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

6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo) is such a breath-taking Congo safari that will start from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda, cross the border into Congo and return to Rwanda for departures. This safari includes 6 days and 5 days and the major activities to enjoy throughout the safari include double Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and Mount Nyiragongo hike both in virunga national park which is the oldest national park in Africa.

Highlights of this 6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo)

  • Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Goma – Volcanoes national park
  • Day 2: First gorilla trekking in virunga 
  • Day 3: Second gorilla trekking in virunga 
  • Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Mahura forest
  • Day 5: Hike Mount Nyiragongo
  • Day 6: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali for departures

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Goma – Volcanoes national park

  • Arrival: On day 1 of 6 days great ape safari (Chimps, Gorillas, and Nyiragongo), will arrive at Kigali international airport where you will be welcomed by our company representative who will give you a briefing about this 6 safari as you drive to the hotel for a meal.
  • Transfer to Goma: After enjoying your meal, you will then be driven from Kigali to Goma where you will be in a position to visit virunga park headquarters to pick the permits and then proceed with the journey to your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.
  • Meal plan: Lunch and dinner
  • Accommodation: Bukima tented lodge /Mikeno lodge /Kibumba tented lodge 

Day 2: First gorilla trekking in virunga

  • First gorilla trekking: On day 2 of 6 days great ape safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo) after a served breakfast at the lodge, you will be provided with a lunch box before being transferred to meet other trekkers for a gorilla trekking briefing. While on the briefing, you will be in a position to know all the gorilla trekking dos and don’ts and then start the search of these endangered mountain gorillas alongside rangers. This trek will last between 2-8 hours or even a full day depending on the movement of gorillas and the level fitness of trekkers. After the trek, you will return to the lodge await for dinner and have an overnight.
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Packed lunch box, and dinner 
  • Accommodation: Bukima tented camp /Mikeno lodge /Kibumba tented camp

Day 3: Second gorilla trekking in virunga 

  • Second gorilla trekking: on day 3 of 6 days great ape safari (Chimps, Gorillas, and Nyiragongo), you will wake as early as possible to have after breakfast and later on be transferred to Bukima where the virunga gorilla trekking trailhead is located. You will first be briefed about the expectations and how to handle yourself while in the wilderness of mountain gorillas then be allocated a mountain gorilla family which is different from the family visited the previous day. Once you are done with spending an hour with gorillas, you will be transferred back to the lodge to enjoy your dinner and have an overnight 
  • 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: on day 4 of 6 days great ape safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo), have breakfast, and be driven to Mahura forest for chimpanzee trekking. Like the gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking is also considered a full day safari thus you will need to carry some lunch box and drinking water along with you to keep you strong and hydrated during the hikes in the wild as you trek chimpanzees. After the trek, return to the lodge as you plan for the following activity of hiking mount Nyiragongo which is yet a fascinating and adventurous activity to enjoy to this you need to have enough rest on this day.
6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo)
6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo)

Day 5: Hike Mount Nyiragongo

  • Hike mount Nyiragongo (Ascend): Finally, a long-awaited day has come and it’s none other than a hike to view the lava at the top of Mount Nyiragongo. On day 5 of 6 days great ape safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo), you will enjoy a morning breakfast, then pack up your belonging and check out of the lodge to be transferred to head offices for a briefing and later on be driven to Kibati police patrol where you will meet the porters for hire before starting the hike which starts at exactly 10:00 am. Along the hike, you will be able to view other volcanic mountains, lots of wildlife species including primates, mammals, and birds and among others. You will enjoy your packed lunch along the hike and dinner at the summit. Watch the lava at night as it glows and has your overnight at the summit either in a tent or you may camp.
  • Meal plan: Breakfast at the lodge, packed lunch and dinner at the summit

Day 6: descend mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali for departures

  • Descend Mount Nyiragongo: this day is the last day of your 6 days great ape safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo), therefore you will wake up for breakfast at the top of Mount Nyiragongo while enjoying the cool breath and later on at 6: 30 am, start to descend back to Kibati police patrol point and later on be driven by the convoy to the border to meet with your driver. Once in Goma, you will enjoy lunch.
  • Transfer to Kigali for departures: after lunch, you will be driven back to Kigali and depending on your departures time, you may decide to have a brief Kigali tour and explore the genocide memorial sites. Then conclude the safari with an airport drop off for departures.
  • Meal plan: breakfast at the summit and, enroute Lunch

END Of 6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas, and Nyiragongo)

Inclusive in this 6 days great ape safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo) 

  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • Congo visa 
  • 4×4 safari vehicle for ground transportation
  • 2 Congo gorilla permits
  • Chimpanzee trekking permit 
  • Nyiragongo hiking permit 
  • Meals as per itinerary
  • Accommodation will be as per itinerary
  • Enough bottled drinking water
  • English speaking guide

Exclusives in this 6 days great ape safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo);

  • International travel expenses such as Visa and Air ticket 
  • Life insurance
  • Tips 
  • Porter 
  • Laundry fees  
  • Optional activities
  • Other expenses of personal nature such as emails, airtime, Souvenirs etc
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