6 Days the Great Ape (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo)
6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo) is one of the best Congo safari taking primate lovers on an adventurous safari to Virunga national park for double gorilla trekking safari since it harbors the endangered mountain gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo with the remaining population being protected in Uganda and Rwanda. After trekking gorillas, you will engage in chimpanzee trekking which is also conducted in the same virunga national park with in Mahura forest and close your 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo) with a volcano hike to summit the top of the most active volcano in Virunga massif.
Highlights of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo)
- Day 1: Welcome to Kigali Rwanda and transfer to Goma – Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: First gorilla trekking in virunga national park
- Day 3: Second gorilla trekking in virunga national park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Mahura forest
- Day 5: Hike Mount Nyiragongo (Ascend)
- Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali for departures
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcome to Kigali Rwanda and transfer to Goma – Volcanoes national park
Welcome to Kigali Rwanda and transfer to Goma: Upon arrival at Kigali international airport on day 1 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo, our company representative in Rwanda will be ready to welcome you into the land of a thousand hills where you will be impressed by the stunning Kigali City. Be driven to the hotel for lunch and embark on a journey direct to Goma. Have a stopover at Virunga park headquarters to obtain your gorilla trekking permits, chimpanzee trekking permit and Mount Nyiragongo hiking permit then head to your reserved lodge for check in, dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Bukima tented lodge /Mikeno lodge /Kibumba tented lodge
Day 2: First gorilla trekking in virunga national park
1st gorilla trekking: On day 2 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo), you will arise from your comfort zone fully energized for a fascinating adventure in Virunga national park. Have a heavy breakfast that will be served at your lodge then pack some snacks, drinking and wear your best gorilla trekking gear to meet your safari driver for a drive to the briefing grounds where you will find other trekkers attending the same briefing, after briefing, hire a porter and together with the armed rangers and the tour guides, you will set off into the forest to search for habituated mountain gorillas for trekking as they move and roam the forest in search of food. The entire trek will last about 5 hours depending on the movement of gorillas and the gorilla trekking speed of the slowest trekker in the group. Spend one hour with the gorilla family after finding it, take as many photographs as you can and finally trek back to the lodge for a relaxed evening.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Packed lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Bukima tented camp /Mikeno lodge /Kibumba tented camp
Day 3: Second gorilla trekking in virunga national park
2nd gorilla trekking in Virunga national park: After breakfast at your lodge on day 3 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo), do as the previous day by packing drinking water and snacks and return for a briefing where you will be allocated a different gorilla family for gorilla trekking and set back into the forest to search for that family. This will reward you with a great comparison between the two gorilla families. While trekking gorillas, always keep on a lookout for an opportunity to spot other wildlife species within the habitat of Gorillas.
Meal plan: Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Bukima tented lodge /Mikeno lodge /Kibumba tented lodge
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Mahura forest
Chimpanzee trekking: Arise as early as possible on day 4 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo), pack some snacks and be driven to Mahura forest where chimpanzee trekking in Virunga national park is conducted. The entire trek lasts from 30 minutes to 5 hours or more depending on the nature of terrains, movement of chimpanzees, trekking speed of trekkers and many more. However, once you find the chimpanzee family, you will spend only one hour in vicinity of chimpanzees taking photographs and closely interacting with them then return to the lodge for a relaxed evening, have dinner, and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Bukima tented camp/ Mikeno Lodge / Kibumba tented camp
Day 5: Hike mount Nyiragongo
Hike mount Nyiragongo (Ascend): On day 5 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo), enjoy your breakfast then check out of the lodge and meet your safari driver to be driven to Kibati ranger post where you will engage in a briefing about the dos and don’ts during Mount Nyiragongo hike. Later on at 10:00am, you will set off to start ascending Mount Nyiragongo where you will encounter with several wildlife along the way including the primates, mammals, birds, butterflies and the entire flora of the park. You will also be rewarded with the view of other volcanoes especially when you get to the top of Nyiragongo. Spend an overnight viewing the glowing Lava Lake while taking as much photographs as possible.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Day 6: Descend mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali for departures
Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali: Arise at the summit of Mount Nyiragongo on day 6 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo), have breakfast if need be and meet the rest of hikers to start descending back from the summit of Nyiragongo to Kibati. Descending is more fascinating and easier as compared to ascending and as soon as you get down to Kibati, you will be transferred amidst tight security of rangers back to Goma to proceed your Journey. While in Goma, you safari driver will pick you and transfer you to the lodge for lunch and embark on the journey to Kigali City for hotel drop off or Kigali international airport drop off.
Note: On the last day of your safari and depending on your flight details, you may enjoy a brief Kigali city tour to visit Kimironko market, some genocide memorial sites where several Rwandese were brutally murdered during the Kigali genocide, visit some craft shops and any other attractive area with in Kigali city.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
END OF 6 DAYS THE GREAT APE
