5 Days Congo Gorilla Safari and Chimpanzee Habituation Tour

Itinerary for 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