6 Days Great Ape Safari (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Nyiragongo)

6 Days Great Ape Safari (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Nyiragongo)

6 Days Great Ape Safari (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Nyiragongo)

6 Days Great Ape Safari (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Nyiragongo): This 6 days Great Ape Safari is the most enjoyed Congo package that includes a double gorilla trek, chimpanzee trekking, and Mount Nyiragongo hike all in virunga national park. This 6 days Great Ape Safari includes 6 days and 5 night’s excursion starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda.

Highlights of 6 Days Great Ape Safari

  • Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Goma
  • Day 2: 1st gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
  • Day 3: 2nd gorilla trekking in virunga national park
  • Day 4: chimpanzee trekking in virunga national park
  • Day 5: Hike mount Nyiragongo (Ascend)
  • Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and departures

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Goma

  • Pick up and Transfer to Goma: on day 1 of 6 days Great Ape safari, you will be welcomed by our company representative upon landing at Kigali international airport who will take you for a lunch in any hotel with in Kigali. After lunch, have a brief Kigali city tour and head to Goma border where you will be cleared and later on visit the virunga national park headquarters for park clearance and pick your gorilla trekking permits, chimpanzee trekking permit and Mount Nyiragongo hiking permit and finally be driven to your lodge for a relaxed evening, dinner and overnight stay at Bukima tented camp / Mikeno lodge / Kibumba tented camp
  • Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: 1st gorilla trekking in Virunga national park

  • 1st gorilla Congo trekking: Breakfast has to served very early on day 2 of 6 days Great Ape safari then pack all that is required for gorilla trekking including the gorilla trekking permit, packed snacks, drinking water and put on the gorilla trekking gear and finally be transferred for a briefing together with other trekkers of the day. Briefing starts at 7:00 am and you will be informed about what to expect in the wildness where gorillas reside, the does and don’ts and will be advised to hire a porter and by 8:00am, the adventure starts as you trail along different trails within the park until you get closer to habituated gorilla family. Gorilla trekking is considered a full day activity but on a lucky day, you will find the gorillas as early as possible since the entire trek is estimated between 2 hours to 7 hours and sometimes a full day with only one of close interaction and viewing. Before penetrating the jungle ensure that your camera flashlight is turned off.
  • Accommodation: Bukima tented camp / Mikeno lodge / Kibumba tented camp
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner 

Day 3: 2nd gorilla trekking in virunga national park

  • 2nd Congo gorilla trekking: After breakfast on day 3 of 6 days Great Ape safari, do as the previous day in preparation for the 2nd gorilla trek. On this day, you will request for a different gorilla family in order to have an entire experience of gorilla trekking two different gorilla families and this will be noticed by the difference in number of gorilla families per group and even the manners of the gorillas. Spend one away with gorillas again and finally be returned to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
  • Accommodation: Bukima tented camp / Mikeno lodge / Kibumba tented camp
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Day 4: chimpanzee trekking in virunga national park

  • Chimpanzee trekking: After breakfast at your lodge on day 4 of 6 days Great Ape safari, you will be driven from your lodge to Mahura forest where chimpanzee trekking in virunga national park is conducted. Trekking chimpanzees is easier than trekking gorillas since the chimpanzees move in larger groups than gorillas. However, it also involves trailing in the forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee family and once the family is spotted, only one hour is allowed for trekkers to take photographs and learn anything they ought to know about chimpanzees our cousins that share almost 98% of human DNA. During chimpanzee trekking, there is a lot of other wildlife species spotted including other primates, mammals, birds, butterflies and the entire flora of Mahura forest at glance. You will later on be returned back to your lodge for overnight.
  • Accommodation: Bukima tented camp / Mikeno lodge / Kibumba tented camp
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Day 5: Hike Mount Nyiragongo (Ascend)

  • Hike Mount Nyiragongo: Arise at around 8:00am in the morning for breakfast on day 5 of 6 days Great Ape safari, pack everything that belongs to you and be ready to be transferred to the Kibati ranger post where you will be able to hire porters that will assist you along the hike in carrying your extra backpack and offering you any assistance in case any need arise. Ascending Mount Nyiragongo starts at 10:00 am at Kibati and every hiker must be available to start the hike in a group whoever misses this opportunity is not refunded. This is the greatest opportunity that allows adventurous lovers to climb and summit the top of the most active lava lake on top of Mount Nyiragongo the most hiked volcanoes amongst the 8 volcanoes in Virunga massif.  During Nyiragongo hike, you will be able to encounter with wildlife species including gorillas since you are ascending in a home of primates though it’s not advisable to concentrate of the wildlife seen along the way since most of these wildlife species are not used to human beings so the best choice is to follow all guidelines from the rangers and local guides. You will also encounter with mammals such as forest hogs, elephants, buffaloes among others and bird species. Ascending is so tiring and it takes between 5-6 hours with stopovers along the way to view the neighboring volcanoes and the park. While at the top, you will spend a night either in a tented camp or opt for camping with an opportunity to watch the glowing lave lake at night.
6 Days Great Ape Safari (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Nyiragongo)
6 Days Great Ape Safari (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Nyiragongo)

Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and departures

  • Descend Nyiragongo and departures: on day 6 of 6 days Great Ape safari which is even the last day of your Congo safari, you will have breakfast at the summit then start descending at exactly 6:30am in the morning back to Kibati ranger post where ascending started from. Descending is indeed very fascinating and takes little time about 3-4 hours with stunning views of all the surrounding volcanoes. Upon arrival at Kibati, you will be transferred back to Goma where your Congo safari driver will be eagerly waiting to receive you again and be transferred to Kigali Rwanda for meal, freshen up and be dropped at your respective destination be it hotel in Kigali or at Kigali international the airport for a flight to your next destination.

END OF 6 DAYS GREAT APE SAFARI

  • Inclusive in 6 days Great Ape safari
  • 2 gorilla trekking permits
  • Chimpanzee trekking permit
  • Nyiragongo hiking permit
  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • A 4×4 safari vehicle for ground transportation
  • Congo visa (Upon request)
  • Ranger fees
  • Enough bottled drinking water
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Meals per itinerary
  • Convoy 

Exclusive in this 6 days Great Ape safari

  • International travel documents 
  • Life insurance 
  • Porter fees
  • Tips
  • Laundry
  • Souvenirs
  • Other expenses of personal nature such as airtime, cigarettes etc.
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