6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorilla & Nyiragongo)
6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorilla & Nyiragongo) is one of the best packages you could ever have to spend ample time amidst the great ape and hike one of the most active volcanic mountain within Virunga massif. This 6 days chimpanzees, Gorilla and Nyiragongo Safari involve 6 days and 5 nights and it starts from Kigali offering the best double gorilla trekking in DRC, then trek the chimpanzees, hike mount Nyiragongo and return to Kigali-Rwanda for departures. This 6 days great ape safari will be carried out in Virunga national park the oldest national park in Africa.
Highlights of 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) safari
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Goma city
- Day 2: 1st Gorilla trekking
- Day 3: 2nd Gorilla trekking
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking
- Day 5: Mount Nyiragongo hike
- Day 6: Descend mount Nyiragongo and return to Kigali for departures
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Goma city
- Transfer to Goma city: On day 1 of 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari, you will be picked up from Kigali International airport by our company driver and transferred to Kigali for a brief city tour and lunch. After lunch, meet with your driver for a ride to Goma city in DRC where you will pass via the park head offices in Virunga National park to pick up the permits and proceed to check in at Mikeno lodge / kibumba tented camp / Bukima tented camp for dinner and overnight stay.
- Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: 1st Gorilla trekking
- Gorilla trekking: On day 2 of 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari, you will arise early in the morning have a heavy breakfast, pack your lunch box and snacks and meet with your driver for a drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about the expectations, do’s and don’ts while in the jungles Gorilla trekking. Well, once the briefing is done, trekker are in a position to hire porters and then set off for an adventurous experience of trekking mountain gorillas in the jungle alongside armed rangers, police and experienced tour guides. Once you are done with gorilla trekking, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
- Accommodation: Mikeno lodge / kibumba tented camp / Bukima tented camp
- Note: Trekkers who opt for an overnight at Bukima tented camp have a greater opportunity of being close to major trailhead for gorilla trekking in Virunga national park which is at Bukima tented camp.
Meal plan: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner
Day 3: 2nd Gorilla trekking
- 2nd Gorilla Trekking: On day 3 of 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari, you will wake up early in the morning again as the previous day, have your breakfast, pack your lunch box and head to the park headquarters for a briefing before heading in the jungle for the second gorilla trekking experience in Virunga National Park. On this day, you will be offered a different mountain gorilla to trek for an awesome experience in Congo. After trekking the gorillas, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
- Accommodation: Mikeno lodge / kibumba tented camp / Bukima tented camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking
- Chimpanzee trekking: On day 4 of 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari, you need to wake up early in the morning as usual, have breakfast and meet with the driver for a ride to park headquarters for a briefing before heading out for gorilla trekking. In Virunga National park, chimpanzee trekking is carried out in Mahura forest and starts early in the morning taking trekkers deep into the forest in search of habituated chimpanzees and once the chimpanzees are found, you will be in position to take different photographs of the chimpanzees and other wildlife species in the forest. After Chimpanzee trekking return to the lodge for dinner and Overnight sleep.
- Accommodation: Mikeno lodge / kibumba tented camp / Bukima tented camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Mount Nyiragongo hike (ascend)
- Ascend mount Nyiragongo: On this day 5 of the 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari, you are required to wake up early for b breakfast, check out of the lodge and have a drive to Kibati patrol post where the hike to summit mount Nyiragongo starts. The hike starts at 10:00 am at Kibati patrol post so be there in time for a briefing before the hike starts. During the hike, you will be in position to encounter lots of wildlife including primates, mammals, birds and many more. You will also enjoy the clear view of Virunga national park, different Mountains within Virunga massif among others. Once you summit the top, you will enjoy the view of the lava lake at the top of Nyiragongo Mountain enjoy your lunch and camp at the top of the mountain overnight.
- Accommodation: Tent at the summit of mount Nyiragongo
- Meal plan: Breakfast at the lodge, Lunch and Dinner at the summit of mount Nyiragongo
Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and departures
- Descend Nyiragongo: On the day 6 of 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari, wake up at the top on mount Nyiragongo, have breakfast served and prepare yourself to descend mount Nyiragongo for departures. The descent starts at 6:30 am. Once you reach down on Kibati patrol post, you will have a drive to back to the border and cross over to Rwanda for lunch, relaxation and have a brief city tour before transferring to the airport for departures
- Meal plan: Breakfast at the summit of Nyiragongo and lunch in Kigali
End of 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari,
This 6 days great ape (Chimps, Gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari includes;
- A 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel
- Airport pick up and drop off
- A 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel
- 2 Congo gorilla trekking permits
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Mount Nyiragongo hiking permit
- Ranger fees
- All meals as per itinerary
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Enough bottled drinking water
- An English speaking guide
This 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari excludes;
- All travel expenses such as Visa
- Both international and domestic flights
- Porter fee
- Laundry
- Insurance while on safari
- All activities excluded on the Itinerary
- All alcoholic drinks, beverages and cigarettes
- Personal expenses such as emails and airtime
- Souvenirs
- Tips to the porter and guide
Conclusion
This 6 days great ape (Chimps, gorilla and Nyiragongo) Safari is one of awesome Congo packages that allows travelers on a Congo safari to land into Kigali a land of a thousand hills and then drive to Congo perform a double gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and hike mount Nyiragongo for a fun filled experience.