optional) where there is the Scientific
Research Center (Entrance fee $70 each, not included), which was built in 1947 by Belgians. Here chances are to visit the Chimps’ sanctuary, the museum, the library, the biodiversity room and snakes in cages. Dinner and overnight at Orchids Hotel.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali.
In the morning, you will cross over to Rwanda via Cyangugu border and drive through Nyungwe forest national park with scenic views of the forest and tea plantations. You will visit Murambi genocide museum, Butare museum, Nyanza palace on the way, reaching Kigali in the evening.
End of Tour.
This package includes:
-Two nights’ full board accommodation at Kibumba tented Camp,.
- Gorilla trek and volcano trek permits,
- One night stay on Nyiragongo
- 2 nights in Bukavu.
- One night at Tchegera Island.
- Boat trip to Bukavu.
- Transport cost.
- Nyiragongo hike permit.
Not included in this package:
Beverages, rental of Nyiragongo backpack, porter fees, gratuities and anything of personal nature.
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