5 Days Great Ape safari
5 Days Great Ape safari: Spend 5 days in the Virunga national park with a double gorilla trek and a chimpanzee family visit in the Mahura forest. This itinerary gives you the chance to visit the newly habituated chimpanzee family in the Mahura forest. Also, get to visit 2 different gorilla families in the Bukima sector of Virunga.
Highlights of the 5 Days Great Ape safari
- Kigali city tour
- 3 nights at Mikeno lodge
- 1 night at Bukima tented camp
- Double mountain gorilla trek
- Chimpanzee family visit
- Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage
- Nature walk/ Village visit
Trip Description
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali to Grande Barrier for check-in
- Drive to Mikeno lodge for overnight: You will be expected to be set for pick up from Kigali city latest by 8am. You driver guide will brief you ahead of this tour and you will set out on his 4 hour connecting drive from Kigali to Goma at the Grand barrier building to check in with the Virunga tourism office. You will be given you gorilla trek and Nyiragongo hike permits that should be presented at the start of the activity per day. Drive to Mikeno lodge after all requirements have been met and arrive in time for a late lunch. You will be welcomed with a refreshing glass of juice and a hot lunch. Check into your room and spend the evening at leisure. Dinner will be served and you will have your first night at the Mikeno lodge.
Day 2: First mountain gorilla trek in Virunga national park
- Mountain gorilla trek in Bukima sector: Wake up to a fresh breeze of the Virunga national park and connect for your luxurious Mikeno breakfast right before you set out to the park. Drive to Bukima ranger post to meet your ranger guides and the local potters and receive the briefing before the trek. Set out into the forest and search for the mountain gorillas for about 2 hours until you meet one of the gorilla families. Spend the magical one hour with the mountain gorillas as they go about their usual day routine. You must observe and listen to your ranger guides at all times as these are wild animals that may change anytime however much they are habituated. You will have lunch at the Bukima tented camp and spend the rest of the day at the camp in anticipation for the second gorilla trek the next day. Dinner will be served and spend the first and only night at the Bukimaa tented camp.
Day 3: Second mountain gorilla trek in Virunga national park
- Mountain gorilla trek in Virunga national park: Wake up to a fresh breeze of the Virunga national park and have breakfast right before you set out to the park. Drive to Bukima ranger post as the day before to meet your ranger guides and the local potters and receive the briefing before the trek. Set out into the forest and search for the mountain gorillas for about 2 hours until you meet one of the gorilla families. Spend the magical one hour with the mountain gorillas as they go about their usual day routine. You must observe and listen to your ranger guides at all times as these are wild animals that may change anytime however much they are habituated. Have a quick lunch at the Bukima tented camp and drive back to the prestigious Mikeno lodge to spend the afternoon at leisure enjoying the view from the lodge’s terrace or go visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage center. You will have dinner and spend the second night at the Mikeno lodge.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trek in Virunga NP
- Chimpanzee family visit: As early as 6 am, you will have set out to the Mahura forest of the Rumangabo sector in anticipation to be a part of the ongoing habituation process of the chimpanzee family of Virunga NP. You will join the team that is studying the chimpanzees and spend some time in the forest. Get back to your Mikeno lodge for a late breakfast. You will have enough time to take on an optional activity like visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage or take a nature walk or visit the community projects or even opt to relax and read a book at the lodge terrace as you wait for dinner. Spend
Day 5: Drive back to Rwanda
- Kigali city tour: You will wake up for a simple Congolese breakfast as you enjoy the last moments in the Virunga national park. Pack your bags and check out of your hotel. Drive to connect to the Goma Grande barrier for drop off or drive all the way to Kigali town according to your arrangement. You will have a Kigali city tour that is complimentary for booking this tour.
Inclusive
- Full time safari vehicle
- English/ French speaking driver and guide
- DRCongo tourist visa
- Fueled safari car
- Double mountain gorilla permit
- Chimpanzee trek permit
Exclusive
- International flights
- Extra accommodation not in the itinerary
- Extra activities not included in the itinerary
- Personal requirements like airtime, laundry, tips
