5 Days Congo Primates Safari (Great Ape package)
5 Days Congo Primates Safari takes you to the oldest national park in the country, the Virunga national park Congo. Virunga National Park is a national park located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and was established in 1925 making it Africa’s first protected area.
The Great Ape package is a 5 day Congo tour that includes double gorilla trekking with a chimpanzee trekking that can be booked any time of the year but only departs Goma on Mondays and Wednesday at 11 am so ensure to book flights to Kigali Rwanda or Goma in accordance to the schedule.
Trip highlights the 5 Days Congo Primates Safari
- Day 1: Leave Kigali for Mikeno lodge
- Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in DR Congo
- Day 3: Day two of mountain gorilla trekking
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage
- Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali
Trip description
Day 1: Leave Kigali for Mikeno lodge
By 8 am, your driver guide will expect you to be ready for pick up from your communicated pick up place. You will get briefed on the next few days and set out on your 5 hour transfer to Goma Congo. You will check in at the Virunga tourism office that is located in the Grande Barrier building. After all proceedings have taken place, you will join the Virunga security convoy headed to your hotel.
You will arrive in time for a late lunch and a cold glass of juice. Settle into your room as you relax and wait for dinner. Dinner will be served in the dining area and you will spend the first night in Virunga national park. Overnight stay will be Mikeno lodge
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in DR Congo
Wake up early enough to grab some breakfast and head out to the Bukima ranger post where you will receive the morning brief before you head into the forest to search for the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga national park takes about 2 to 4 hours until you meet the gorilla family of the day.
You will spend the allotted one hour in the presence of the gorilla family and after exit the forest headed for a late lunch at Ngila lodge. You will spend the rest of the evening at Ngila as you wait for dinner and that is where you will spend the night in anticipation of the second gorilla trek. Dinner and overnight stay will be Ngila lodge
Day 3: Day two of mountain gorilla trekking
Wake up early like the day before and grab some breakfast at your hotel and meet your driver guide who will drive you back to Bukima ranger post for the briefing of your second mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga park congo. You may opt to trek the same family or choose another family for this day. Spend about 5 hours in the forest searching for the mountain gorillas and after head back to the trailhead to connect back to the Mikeno lodge where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day.
You can opt to visit the community projects with your guide or enjoy the lodge’s terrace reading a book with the view as dinner gets ready. Spend your third night in Virunga national park.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage
Wake up as early as 5 am and head out to join the team habituating the chimpanzees of Virunga national park. You will visit the chimpanzee family in Mahura forest and spend a few hours studying their behavior to human presence and head out back to the hotel for a late breakfast.
As the day breaks, you may take some time to visit the Virunga park headquarters to know what the park has plans for and their past achievements and after return to the hotel for lunch. Take some time off in the day to visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage, the world’s only gorilla orphanage and return for dinner at the Mikeno lodge that will also be the home for the fourth night in Virunga national park.
Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali
The last day of this 5 day Great Ape congo safari will have you waking up at leisure to have breakfast prepared at the lodge. Pack your bags, check out of your accommodation and join the Virunga security team that is headed to Goma for drop off and continue further with your diver guide for your drop off in Kigali. You may have the Kigali city tour on this day visiting the Kimironko market and the Kigali Genocide Memorial grounds.
End of the 5 Days Congo Primates Safari
Quote to include
- Fully fueled safari vehicle
- English/ French speaking driver guide
- All transfers
- Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- Mountain gorilla permit
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage visit
- Meals; breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Bottled water
Quote to exclude
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Personal need like phone calls, laundry, tips, alcoholic drinks
