6 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Safari (Virunga classic)
6 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Safari (Virunga Classic) 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 Virunga classic package is a 6 day Congo tour including two mountain gorilla treks, with mount nyiragongo hike 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 of the
- 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: Leisure day and Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage
- Day 5: transfer for Mount Nyiragongo hiking
- Day 6: Descend Nyiragongo and 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 trek 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: Leisure day and Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage
As the day breaks, you will connect for breakfast in time as you enjoy the fresh breeze of the Virunga forest. This will be a leisurely day where 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 for Mount Nyiragongo hiking
Right after having breakfast, you with your driver will drive to the Kibati ranger post to join the team headed for the Mount Nyiragongo hike. The brief before the hike up the world’s largest Crater Lake starts at 8 am and you start your hike by 10 am. Hike up for about 5 hours with two stopovers to refresh and grab something to eat.
Reach the summit in the afternoon hours in time to catch the sunset. Check into your summit shelters that you will spend the night. Temperatures can go as low as 0 degrees so ensure to carry enough warm clothes.
Day 6: Descend Nyiragongo and transfer back to Kigali
The last day of this 6 day Virunga classic Congo safari will have you waking up to catch the sunrise at the top of the volcano, have a simple Congolese breakfast of tea and a doughnut, and start your descent to the trailhead.
Arrive by midday 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 6 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking & Mount Nyiragongo Safari
Quote to include
- Fully fueled safari vehicle
- English/ French speaking driver guide
- All transfers
- Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- Mountain gorilla permit
- Mount Nyiragongo hike
- Meals; breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Bottled water
Quote to exclude
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Personal need like phone calls, laundry, tips, alcoholic drinks
