8 Days Classic Virunga Safari Package

Arrive at Grande Barriere border crossing by 11:00 am and ensure check-in with Virunga tourism office by 11:30 am. The tourism office is conveniently located in the Grande Barriere border post building, opposite passport control. Here you will be provided with gorilla and volcano trek permits at check-in which must be presented before the start of each trek. Thereafter, you will be transported to Mikeno Lodge at the Park headquarters in Rumangabo. On arrival to Mikeno Lodge, a late lunch will be served, and the afternoon can be enjoyed at leisure, including exploring Rumangabo’s several nature trails, bird watching or paying a visit to Virunga’s Congo hounds.

Overnight: Mikeno Lodge          

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After an early breakfast, you will set off to Bukima Ranger Post. On arrival, you will meet your Ranger guides and local potters for a briefing session before starting the gorilla trek. Treks usually require 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on the location of the group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted one hour with the gorillas, you will then return to Mikeno Lodge where you will be served a late lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure or enjoying the wildlife Rumangabo has to offer.

Overnight: Mikeno Lodge        

Meal Plan: Full Board

Today you will have an early rise to go enjoy a forest walk and see the chimps that reside in and around the Mahura Forest. Return to the lodge for a leisurely breakfast, visit Senkwekwe Centre to see the orphaned gorillas, have a nice bird walk, or an afternoon at leisure, free to explore the Park Headquarters.

Overnight: Mikeno Lodge       

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After an early breakfast head to Bukima Ranger post for your second gorilla trek. After your gorilla trek, travel back to Mikeno Lodge for a late lunch.  The rest of the afternoon can be spent visiting the widow’s workshop or cosy up with a nice book by the fire.

Overnight: Mikeno Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After a sumptuous breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, you will be transported to the Kibati Ranger Post. This is the departure point for the Nyiragongo volcano trek. On arrival, you and other climbers will receive a briefing and can hire porters at this point. We highly advise that you hire one. The climb up the volcano takes around four to six hours and trekkers will overnight on the summit.

Overnight: Nyiragongo Huts.      

Meal Plan: Full Board.

At 6:30, all climbers will leave the crater rim and start the descent back to Kibati. The average descent time is four hours. Once at the bottom, you will be transported back to Goma with a drop-off at the Grande Barriere border crossing. Your Guide will pick you up and transfer you to Kigali.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Onomo Hotel Kigali   

Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast.

Your safari ends on this day. Depending on your flight time, we may take you for a City Tour of Kigali ending at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. You will then be dropped off at the airport for your outbound flight.