10 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking -Gorilla Habituation Trip in Congo
10 Day Congo gorilla safari focuses on major activities in the most visited national parks in Democratic republic of congo. the package involves mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park, chimpanzee trekking & Nyiragongo hiking to explore the largest lava lake in the world, exploring the Kahuzi Biega national park for the Eastern Lowland gorillas, Golden Monkey and nature walks during the visit to the Lwiro chimpanzee Sanctuary. ( learn about things to consider when Planning a Safari to Congo)
10 Days Congo Gorilla trekking tour comes with extra ordinary adventure options like Gorilla Habituation and gorilla trekking in the well known national parks of Congo for an ultimate safari Experience with Congo gorilla Safaris.
Major Tourists Attractions to be visited include Virunga National Park the well known home for the mountain gorillas, Chimpanzee Tracking & Nyiragongo Climbing and connect to Kahuzi Biega National Park by Boat on Lake Kivu to Enjoy Eastern lowland gorilla habituation , Chimpanzee Tracking, Golden Monkey tracking and visit to the Water falls with Community visits in the tea Plantations ( Optional Hike of mount Kahuzi).
This 10 Days prime Congo safari tour starts from Either Kigali Rwanda or Goma International Airport ( Recommended Airline is Ethiopian ) and travelers that intend to fly to Goma are required to inform us to be ready to arrange their congo tourists visa as the airline may refuse to allow you on board once you dont have the proof of the Congo Visa.
10 Days Congo Gorilla Safari Trip Summary
Day 1: Transfer to Bukima Tented Camp (1-2 Hours)
Day 2: Gorilla Habituation in Virunga National Park – Staying with the Gorillas for 2-3 Hours
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park – Staying with gorillas for 1 Hours
Day 4: Climbing Nyiragongo Volcano World’s largest Lava lake
Day 5: Descending Nyiragongo & Transfer to Bukavu by Speed Boat on Lake Kivu
Day 6: Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Staying with the gorillas for 1 Hour
Day 7: Visiting the water falls , Nature walk & Lwiro Chimpanzee Centre.
Day 8: Gorilla Habituation in Kahuzi Biega National Park, Staying with the gorillas for 2-3 Hours
Day 9: Bukavu City Tour and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national Park.
Day 10: Departure from Bukavu to Kigali international Airport for Flight back home
Detailed Itinerary
The 10 days Congo gorilla safari tour will be tailored depending on the interests of the travelers ( that is the pick up location , Start date and End date, Visa application will be handled by Congo Gorilla Safaris ( Primate Safari Experiences ) and transportation ( transfers ) will be done in Strong 4×4 Safari Land cruisers and Land over Jeeps for large groups )
Day 1: Transfer to Bukima Tented Camp (1-2 Hours)
Upon Arrival at Goma International Airport , you will be welcomed by the team of experts from Congo gorilla safaris that is welknown as the local safari company offering gorilla trekking safaris to Congo at the most affordable prices . The Virunga Foundations appointed official will be ready to take you through the immigration process till the time you will get the entry stamp. ( When they pick your passport at the airport , just relax as the point where you get the stamps for entry visa is different from where you exist the building from). Travelers that are existing Democratic republic of congo should be aware of the Tax fee of $$$ 50 per person.
Upon the clearance with the immigration officials at Goma international airport you will transfer to Bukima Tented Camp which is located in the virunga National Park and this hotel is located at the starting point for the gorilla habituation experience as briefying will be done at this station . You will pass through the local communities that are at the boundary with the park. Dinner and overnight at Bukima Tented Camp ( luxury Lodge)
Please Note: Ethiopian airlines runs flights to goma once every week and this flights arrives at 2:40pm at Goma International Airport .
Day 2: Gorilla Habituation in Virunga National Park
The night spent at Bukima Tented Lodge Comes with great advantage as you wont need to drive the long distance other travelers that might have spent their nights in Goma hotels or Mikeno Lodge . You will wake up for morning breakfast and make the orders for the packed lunch, head to the park headquarters for briefing about the Mountain gorillas in Virunga , Gorilla families that are open for Gorilla trekking and gorilla Habituation . Head for the thick jungles virunga as you trek searching for the mountain gorillas and once found you will stay with the gorillas for a period of 2-3 Hours as this is gorilla habituation as you will take short videos and photos alongside watching them play with the young ones and feeding in the tropical Rain forests of Virunga Mountain. Dinner and overnight at the lodge (day 1).
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
Get up early, take breakfast and head to the Virunga park headquarters for briefing about the gorillas. Head for the thick jungles of virunga as you trek searching for the gorillas in the wild of congo tropical rain forests. This can take you half a day or more spend an hour with the gorillas as this is gorilla trekking . In the evening you can take nature walk in the virunga forests to search for the primates other than the gorillas like the monkey and visit the Gorilla Orphanage Centre in Mikeno Lodge. Dinner and overnight at Mikeno lodge.
Day 4: Climbing Nyiragongo Volcano World’s largest Lava lake
As the long waited dream is to climb the world’s largest lava lake in Democratic republic of congo’s virunga the oldest national park in Africa has come to a reality. You will have the morning breakfast and check out of mikeno lodge to start the journey of 2 Hours to kibati post where the breifying for the Climbing of Nyiragongo Volcano is done and its the base where all climbing tours to nyiragongo volcano starts. The Breifying information guide will provide you with the required information about the package, lunch , breaks and stopovers while hiking to the top of the world’s largest lava lake that will reward you with the great chance of viewing all the virunga Mountain Ranges that make up the Virunga Mountains shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of congo.
Each Client is advised to make use of a porter who will be your helper and even carry the mikeno package for you up to the top of the summit . Congo Gorilla safaris quotes always include the mikeno package that comes with the food, Sleeping bags and Lunch during the hiking up to the top and the return morning breakfast that is always served at 5:45am in the morning after the night watch of the most active volcano with clear skies.
Elder and Unfit travelers are required to Make use of the extra Porters who may help to carry them to reach to the top of the volcano not to miss the long awaited adventure of viewing the Nyiragongo Volcano which is adjacent to Nyamuragira Volcano in Congo.
Day 5: Descending Nyiragongo & Transfer to Bukavu by Speed Boat on Lake Kivu
After Early morning breakfast that will be served by the Virunga Foundations chief at 5:45 am , you will start to descend down the hill at 6am in the morning , from the experience point of view sloping is easier than the hiking up wards and the travelers will take less time compared to the one they took when ascending the hill arrive at the down stream as you will meet those that will be hiking on that day. Arrive at Kibati station at 11am and relax for the 20 minutes and jump into the safari jeep to drive to Goma ( Lac Kivu hotel) for lunch as the boat captain checks on the speed boat to start the journey for the 2-3 hours depending on the waves and the wind to arrive in Bukavu town. During the three hours boat on lake kivu you will be viewing various islands including the africa’s forgotten island of Idjwi . Arrive in Bukavu in later evening check in at Orchids Safari Lodge , Dinner and overnight . Optional night interaction with Gloria from Kahuzi biega national park to inform you more about the Congo Life, Gorilla Families , Chimpanzee Orphanage Centre , Water Falls, whats the difference between Gorilla trekking and Habituation Permit and other important Safari attractions in Kahuzi Biega National park.
Day 6: Eastern Lowland Gorilla Habituation in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Wake very early in the morning to enjoy the breakfast at the lodge , after you will jump into the safari jeep and take the 1 and half hour drive from Bukavu town to kahuzi biega national park headquarter where breifying will be done and you will be taught about the difference of the mountain gorillas & Eastern Lowland gorillas. After you will drive to the starting point for the gorilla watching experience as you will be guided by the trained rangers and once found you will watch the gorillas for a period of 2-3 Hours looking at them playing with the young ones and feeding in the wilderness of Kahuzi Biega. Gorilla Habituation comes with extra Advantaged compared to Gorilla trekking where you stay with the gorillas for one hour. Upon completion of the activity you will drive back to the park offices and change the jeep to the one that dropped you at the park and proceed to Bukavu Town for dinner and overnight as Above .
Please Note : The guide will make sure that you will have packed lunch since the gorilla searching activity may take long time than expected in the Wild.
Day 7: Visiting the water falls , Nature walk & Lwiro Chimpanzee Centre.
After morning breakfast, you will take another drive to Kahuzi biega national park for nature walk to the water falls and visit the Orphanage Chimpanzees in Lwiro. Since this is a primate Safari holiday to congo , you will visit the chimpanzee which are reserved at the edge of kahuzi Biega National Park and even spot other primates like Golden Monkeys , other Monkeys during the nature walk and the extra visit to the tea Plantations in the Local community where deemed to make donations the client will visit Pole Pole Foundations which is the organization that joins the locals towards the conservation of Kahuzi Biega National Park Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 8: Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Get up early, take breakfast and head to the Kahuzi Biega park headquarters for briefing about the gorillas. Head for the thick jungles of virunga as you trek searching for the gorillas in the wild of congo tropical rain forests. This can take you half a day or more spend an hour with the gorillas as this is gorilla trekking and after return to the lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight as Above.
Day 9: Bukavu City Tour and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national Park.
You will wake up in a relaxed style as you will enjoy the sun rise , and you enjoy the break fast in the view of lake kivu for the last time and later go for the city tour of Bukavu visiting the oldest Church in Bukavu town , spotting other tourists attractions in Bukavu and later drive to cross to Nyungwe forest national park where the other primates may be spotted if time allows. Dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guest house.
Please Note: This day comes with an Option of spending it in kahuzi Biega National Park Congo to search for the Golden Monkey as they are among the primates that are found in the park and it calls for an extra payment of the Golden monkey Permit to the park.
Day 10: Departure to Kigali international Airport for Flight back home
After Morning breakfast, the guide will drive you back to kigali passing through the tourists attractions along the route from Nyungwe forest national park to Kigali not missing the genocide memorials and Cultural Sites. You will arrive in the late evening for the check in . For the flight back home.
End of the 10 Days Congo Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari Holiday with Congo Gorilla Safaris.
Bookings and payment options
To make gorilla safari bookings with Primate Safari Experiences , contact our travel consultants through +256-392 159498 or send us an email at info@congogorillasafaris.com for detailed tour packages and travel tips.
Our payments are preferred in US Dollars ( New Notes from 2009 Bills) and currency exchange rates vary daily based on the current international banking data available.We accept wire transfers and credit card payments. Payment by credit card is subject to a surcharge of 4%.
The Congo Safari Trip Includes
- Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Habituation Permit
- Climbing Nyiragongo Permit
- Accommodations as per the plan
- Ground Transport in 4×4 Safari Jeep
- Knowledgeable tour Guide
- Mikeno package
- Congo tourists Visa Valid 14 Days Single Entry
- primate Permit
Trip Excludes
- Flights
- Expenses not mentioned like Drinks
- Rwanda Visa
Lovely Congo Safari Extension Places
For travelers that want to have an extension of wildlife in congo while on Congo Safari, Consider adding Upemba National park & kundelungu national park all is located near the Congo , thus being the home for schools of Hippos, chimpanzees, crocodiles, buffalos and bonobo chimpanzees among other.
Since Acknowledged that the traveler will have already done Gorilla trekking in the eastern Congo spotting the famous famous Mountain Gorillas in Virunga National Park which was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Garamba, Kahuzi Biega and Salonga national Parks.
Congo Mountain gorillas habitat extends into Uganda and Rwanda borders. Other animals in Congo include forest Elephants, cryptids called Mokele mbembe , okapi and white rhinos and many other species.