Overview: 5 Days Congo gorilla safari and chimpanzee habituation tour
5 Days Congo gorilla safari and chimpanzee habituation tour is a 5 days great Ape Congo safari to Virunga National Park for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience. Taking up this 5 days safari to Congo requires adventurous travelers ready to hike/trek mountain gorillas twice as well as go for chimpanzee trekking.
On his 5 days Congo safari, you have the chance to spend time in the presence of the rare mountain gorillas of Congo and participate in the trekking process of the few chimpanzees in the country. The chimpanzees are habituated at Mahura Forest surrounding Rumangabo. Gorilla trekking in Congo to Virunga National Park is undertaken twice therefore requiring a purchase of two Congo gorilla trekking safari permits.
Safari Highlight: 5 Days Congo gorilla safari and chimpanzee habituation tour
- Day 1: Transfer to Congo
- Day 2: First gorilla trek in Virunga National Park
- Day 3: Second gorilla trek at Virunga National Park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee habituation at Mahura Forest
- Day 5: End of safari and departure
Detailed Itinerary: 5 Days Congo gorilla safari and chimpanzee habituation tour
Day 1: Transfer to Congo
On the first day of your trip, your tour guide will ensure a transfer to Congo and ensure check in with Virunga tourism office. Most tourists to the country arrive through Kigali International Airport which takes about an 8 hours drive; therefore, early arrival is recommended or spend a night in Kigali. After receiving safari permits, the drive continues to a booked lodging facility in Congo. Check in and relax at the lodge. On early arrival to the lodge, you can Rumangabo’s several nature trails, go bird watching or visit Virunga’s Congo hounds.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge
Day 2: First gorilla trek in Virunga National Park
Early morning after breakfast at Mikeno Lodge you set off to Bukima Ranger post for briefing before setting off for gorilla trekking. On arrival at the ranger post by 8:00am local time, there’s briefing by park rangers on the do’s and don’ts of Congo gorilla safaris.
Gorilla trekking takes about 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted hour with the gorillas, trekkers will return to Bukima camp where a late lunch will be served. In the afternoon, you can explore Bukima with bird watching and visiting the Park’s bamboo project.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Bukima Camp
Day 3: Second gorilla trek at Virunga National Park
This morning, you have breakfast and go for a second gorilla trek in Virunga National Park. This time, you have chance to spend 1 hour with another gorilla family increasing on the gorilla encounters. After the trek, you return to Mikeno Lodge for relaxation or visit the orphaned gorillas at Senkwekwe centre.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking at Mahura Forest
After breakfast at Mikeno Lodge this morning, you set out for a chimpanzee trek. Chimpanzee trekking is an amazing experience that offers trekkers an amazing experience as you come to a close encounter with these human like creatures. You join a team of experienced rangers to go for a habituation experience in the Mahura Forest surrounding Rumangabo. After the habituation experience, return to Mikeno Lodge and spend the evening at relaxation.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge
Day 5: End of safari and departure
On this last day of your trip, you have breakfast at your lodging facility then embark on a drive to your departure point. You are returned to either Goma or Kigali International Airport.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
End of 5 Days Congo gorilla safari and chimpanzee habituation tour