7 Days Congo Wildlife Safari – Overview

The 7 Days Congo Wildlife Safari is one of the comprehensive 6 nights/7 days Congo safari tour packages that will combine gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris in Congo’s most majestic national parks endowed with unique ape species.

The Safari will take you through Africa’s most spectacular Virunga National Park –the natural home of mountain gorillas and the world’s most active volcano-Nyiragongo.

Thereafter, the safari connects you to charming lowland gorillas trek in Khauzi Biega National Park located in South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC.

The 7 Days Congo Wildlife Safari will offer you life-changing experiences and a taste of world-class services from some of the finest lodges in DR Congo.

7 Days Congo Wildlife Safari / 7 Days Congo Safari Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari – Highlights

• Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport and Transfer to Virunga National Park in Congo.
• Day 2: Do Early Morning Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.
• Day 3: Early Morning Nyiragongo Volcano Hike
• Day 4: Make Decent from Nyiragongo Volcano and Transfer to Kigali
• Day 5: Transfer from Virunga national park to Bukavu
• Day 6: Lowland Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo and Afternoon Nature Walks
• Day 7: Transfer from Bukavu –DR Congo back to Kigali

7 Days Congo Wildlife Safari | 7 Days Congo Safari Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport & Transfer to Virunga National Park in Congo.

Immediately you arrive at Rwanda’s official entry point- Kigali international airport, you will be met and warmly welcomed by our professional driver guide who will transfer you to Virunga Park in Congo.

The drive journey of about 4-5 hours without en route stopovers is very interesting. The drive will take you through the majestic landscape and rolling winding hills of Rwanda before crossing to the green natural environment of DR Congo.

On arrival at the park, you will advance to the lodge to check-in, have dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge (Luxury/Upmarket), Bukima Tented Camp (Mid-Range) Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters (Budget)

Day 2: Do Early Morning Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.

Following your early morning relaxed breakfast, you will be transferred to Bukima park station in the Virunga National Park where trekkers assemble for early morning registration, allocation of the gorilla family to trek, and briefing on how to conduct when trekking the mountain gorillas in the densely forested areas of Virunga National Park.

After the briefing, you will proceed to the appropriate starting point for the trek to confront the gorilla group you have been allocated.

The length of the trek varies depending on the movements of the gorillas as well as weather conditions. Meeting these gentle giants in their natural habitat is a unique and wonderful experience.

When you meet these ape species, you will be given one hour to observe and take photos of these stunning Apes.

After the one magical hour allocated to you, you will retire back to the trekking base and thereafter retreat back to your hotel/lodge for a late lunch and relaxation.

Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge (Luxury/Upmarket), Bukima Tented Camp (Mid-Range) Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters (Budget)

Day 3: Early Morning Nyiragongo Volcano Hike

After early morning breakfast, you will embark on a 30 km transfer drive from your Mikeno lodge to Kibat Patrol Post in Nyiragongo Volcano.

On arrival at the hike trailhead, Park rangers will brief you and afterward lead you with your porters to start the hike to the top of Nyiragongo Volcanoes.

Nyiragongo Volcano hike will take you around 4-6 hours to reach the summit of the world’s most active Volcano.

The path to the summit of the Volcano is relatively easy but a bit strenuous, often in hot and uncomfortable conditions.

Along the trail, you may enjoy the views and sights of rare bird species and small mammal species.

Upon reaching the top, you will enjoy the views of lakes of hot lava and relax on top of the volcano. The night will be spent in tents on the rim of the giant crater, high above the active lava lake.

Day 4: Make Decent From Nyiragongo Volcano

After early morning breakfast, you will begin your descent from the summit of Nyiragongo to the head trail in the Kibat Patrol Post.

You will enjoy the beautiful views of the volcano and surrounding areas if lucky meet the primate species as well as bird species as you slope from the summit of the Nyiragongo Volcano.

On arrival at the trailhead; you will transfer to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Accommodation: Mikeno Lodge (Luxury/Upmarket), Bukima Tented Camp (Mid-Range) Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters (Budget)

Day 5: Transfer From Virunga National Park to Bukavu

Following your early morning breakfast, you will depart your respective lodge transferring to Bukavu town in Eastern DR Congo.

The drive transfer to Bukavu is very interesting as it will take you through a fascinating landscape full of scenic views.

On arrival to Bukavu, you will connect to your pre-booked lodge/hotel for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Orchid safari Lodge. (Luxury), Hotel Horizon (Mid-Range/Budget).

Day 6: Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo & Afternoon Nature Walks

After early morning breakfast, embark on an early morning drive transfer to the park headquarters for an early morning briefing about the dos and don’ts of lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National park.

After the briefing, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park.

Trekking lowland Gorillas offers a unique experience of its own and it usually takes 1-4 hours. The lowland Gorillas stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas; you will not regret the safari effort once you meet the amazing Gorillas.

After one memorable hour of encounter with the lowland gorillas, you will retire back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on an afternoon nature walk in the Kahuzi Biega Park.

The nature walks will take you through Tshibati waterfalls, visit Bukavu town, Mbayo tea plantations, the research Centre, and the surrounding traditional homes. Thereafter, retreat back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Orchid safari Lodge. (Luxury),Hotel Horizon (Mid-Range/Budget).

Day 7: Transfer From Bukavu –DR Congo Back to Kigali

Following an early morning breakfast, you will embark on a transfer drive to Kigali Capital City. The drive journey will take you through Bukavu in Congo crossing via the Cyangugu border to Rwanda.

You will have an en-route stop in Butare, where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, the king’s palace in Nyanza, and the Rwanda genocide memorial site.

On arrival to Kigali, you will have your lunch and thereafter advance with the drive to Kigali International Air Port for your scheduled flight back home.

End of The 7 Days Congo Wildlife Safari

Getting There

Safari Inclusions

• Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
• Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

Safari Exclusions

• General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights (Arranged on request)
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
• Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)