6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike)
6 Days Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas, and Nyiragongo hike): This 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike) is one of the most booked packages by several tourists in Rwanda. The package sets off from Kigali /Goma and it takes adventurous travelers on a 6 days and 5 nights experience in Virunga national park one of the most visited park in Democratic Republic of Congo. During this 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike), you will enjoy a double fascinating mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking as well as hiking up the most stunning and most active volcano in Virunga massif, Mount Nyiragongo.
Highlights of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike)
- Day 1: Welcome to Kigali and drive to Goma city
- 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: Mount Nyiragongo hike (Ascend) in Virunga national park
- Day 6: Descend mount Nyiragongo and return to Kigali for departures
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcome to Kigali and drive to Goma city
Arrival in Kigali: Upon landing at Kigali on day 1 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike), our company representative will be eagerly waiting to receive you and transfer you to a hotel in Kigali for a meal after which you will embark on a journey to Goma city in Democratic Republic of Congo where you will obtain your Congo visa and all the permits needed during your adventure in Virunga national park. Proceed to check in your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.
Accommodation;
- Mikeno lodge (Luxury)
- Bukima tented camp (Mid-range)
- Kibumba tented camp (budget)
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: 1st Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
1st gorilla trekking safari: After breakfast on day 2 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike), meet your driver with a packed lunch box with enough drinking water and many more then set off for a briefing at Bukima where you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking and later on penetrate the forest to search for the habituated mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. The trek lasts between 2-7 hours and upon finding gorillas, you will spend only one hour in their presence taking photographs and watching these gorillas as the play, copulate, feed and many more. Exit the forest in time and return to your lodge for a relaxed evening, dinner and overnight rest as above.
Accommodation:
- Mikeno lodge (Luxury)
- Bukima tented camp (Mid-range)
- Kibumba tented camp (budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner
Day 3: 2nd Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
2nd gorilla trekking safari: Arise from the comfort of your lodge on day 3 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike), have breakfast served and be ready for a second gorilla trek in the wilderness of Virunga national park which as usual starts with briefing. During briefing, be ready to request for a different gorilla family if you need to and after briefing, your ranger guides will take you via different trails in the forest once again as you search for the habituated gorillas. Spend one hour with them and exit the forest back to your lodge for a relaxed dinner and overnight sleep awaiting chimpanzee trekking the next day.
Accommodation:
- Mikeno lodge (Luxury)
- Bukima tented camp (Mid-range)
- Kibumba tented camp (budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga national park
Chimpanzee trekking in virunga national park: After an early morning breakfast on day 4 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike), you will be transferred for a pre chimpanzee trekking briefing where you will obtain all the possible information about this breath taking adventure. After briefing, enter the forest and start the search of these habituated gentle giants in their natural habitats as they roam the forest in search of food. Just like gorilla trekking, you will as well spend 2-7 hours searching for the chimpanzees then spend only one hour in their presence taking photographs and closely interacting with these primates. Exit the forest and return to the lodge for dinner and night rest in preparation for the next day’s hike to summit the top of Nyiragongo.
Accommodation:
- Mikeno lodge (Luxury)
- Bukima tented camp (Mid-range)
- Kibumba tented camp (budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Mount Nyiragongo hike (Ascend) in Virunga national park
Hike Mount Nyiragongo (Ascend): After breakfast on day 5 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike), pack all that you will require while at the summit of Nyiragongo including sleeping bag, warm attire, enough snacks, drinking water among others and be ready to meet your driver/guide for a transfer to Kibati ranger post where briefing about Nyiragongo is conducted. During briefing, mark the most important points about the dos and don’ts during Nyiragongo hike and by 10:00am, start the adventure of ascending the mountain via thick blush at the base as you proceed to ascend to the summit of Nyiragongo. The hike is tiring but rewarding with plenty of encounters like mammals, primates, birds and the view of other nearby volcanoes within Virunga massif. Once at the summit, you will be able to spend an overnight watching the most active lava lake that is always glowing. Take as many photographs as possible and later on catch a night sleep.
Accommodation: Tent at the summit of Nyiragongo
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Descend mount Nyiragongo and return to Kigali for departures
Descend Nyiragongo: After breakfast at the summit of Nyiragongo on day 6 of 6 days the Great Ape Safari (Chimps, Gorillas and Nyiragongo hike), meet other hiker and be ready to start descending back to Kibati ranger post where you will meet your driver to be returned to Goma where you will cross over back to Rwanda for a brief city tour and departures.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch
END OF 6 DAYS THE GREAT APE SAFARI
