7 Days Congo Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trek
7 Days Congo Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trek
This 7 Days Congo Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking is one of the best safari packages in Congo. Congo is a beautiful place with nature you won’t find anywhere else. During this safari, you will see mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, and chimpanzees in the Mahura Congo forest.
Day 1 Arrival at Kigali Airport & Transfer to Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Upon arrival at Kigali Airport, you will be welcomed by your safari guide. You can refresh at the airport restaurant and have a short briefing about your 7-day Congo safari. If you are already in Kigali, the guide can pick you up from your hotel. The journey to Kahuzi-Biega National Park, home to lowland gorillas, is a 7-hour scenic drive through the green rolling hills of the countryside. You will pass by Nyungwe Forest National Park and stop at Nyanza to explore the King’s Palace and have lunch. Then, you will proceed to the Rusizi border crossing over to Bukavu near Kahuzi-Biega National Park. On arrival, you will check in at the lodge for the night. Accommodation options: Orchid’s Safari Lodge / Hotel Panorama / Elizabeth Hotel Bukavu
Day 2 Lowland Gorilla Trekking. You will wake up for breakfast and prepare for a briefing at Kahuzi-Biega Park headquarters. It is a 45-minute drive from the hotel. Once you reach the park, you will be welcomed and guided by park officials. You will be briefed on what to expect and then led into the park to search for the lowland gorillas. The trek usually takes 1-6 hours. There are more than five habituated families of gorillas, and you will be able to track and see one of these families. Once you find the lowland gorillas, you will spend one hour observing them, taking videos, and then trekking back to the starting point. You will return to the lodge to relax for the rest of the evening and have dinner. Accommodation options: Orchid’s Safari Lodge / Hotel Panorama / Elizabeth Hotel Bukavu
Day 3 Boat Cruise to Goma .Your day starts with breakfast and then check out of the lodge. You will be picked up by your safari guide for a boat cruise to Goma. The boat ride is a short distance of about 3 hours, which is a thrilling experience on the water. You will reach the other side by mid-morning and be welcomed by Virunga National Park officials. They will have your gorilla permits ready and transfer you to your accommodation. Upon arrival, you will have lunch and enjoy an afternoon nature walk and visit the neighboring communities. Accommodation options: Mikeno Lodge / Kibumba Tented Camp
Day 4 Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park. On this day, you will wake up early, have breakfast at the lodge, and be transferred to the park headquarters for a briefing. The pre-gorilla trek briefing starts at 8 am with guidelines, dos, and don’ts. Remember, gorillas are wild even though they are habituated, so take the precautions seriously to enjoy your experience with these endangered species in their natural setting. You will be led into Virunga National Park by ranger guides to search for the allocated gorilla family. Depending on your physical fitness, the hike may be strenuous or easy, but it is worth it once you find a settled gorilla family. You will stay with the group, relax, and enjoy one hour with the gorillas, taking as many photographs as you can. Afterward, you will trek back to the starting point and transfer to the lodge. Accommodation options: Mikeno Lodge / Kibumba Tented Camp
Day 5 Double Gorilla Trekking. You will have an early morning breakfast and head back to the park headquarters for a briefing, just like the previous day. This time, you will follow a different trail to track another gorilla family. After your one hour with the gorillas, you will return to the starting point and meet your guide to drive back to the lodge for rest. In the evening, you can take a walk, relax at the hotel, or visit the gorilla orphanage at the Senkwekwe Centre. Accommodation options: Mikeno Lodge / Kibumba Tented Camp
Day 6 Chimpanzee Trekking Experience. Today, you will have another primate walk for chimpanzee trekking. This starts as early as 6:00 am before the chimpanzees get out of their nest. You will have a very early morning breakfast and transfer to Mahura forest in Rumangabo. The experience won’t take long, and you will return to the lodge for a hot lunch and evening relaxation or a nature walk. Accommodation options: Mikeno Lodge / Kibumba Tented Camp
Day 7: Transfer Back to Kigali . Wake up at leisure, have breakfast, and check out of the lodge to head back to Kigali. Before crossing the border at the migration office, you will need to pay for the entry visa back into Kigali unless you have a tourist East African Visa. You will proceed with the scenic journey to Kigali, with lunch en route. Once you reach Kigali, you can opt for a city tour to visit local and craft markets to buy souvenirs. Finally, you will be dropped off at your hotel or the airport if you have a flight scheduled. This marks the end of the 7 Days Congo Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trek. This tour includes:
Gorilla tracking permits
Lowland gorilla permits
Chimpanzee trekking
All ground transport including pick up and drop off
Full board meals and accommodation
Park entry
All other activities mentioned in the itinerary It excludes:
Visa entry fees
Personal expenses
Tipping
Air tickets and anything else not mentioned in the itinerary