From the start to the end, this 9 days Congo luxury safari fully packaged to give you unforgettable memories, and stories to tell your next generation. It is a mixture of both mountain hiking and primate trekking in three historical destinations in Africa. You will track the mountain gorillas in Virunga national park, the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega national park, and hike Mountain Nyiragongo (one of the most active volcanoes in the world). Other activities include a boat cruise, photography, cultural encounter and scenic viewing among others. Our Knowledgeable driver guide will pick you up and drop you at Kigali international airport.
Day 1: Kigali city tour
Meet our company representative upon your arrival at the Kigali international airport and be briefed about all the different aspects contained in this Congo luxury safari. Thereafter, you will enjoy a tasty glass of juice before embarking on an amazing Kigali city tour; visiting the local markets to buy some Items and watch the local’s bargain, before you proceed for lunch and visit the genocide memorial site; where over 250, 0000 innocent souls lost their lives during the conflict between the Hutus and the Tutsis in 1994.
There will be documentaries to watch and stories to listen to before driving back to your hotel for refreshment, dinner, and overnight.
Day two: Transfer to Bukavu town
Having in mind the series of activities you have to accomplish today, the driver guide will pick you up very early in the morning as soon as breakfast is done for a 5-6 hours’ drive to Kahuzi-Biega national park, located in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo; With lunch and cultural tour in Nyanza and Butare town.
After the 1-2 hours’ experience, you will proceed with the Journey but with a stop at the Rwanda – D.R. Congo border for document verification and Visa processing. Dinner and overnight follow your arrival at the lodge.
Day 3: Eastern lowland gorilla trekking
This day is when you will get the chance of reuniting with your closest relatives; the Gorillas that share with you approximately 98% DNA, with relatively similar behaviors and body structure. This adventure starts very early in the morning after breakfast with a drive to the park’s headquarters for a pretrekking briefing whereby the park rangers will explain the behaviors of these apes, the rules governing the park and then allocate you to a particular family of your choice for tracking.
The eastern lowland gorillas are one of the most interesting primates in the Wild and relatively bigger than their counterparts the mountain gorillas. The tracking exercise is not so challenging but requires some fitness and endurance. It lasts for roughly 2-6 hours, plus one extra hour of taking photos, watching and asking questions.
Later have a lunch break, followed by an optional guided village walk or biking as you wait for dinner and a nap.
Day 4: Depart Kahuzi-Biega National park for Virunga national park
At day break, a yummy breakfast will be served before checking out of the lodge for a transfer to Virunga national park; home to the endangered mountain gorillas and one of the oldest national parks in Africa.
As the drive is on, let your eyes enjoy the beautiful sceneries, the undulating hills, and the green plantations spread along the roadside. You will arrive at the park in the evening and proceed to relax in the beautiful gardens or the swimming pool before dinner and a nap.
Day 5: Mountain gorilla trekking and Goma city tour
At 06:00hours, breakfast will be served, followed by a scenic drive to the parks headquarters for briefing and document verification that commences at 08:00hrs for roughly 30minutes; after which a park ranger and security guide will accompany you to the Jungle to track.
This experience is one of its own kinds that will expose you to variety including unique tree species, the rare bird species, and other primates such as Vervet monkeys, and Columbus monkeys among others.
Upon meeting these primates, one hour is yours to closely observe the mothers nurse their young ones, adolescents play, and the dominant silverbacks watch over the group. Afterwards, you will head back to the lodge for lunch before visiting Goma town which was once covered by the sulphur that came from Mountain Nyiragongo during the eruption in 2011. Call off this day with dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 6: Ascend Mount Nyiragongo
At sunrise; you will have an early morning breakfast, clad on a good hiking boots, get your water bottle together with other essential items in the bag and drive to Kabitsa village, the hiking trail head at 10:00am for briefing and commencement of the hike.
Mountain Nyiragongo is one of the most active volcanic mountains in recent history with over 32 eruptions with the recent eruption happening in 2011. Hiking starts at 10:00hours and last for approximately 5-6 hours depending on your speed, and lunch enroute.
Before reaching the blazing lava lake at the summit, the rolling hills in the park, unique bird species, and the scattered homestead outside the park beautify the hike. End the day with photography at the summit, dinner and overnight in your camp at the mountain.
Day 7: Descend Mount Nyiragongo
After enjoying a success Mountain Nyiragongo exploration, start your day with an energy giving breakfast before descending while enjoying the amazing views of the stunning landscape and as well as a surprise encounter with the primates on a lucky day.
Meet your driver guide at the starting point and drive back to the lodge for a rest and any other optional activity before calling off the day with dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 8: Nature walk, cultural exchange and visit to the tea estates
At daybreak, an expert guide will help you stretch your legs for 1-2 hours before breakfast and visit to the nearby community for an exciting cultural experience, with drums sounded, voices echoing sweet melodies and natives dancing to the rhythm; your morning will be unforgettable.
The other exciting thing is the fact that you will discover more about the Congolese culture, spot a few of their art and craft and purchases some souvenirs before returning to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will visit the Tea estate to learn about tea growing and taste African coffee, followed by dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 9: Departure
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast and then checkout of the lodge for a 5-6 hours’ drive back to Kigali international airport for your flight to the next destination. Lunch will be served enroute and an option of visiting Lake Kivu for a leisurely boat cruise.
End of safari
