3 Day Congo gorilla trekking

This 3 day Congo gorilla trekking safari takes you to see habituated mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. This national park is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Goma. The Parks headquarters are situated in Bukima. This 3 Days Congo gorilla trekking safari starts and ends in Kigali city, Rwanda.

Detailed 3 Day Tour Itinerary.

Virunga National Park is situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The national park spans over an area of 8,090 square kilometers and is part of the Virunga Conservation Area along with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. It was declared a national park in 1925 as the Albert National Park, after King Albert 1 of Belgium. Later in 1969, it was renamed as Virunga National Park following the county’s gain of independence from the Belgian colonial government in 1960.

The national park is also referred to as ‘Parc National des Virunga’ in the French language. It is home to about 218 mammal species, 706 bird species, 109 reptile species, 78 amphibian species and 22 primate species, including mountain gorillas.

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and Transfer to Virunga National Park.

Have your breakfast every early in the morning from your hotel in Kigali City. Your safari guide from Explore Rwanda Tours will pick up from your hotel and transfer you to Virunga National Park in Congo via the Gisenyi-Goma border at ‘Le Grand Barrier.’ The check-in at the Goma border can take about 1 to 2 hours, therefore it is important you reach the border as early as 9am. After clearing at the border in Goma, you will drive to Goma town where you will be picked up by a team from Virunga National Park and transferred to the national park.

Check in at your lodge in Virunga national park for dinner and an overnight stay at Kibumba Tented Camp/ Bukima Tented Camp (Mid-range), Mikeno Lodge (Luxury).

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.

On the 2nd day of your 3 day Congo gorilla trekking safari, this is the day you have been waiting for! Wake up early and have your breakfast before you proceed to the park’s headquarters. Depending on wish gorilla group you wish to track, your guide will drive you to either Mikeno or Bukima visitor Centre, where all gorilla trekking activities begin.

Just like in Rwanda, while at Virunga national park, you will be briefed first and then placed into groups of a maximum of 8 members per gorilla group. You will be escorted by armed park rangers, experienced guides and porters, if you wish to hire one. There are 8 habituated mountain gorilla groups in Virunga national park, and are available for tourists to track.

Gorilla trekking activities in Virunga take between 2-4 hours, inclusive of an hour spent with the gorillas once they have been located. Gorilla trekking activities in Virunga national park don’t a lot of vigorous hiking activities and hence can be done by any adult. Get back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Later in the afternoon, you can opt to go on a cultural tour to one of the neighboring village communities or visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage for those staying in Mikeno lodge. Later return back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3: Transfer back to Kigali.

This is day marks the end of what we hope was an amazing 3 day gorilla trekking safari. After having a relaxed breakfast, you will drive back to Kigali in Rwanda; and depending on departure flight time, you can have a half day tour of Kigali City. During your Kigali city tour, you will visit some amazing cultural and historical places in the city like; Kigali genocide memorial center, camp Kigali, Nyamirambo women’s center and Caplaki craft village; where you can grab some souvenirs for yourself and your loved ones back home. End of 3 day Congo gorilla trekking safari Tour.