8 Days Best of Virunga

8 Days Best of Virunga : Take an 8-day safari to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and visit the Virunga national park to see the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage and the overnight Mount Nyiragongo walk, which are the park’s main tourist draws. Get the chance to observe the mountain gorillas not just once, but multiple times, or choose to observe various gorilla families each day. On top of Mount Nyiragongo, you may climb to the biggest volcanic Crater Lake in the world and visit the only gorilla orphanage in the entire world. While at the park, spend some time touring the park headquarters for Virunga National Park.

If you’re interested in this package, make sure to plan your journey to coincide with the Monday departure date from Goma, DR Congo.

Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Bukima. 

On your first day of 8 Days Best of Virunga. After leaving Kigali, it will take you six hours to get to the border facility at Goma Grande Barrier, where you can check in and get your permits for the following day’s activities.

You will go in a vehicle with the Virunga security crew to the Bukima ranger post, where your hotel is located, after all protocol has been followed. After checking in, you’ll eat a late lunch and unwind while you wait for night to fall. The first night will be spent at Ngila Lodge after dinner is served.

Day 2: Mountain gorillas trekking in Virunga national park.

On your second day of 8 Days Best of Virunga. Wake up early to see the dawn, eat a quick breakfast, grab your packed lunch, and then find your driver-guide, who will be waiting to take you to the Bukima ranger post where the briefing for the walk is delivered. Find the mountain gorillas in the jungle and spend the permitted hour with the presence of the gorillas while watching them play, feed, watching their behaviors and among others.

Day 3: Second mountain gorilla trek.

On your third day of 8 Days Best of Virunga. Wake up early in the morning and be served with a hearty breakfast. For a second chance to encounter mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. Grab your lunch at the hotel before heading back to the Bukima ranger post for the pre-tour briefing. Drive with your driver guide. Depending on how far the mountain gorillas are, set out on a 30 minutes to 6 hour journey through the jungle.

After finding the gorillas, you be in their presence for one hour, after leave the park up to the starting point to get your gorilla trekking certificate for taking part in the safari activity, and later return to your hotel. Spend the evening there as you want, perhaps reading a book or engaging in an activity like visiting a community project. Make sure to arrive back before it gets dark so you can have dinner and spend the night at Ngila Lodge again.

Day 4: Third mountain gorilla trek.

On your fourth day of 8 Days Best of Virunga. Get up early and be served with breakfast. After breakfast, you will leave the park early the next morning in anticipation of your third opportunity to see a mountain gorilla family with packed lunch. Participate in the pre-tour briefing before following the rangers into the forest.

After the gorilla trekking, have a break at the lodge as you wait for dinner. Evening dinner, evening relaxation and accommodation at Mikeno Lodge

Day 5: Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage and park headquarters visit.

On your fifth day of 8 Days Best of Virunga. Wake up at early, eat breakfast, and then decide whether to visit the park headquarters in the morning or the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage and complete the other activity later that day with lunch. The Mikeno lodge’s grounds contain the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage, which is situated there strategically. After spending some time at the orphanage, return to the dining area for dinner and spend one more night at Mikeno Lodge.

Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga National park.

On your sixth day of 8 Days Best of Virunga. Wake up early in the morning and be served with breakfast. For a chimpanzee hike in the Virunga National Park, get up early to catch the early-risers among the chimpanzees. Join the group of people habituating the mountain gorilla family in the Mahura forest of Virunga National Park by travelling to the park headquarters. Return to your lodge for lunch, or choose to visit the Virunga national park’s headquarters.

Return at the Mikeno lodge, spend the afternoon at leisure until dinnertime, and spend an additional night there.

Day 7: Overnight hike up Mount Nyiragongo.

On your seventh day of 8 Days Best of Virunga. Wake up early in the morning and be served with breakfast. After breakfast, your driver guide will be there to take you to Kibati Ranger Post, where the Nyiragongo walk begins. You’ll spend roughly 6 hours hiking uphill with 2 breaks before reaching the summit in the early evening.

On a clear night, take in the sunset from the top while watching the lights of Goma illuminate the night from a distance. The Nyiragongo top will be where you eat and spend the night.

Day 8: Connect back to Kigali.

On your eighth day of 8 Days Best of Virunga. Get up early in the morning and be served with the Congolese breakfast. Get up early to witness the dawn and the final seconds on the volcano’s summit. You can choose to be dropped off at your hotel or the Kigali international airport by your driver-guide, who will be waiting to transport you back to Kigali.