The Great Apes Package is everyone’s ultimate tour which offers a golden opportunity to encounter the two Great Ape species which include Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees all with in the Virunga National Park, east of Democratic Republic of Congo.
The tour involves double gorilla treks, second night at Ngila and the rest of the nights in Mikeno Lodge. Your trip begins and ends in Goma city, DRC.
Detailed tour.
Day 1: To the Grande Barriere border point.
You should be at Grande Barriere border point at exactly 11:30am to conclude the necessary formalities at Virunga Tourism Office by 12:30pm. The border crossing is in the Goma side along Rwanda – DRC border where visitors make arrangements to visit Virunga N/Park, check in for gorilla trekking or Nyiragongo permits, get the Congo Tourist Visa and present the yellow fever inoculation certificate before heading to D.R. Congo.
The tourism office of Virunga National Park is located in the Grande Barriers building just opposite the passport control office. You will get your gorilla permits, chimpanzee Habituation permit and head to the stupendous Mikeno Lodge found in the verdant Mahura Forest near park headquarters. You will have a very delicious meal, relax and have dinner at this lodge.
Day 2: The first gorilla trek in Virunga National Park.
Have a well spiced breakfast, meet your tour driver and head for Bukima Ranger Post. Join other trekkers for a short briefing, get a gorilla family and meet with your ranger guides before embarking on a very interesting trek which takes 1-3 hours each day depending on the movements and location of the allocated gorilla group.
After your gorilla trekking, you will head back to Bukima Ranger Post and travel to Ngila lodge where you will have lunch from. In the afternoon, you will head to Bukima where Virunga’s Bamboo project and different bird types will be explored.
Day 3: Second amazing Gorilla Trek in Virunga N/Park.
Have breakfast and head to Bukima ranger post for briefing and get new gorilla families and a ranger guide. Start your second gorilla trek and after head back to Ngila Lodge for lunch. Sign out and be taken back to Mikeno Lodge to relax at the lodge terrace or leisure tours around the park headquarters.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trek within Virunga National Park.
Breakfast will be served as early as 5:30am such that you can head out for the chimpanzee trek within the Virunga National Park. Start the chimp trek at 6:00am. You will be allowed to join a group of researchers studying and habituating chimpanzee troops in the lush Mahura Forest adjacent to Rumangabo sector.
Head back to the lodge for lunch then choose to either visit Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage center where you will unwind with a book and a glass of wine or share experiences with other visitors.
Day 5: Drive back to Goma.
Have breakfast at Mikeno lodge then be driven back to Goma town. You can also make preparations for a transfer to any location in Kigali through Grande Barriere border post and this will be the end of this Great Ape trekking package.
