8 Days Best of Virunga
8 Days Best of Virunga: Take on an 8 day safari to the Democratic Republic of Congo visiting the Virunga national park for all the tourist attractions that are the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage and the overnight Mount Nyiragongo hike. Get a chance to not only visit the mountain gorillas on one day but on several occasions or even opt to visit different gorilla families per day. Get to also hike u the world’s largest volcanic crater lake at the top of Mount Nyiragongo and also visit the world’s only gorilla orphanage. Take some time to also visit the Virunga National park headquarters while in the park.
This package sets off from Goma DRCongo on only Mondays so be sure to make travel arrangements aligning with the schedule if you are interested in it.
Highlights of the 8 Days Best of Virunga
- 3 mountain gorilla treks
- Chimpanzee trek
- Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage
- Mikeno lodge
- Ngila lodge
- Virunga park headquarters visit.
- Mount Nyiragongo visit
Trip Description
Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Bukima
Connect to Ngila lodge
Your driver guide will be in Kigali at the agreed pick up point and time preferably by 8 am to pick you up to start your 8 day safari. You will drive 6 hours from Kigali to connect to Goma Grande Barrier border building to check in and receive your permits for the next days’ activities.
After all protocol has been observed, you will drive with the Virunga security team headed to Bukima ranger post where your hotel is located. You will check into your hotel and have a late lunch and settle in as you wait for night fall. Dinner will be served and the first night will be spent at Ngila lodge
Day 2: Mountain gorillas trekking in Virunga national park.
Mountain Gorilla trek
Wake up to catch a glimpse of the sunrise and have a quick breakfast thereafter grab your packed lunch boxes and connect with your driver-guide who will be waiting to transfer you to the Bukima ranger post where the brief before the trek is given. Enter the forest in search of the mountain gorillas and spend the allotted 1 hour in their presence shortly before you exit the park to have your lunch boxes.
Drive back to your hotel to spend the rest of the evening at leisure as you await dinner to be served at Ngila lodge
Day 3: Second mountain gorilla trek
Mountain Gorilla trek
Wake up for the second chance to meet the mountain gorillas of Virunga national park. Grab your breakfast at the hotel and your lunch packs then drive along with your driver guide to connect back to Bukima ranger post for the pre trek brief. Set out into the forest and trek for about 2 to 5 hours according to how far in the forest the gorillas are.
After trekking exit the park and drive back to you hotel to spend the evening as you may wish reading a book at the lodge or take on a more active activity like visiting a community project and return before it gets dark in time for dinner and second night at Ngila lodge.
Day 4: Third mountain gorilla trek
Mountain Gorilla trek
Early morning after having breakfast, you will set out back to the park as the days before anticipating the third chance with a mountain gorilla family. Be a part of the pre trekking brief and follow the rangers into the forest.
After the gorilla trek, drive to your hotel for lunch and take some time at the lodge as you wait for dinner. Dinner and overnight at Mikeno lodge
Day 5: Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage and park headquarters visit
Senkwekwe Gorilla orphanage visit
Wake up at leisure, have breakfast and choose to either go to the park headquarters in the morning hours or go visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage and do the other in the evening. The Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage is strategically located in the compound of the Mikeno lodge. Spend a few hours at the orphanage and connect back to the dining area for dinner and another night in Mikeno lodge.
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga National park
Chimpanzee trek in Virunga National park: Wake up early in time to catch the chimpanzees that are early risers. Set out to the park headquarters and join the team of individuals that are habituating the mountain gorilla family in the Mahura forest of Virunga national park. Get back to your accommodation for a late breakfast and relax or opt to visit the Virunga national park headquarters in the midmorning hours.
Return for lunch at the luxury Mikeno lodge and spend the evening at leisure up till when it is dinner time and spend another night at Mikeno lodge
Day 7: Overnight hike up Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Nyiragongo hike
You driver guide will be waiting for you after breakfast to drive you to Kibati Ranger post where the Nyiragongo hike starts from. You will hike up hill for about 6 hours with 2 stopovers and reach the summit in the early evening hours.
Enjoy the sunset view from the top and watch the lights from Goma light up the darkness from a far on a clear night. Dinner and night stay will be at the Nyiragongo summit.
Day 8: Connect back to Kigali
Descend the Mount Nyiragongo
Wake up early to catch the sunrise and the last moments at the top of the volcano. Have a simple Congolese breakfast shortly before you start your descent back to the volcanoes trailhead. Your driver-guide will be waiting to drive you back to Kigali and drop you off at your hotel or the Kigali international airport as you will advise.
You can opt to add on a visit to Tchegera island to cool off from the trip.
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