5 Days Virunga Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari (Great Ape)

5 Days Virunga Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari (Great Ape): 5 days in Virunga national park visiting the 2 major primates that is the mountain gorillas and the chimpanzees. This package sets off from goma on Wednesdays.

Trip Highlights of the 5 Days Virunga Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari (Great Ape)

Double gorilla trek
Chimpanzee family visit
Nights at Mikeno lodge
Nights at Bukima tented camp

Trip Description

Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Mikeno lodge

Drive from Kigali to Mikeno lodge: On the first day of this 5 Days Virunga Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari package, you will be met by your driver guide at the communicated pick up point in Kigali by 8 am so as to drive to Goma and check in with the Virunga tourism office in time for check in. After all protocol has been followed, you will join the Virunga security team headed to Mikeno lodge.
Arrive in time for lunch and spend the evening at leisure. You may opt to visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage or the Virunga park headquarters as you wait for the sundown. Return to your hotel a luxury dinner and spend your first night in the park.

Day 2: First gorilla trek

First gorilla trekking: A highlight of the safari as it is you first time to visit the mountain gorillas. Get up early enough to grab some breakfast before you set out to the park headquarters for a briefing. Listen to the 30 minutes brief, hire your porters if necessary and follow the park rangers into the forest.
Trek for about 2 hours until you meet a gorilla family according to how far into the forest they are. Spend an hour enjoying the mountain gorillas and take as many photos then exit the forest. Drive to Bukima for lunch and this will be your home for that night.
Dinner and overnight for your second night will be at Bukima tented camp.

Day 3: Second gorilla trek

Second gorilla trekking: Wake up still anticipating the turn out of your second visit to the mountain gorillas of Virunga national park. Drive from the hotel back to the park headquarters for the second gorilla trek. Arrive in time for the brief and after set back into the forest for the magical one hour when you encounter the mountain gorillas. You may visit the same gorilla family or opt for a different family for a change
You will be driven back to Mikeno lodge for lunch and where you will get to spend the third night. You will connect to the dining area for the luxury dinner prepared by the skilled Congolese chefs and return to your rooms for the rest of the night.

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga National park

Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga: Chimpanzees are early risers so you will get up as early as 5 am to be in the park to join the team habituating this chimpanzee family by 6 am. You will spend about 4 hours in the forest and later exit the forest to get back to your hotel for a late breakfast and relax.
Nature walk or visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage: Later in the evening, you may take on a nature walk or visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage if you had not gotten the opportunity to. Dinner will be served and you will spend another night at the prestigious Mikeno lodge.

Day 5: Drop off in Kigali

Drop off in Kigali: The last day of the 5 Days Virunga Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari hits different. You will wake up early to catch the sun rise which you will be blown away by on a clear day. Have a simple Congolese breakfast prepared for you and meet your driver guide who will be ready to transfer you to Kigali Rwanda for your drop off. You will advise if you would like to have a Kigali city tour or be dropped off immediately after the tour.

End of the 5 Days Virunga Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

Trip includes

Full time English/ French speaking guide
Fully fueled 4WD safari vehicle
Accommodation as in the itinerary
Double gorilla trek
Chimpanzee trek
Pick up and drop off in Kigali
DRCongo tourist visa

Trip excludes

International flight fares
Rwanda visa fees
Optional activities
Personal expenses like gratuities, tips, laundry, and airtime.