7 Days Congo Gorilla Safari Tour

The Democratic Republic of Congo will offer you a thrilling experience with a comparison between two species of gorillas. This safari begins and ends in Kigali. where you will find some of the few remaining mountain gorillas in Congo. You will also hike Nyiragongo, an active volcano with the best views of a lava lake at its summit. The lower slopes of this volcano are home to various animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bush bucks. Eastern lowland gorillas, also called Grauer’s gorillas, are the biggest kind of gorilla. They’re special because they’re only in one place: Kahuzi Biega National Park. This park is home to more than 9 gorilla families, but only 2 families are used to seeing people and are ready for visitors every day. Around 350 of the world’s estimated 1,075 wild mountain gorillas live in the resource-rich Virunga mountains, the exploitation of which threatens the species’ very existence. Far less abundant and more beautiful than any raw material, this majestic great ape is DRC’s real treasure.

Tour Plan

DAY 1: Transfer to Bukavu – Kahuzi Biega National Park Start your morning with a delicious breakfast. Your guide from Kofi Travel Safaris will pick you up and transfer you to Bukavu in Congo. Along the way, you will visit the Butare Museum, Nyanza Kings Palace, and if time allows, the Murambi Genocide Memorial after lunch. You will continue your journey through the Nyungwe Forest, with high chances of spotting monkeys along the way. You will then cross the border at Cyangugu and stay overnight at one of the following accommodations: Orchard Hotel, Panorama Hotel, or Hotel Horizon.

DAY 2: Lowland Gorilla Tracking & Community Visit After breakfast, your guide will drive you to the Kahuzi Biega National Park office, where your gorilla trekking experience begins. You will receive a briefing about the dos and don’ts of lowland gorilla trekking. Trekking here is on flat forested ground, making it less strenuous than trekking for mountain gorillas. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend an hour with them, taking pictures and observing their behaviors. In the afternoon, you will visit a nearby community, interact with the local people, and then head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Accommodation options include Orchard Hotel, Panorama Hotel, or Hotel Horizon.

DAY 3: Transfer to Kibuye and Boat Ride In the morning, after breakfast, your Congo Gorilla Safari guide will help you cross the Cyangugu border post and proceed to Kibuye in Rwanda. You will pass through different villages, enjoying the beautiful scenic shores of Lake Kivu. Upon arrival, you will have lunch and then go for a boat ride on Lake Kivu to explore the islands. You will then relax at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options include Comoran Lodge, Moriah Hill Resort, or Behtenia Hotel.

DAY 4: Transfer to Goma in DR. Congo After a relaxed breakfast, your guide will take you on another scenic drive along the shores of Lake Kivu to Gisenyi, then crossover to Goma in Congo, where you will spend the night. Accommodation options include Mikeno Lodge, Bukima Tented Camp, or Kibumba Tented Camp, in preparation for mountain gorilla tracking the next day.

DAY 5: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park and Community Visit In the morning, after breakfast, you will report to the Virunga National Park headquarters for a pre-trekking briefing about mountain gorillas. You will then set off to track the famous mountain gorillas, accompanied by an armed ranger guide who will interpret gorilla behaviors for you. The tracking time will depend on the movement of the gorillas and the entire team. Later in the evening, you can visit a nearby community to meet and interact with local people. You will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options include Mikeno Lodge, Bukima Tented Camp, or Kibumba Tented Camp.

DAY 6: Nyiragongo Hike Experience After an early breakfast, your guide will take you to the briefing at the hiking departure point at Kibati Patrol Post, approximately a 30-minute drive from Goma and less than an hour from Mikeno Lodge. The hike usually starts at 10:00 AM and takes about 4-6 hours, depending on the participants’ speed and strength, to reach the summit of the volcano. At the summit, you will enjoy the views, have dinner, and stay overnight at the Summit Shelter Camp.

DAY 7: Descend Back, Cross to Gisenyi, and Drive Back to Kigali In the morning, you will descend from Nyiragongo, cross back to Gisenyi, and then drive back to Kigali, where your tour ends.