2 Day Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari – Short Gorilla Safari Package
Enjoy the best of 2 Day Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari at an affordable rate. This short Congo tour takes 1 night and 2 days while you explore the verdant Virunga National Park (VNP). This itinerary is special in the sense that it allows you to immerse yourself into the lush tropical rainforest of the Virunga NP in search of the massive mountain gorilla families.
Out of the eight gorilla families in Virunga, only 1 (one) will be visited in a group of 8 guests. The Virunga National Park gorilla families include Rugendo family, Humba gorilla family, Kabirizi, Bageni, Mapuwa, Nyakamwe, Lulengo, and Munyaga.
It is a guided adventure meaning you will be safely accompanied by an armed and experienced park ranger guide from Virunga National Park. The Virunga NP is situated in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is notably Africa’s oldest and biggest mountain gorilla park. Established in 1925, Virunga NP has a land area coverage of up to 7800sq.km and protects not only mountain gorillas but also other faunal species.
Besides mountain gorillas, Virunga is a rich habitat with 706 bird species including Albertine rift endemic species; other mammals like okapis, forest elephants, hippos; reptiles, amphibians and more. This short gorilla trip to Virunga National Park begins and ends in Kigali capital.
Brief Itinerary – 2 Day Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari
- Day 1: Kigali-Virunga National Park
- Day 2: Congo Gorilla Trekking & departure
Detailed Itinerary – 2 Day Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari:
Day 1: Kigali – Virunga National Park.
After an early morning breakfast, meet a professional driver guide from Maranatha Tours and Travel for a warm greeting. Leave the hotel for a short Kigali city excursion and today, expect to visit Kigali genocide memorial plus Kimironko market.
After the city excursion, set off on your 5-hour drive road trip from Kigali city. It will be an enriching road trip bringing you magnificent views of the countryside rolling hills in Rwanda, lush rainforests and Lake Kivu.
Arrive at Gisenyi where lunch will be provided and after, cross the border to Goma as you proceed direct to your lodge. Have a long evening relaxing at the lodge and preparing for your actual adventure the following day.
Accommodation
- Mikeno Lodge
- Bukima Tented Camp
Meal plan: En-route lunch & dinner
Day 2: Congo Gorilla Trekking & departure
Start your morning with a superb cup of tea/coffee and after, have all your essentials ready for a thrilling gorilla trekking adventure in Virunga National Park. First, catch up with briefing in the morning at Bukima ranger post where the park official will take you through the set guidelines to be followed during the actual trekking with mountain gorillas in the wild.
The park official will allocate you one habituated gorilla group and also the park ranger guide to accompany you. After this session, set off on a search for Virunga gorillas and expect to take 2-6 hours in the jungles.
On locating the family of gorillas, get your camera set to take your best shot of these massive apes in their natural habitat. This is done for an hour which also includes a close observation of the gorillas while the park guide will be present to interpret different body gestures displayed by these apes.
Your gorilla trek will also have you exposed to different primates and other species such as blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, birds and giant forest hogs, etc.
After the striking encounter with our closest relatives, begin walking back to the briefing point then go to the lodge to check out. The driver guide will be available to return you to Kigali capital in Rwanda.
End of 2 Day Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari.
Safari Cost Includes
- All the park entry fees
- Valid gorilla permit
- All trip experiences except if indicated optional
- Ground travel from Kigali to Virunga & back
- Meals as indicated in the trip plan
- Accommodation for 1 night
- Service of an English-speaking driver guide/park ranger services
- A bottled drinking water
Safari Cost Excludes
- Tips
- Souvenirs
- Life/travel Insurance
- Airfares
- All premium drinks
- All extra experiences/activities
- Laundry services
- Shopping bills
- Telephone calls
- Extra cost on hotel after/before the tour
What to pack for the 2 Day Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari?
Pack essentials such as valid gorilla permits, long sleeved shirts, daypack, long trousers, insect repellents, a camera plus extra batteries, trip plan (itinerary), waterproof hiking boots, rain jacket, and others.