Virunga Classic 6 Days
Tour Overview
The 6-Day Virunga Classic tour is an exceptional package designed for you to explore Virunga National Park in the D.R. Congo. Explore the natural wonders in Congo. Do double gorilla trekking to enjoy up close and personal with the rare mountain gorillas, and then have a thrilling volcano trek to Mount Nyiragongo summits. The Virunga expedition takes 5 nights and 6 days starting at Goma.
Virunga National Park is by far iconic destination, the only park in D.R. Congo where you can find a section of mountain gorillas. The 7800-sq.km Virunga National Park lies in the Eastern Congo, and holds about 8 habituated gorilla groups.
Detailed Itinerary
After breakfast at your hotel in Kigali, you will be picked up and transferred up to the Goma Grande Barriere. Check in at the Virunga tourism offices to be cleared by authorities, get your gorilla permit that will allow you to track one family group in the Virunga National Park. Proceed from the tourism offices to your pre-booked classic lodge to have a relaxed afternoon and a comfortable stay.
Have a delicious breakfast at the comfort of your lodge and after, you will assemble at Bukima Ranger Post. Get briefed about gorilla trekking safety measures and gorilla families will be assigned to visitors during this session. After, start trekking through the forest for about 2-6 hours and once you come across gorillas, your park guide will allow you to stay for one hour observing how they behave and taking photos. Walk back after up close with family of gorillas, and at the lodge, have a relaxed afternoon, and refreshments. You may consider visiting Senkwekwe centre or go birding in the afternoon.
After breakfast, you will leave your lodge for briefing and today, you will be assigned a different family in Virunga to track. Depending on your fitness level, expect to spend again 2 – 6 hours like the previous gorilla trek but guarantee of one hour for a close encounter with mountain gorillas. Later, start trekking back and have long afternoon chilling at the lodge.
Have a hot cup of tea/coffee, after; you will embark on a guided forest walk in the Virunga National Park. Explore the different habitats around Virunga rich in useful plant species, with a chance to spot bird species and other faunal species.
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and after, meet your English-driver guide for transfer from Bukima to Kitabi ranger post. At Kitabi, meet officials for briefing about your Nyiragongo volcano trek in the Virunga National Park. By 10:00 am, your experienced guide will lead you through 5-6 hours trek to the top of Mount Nyiragongo. You will have a relaxed evening and meals at the Nyiragongo summit shelters.
Wake up early, enjoy a cup of tea/coffee at leisure and later, meet your guide ready to descend back to a briefing point. At Kibati, meet the Congo driver guide for transfer to the Goma Grande Barriere border crossing and today marks the end of Virunga classic tour -6 days.