11 Days Congo safari and Tchegera island Retreat : 11 days Congo gorilla safari, chimpanzee trekking, hiking Mount Nyiragongo and Tchegera island retreat is an extraordinary adventure that takes you to the wonderful Democratic Republic of Congo’s most breathtaking landscapes and then the wildlife.
This immersive journey begins with a thrilling gorilla trekking in Virunga National park, where you will encounter with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats, chimpanzee trekking, hiking Mount Nyiragongo and then you will go for lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Finally you will un wind and recharge on the serene shores of Lake Kivu at the Tchegera island, a tranquil retreat surrounded by the lush forests and clear waters, providing the perfect setting to relax and reflect on your incredible Congolese adventure.
Tour highlights.
Day 1: Pickup in Kigali and transfer to Gisenyi-Lake Kivu.
Day 2: Transfer to Virunga National Park.
Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking.
Day 5: Second gorilla trekking.
Day 6: Hike Mount Nyiragongo.
Day 7: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Tchegera Island.
Day 8: full day Tchegera Island.
Day 9: Transfer to Bukuva.
Day 10: Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Day 11: Departure.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Pickup in Kigali and transfer to Gisenyi-Lake Kivu.
On the 1st day of the safari, your safari guide from African Vacation Safaris, will pick you from either at your hotel or from direct Kigali International Airport. After he will give you a briefing about the 11 days safari, after the briefing you will embark on your journey to Gisenyi town with the spectacular views along the way. As well you will engage in Kigali city tour like exploring the famous Kigali Genocide Grounds and the Kimironko market, this is where you will meet with the local Rwandan artisans and as well grabbing yourself souvenir to take back home with you. After the experience you will head to Musanze town for lunch at an authentic restaurant before going to Gisenyi for the stunning boat experience to catch the sunset on the sea, and watching various bird species on Lake Kivu boat ride. After the boat experience you will embark on your hotel in Gisenyi where you will relax, enjoy your dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Virunga National Park.
On the 2nd day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your delicious breakfast, after breakfast, you will check out from your lodge and get ready to be transferred to democratic Republic of Congo with the charming landscapes along the way, as you are linking to the Grande Barrier border facility to check in with the Virunga national park tourism office that is situated just across from the immigration office. This is where you are going to receive the permits for the safari activities that you will participate in Virunga National Park, and later you will be transferred to your hotel then check in, and later you will enjoy lunch and relax for the remaining hours of the day. In the evening you will be served with dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.
On the 3rd day of the safari, you will wake up early in the morning and enjoy a hearty breakfast, after breakfast you will proceed to Bukima ranger posy for the briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will follow the ranger guides in the forest and look for the mountain gorillas, this takes a period of about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on the location of the gorillas, with the perfect views along the way of the unique wildlife and once the gorillas are found you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas, that is watching the gorillas feeding, breakfasting, female gorillas grooming their young ones and among others. After the experience you will be transferred to your lodge for lunch. After lunch you will have the optional of visiting the senkwekwe orphanage or simply visit the Virunga national park headquarters and after the experience you will be transferred to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking.
On the 4th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy breakfast, after breakfast you will head out for a chimpanzee trekking. You will be transferred to Mahura forest which surrounds Rumangabo. You will be given the rules and regulations to follow during the chimpanzee trekking, after the briefing you will join other people and go to the forest to look for the chimpanzees, chimpanzee trekking takes a period of 30 minutes to 4 hours and once you find the chimpanzees you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of chimpanzees watching them feeding, watching them breast feeding, watching the chimpanzees playing and among many others. After the experience you will return back to your lodge for lunch. After lunch you will rest or optional you can choose to take part in exploring the park area with the park rangers/ guides and or any other activity in the park. And after the experience you will transfer back to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 5: Second gorilla trekking.
On the 3rd day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and take delicious breakfast, after breakfast meet your safari guide and get ready for the second gorilla trekking. Like previously procedure in the first gorilla trekking that’s what will be followed. You will be transferred to the Bukima ranger post and receive the briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during gorillas trekking. After you will explore the forest and be allocated of the gorilla family to trek. Gorilla trekking takes a period of about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on the location of the gorillas. And once the gorillas are located you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of gorillas. That’s the period when you will watch the gorillas feeding, breastfeeding, watching the gorillas playing and among others, taking their pictures and recording their movies while using the less or no flash cameras. And after the experience you will be transferred to your starting point and later go back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch you will simply opt to relax at your lodge and then later you will be transferred back to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 6: Hike Mount Nyiragongo.
On the 6th day of the safari, get up early in the morning and enjoy breakfast, after breakfast you will check out from your lodge together with your packed lunch and meet your safari guide and drive to Kibati ranger post to where you will start your hiking safari. At Kibati your rangers will belief you about the dos and don’ts of Mount Nyiragongo hiking. You will start ascending at around 10:30am the most active volcanoes within the Virunga massif that last erupted in 2002 that lead to the destruction of several properties, like the peoples’ lives and wildlife. During hiking you will spot the diverse number of stunning wildlife that thrilling along the trail in Virunga National Park like animal species, bird species and various primates. You will enjoy your packed lunch while hiking with the breathtaking views. Then when you are done taking you will proceed hiking to the summit until you reach the glowing lava lake at the top of Mount Nyiragongo, and spot the neighboring destinations that is Rwanda and Uganda. You will later transfer to your tent for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 7: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Tchegera Island.
On the 7th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and be served with breakfast at the summit of Nyiragongo, then you will later start your descending back to Kibati ranger post with the perfect views while using the Nyiragongo trailhead. Compared to ascending that takes longer hours descending is very easy back to Kibati, and once you arrive at Kibati your safari driver will transfer you back to Goma for lunch. And after taking your lunch you will link to Goma port to get a boat to Tchegera Island and then transfer with the perfect views along the way and when you arrive you will check in your resort and be served with dinner, then relax and overnight stay.
Day 8: full day Tchegera Island.
On the 8th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy the delicious breakfast, after breakfast you will select in among the various activities that you would wish to do during the morning, that is from kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling or simply taking a walk along the trails of the island, as you are spotting the various colourful and beautiful bird species around the island on Lake Kivu. After the experience you will return back to your resort to where you will enjoy your barbeque lunch as you are enjoying the breeze of the island at your resort. After lunch you will be go for a more experience that enjoy the activities that you missed during the morning session that will give you unforgettable safari memories or you can take nature walks around the virgin trails on the island to spot the diverse numbers of the wildlife. After the experience you will be transferred back to your resort for dinner, relaxation and overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Bukuva.
On the 9th day of the safari,, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast, after the breakfast, you will check out from your resort and then wait for the ferry and board after taking your lunch to Bukavu that takes you three hours of riding and once you arrive in Bukavu in the later evening you will check in your hotel and be served with dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 10: Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
On the 10th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy a hearty breakfast, after breakfast meet your safari guide and meet your safari guide and transfer to the park’s headquarters where you will register and meet your allocated ranger guides before heading to the park trekking starting site for your lowland gorilla trekking adventure. After you will depart with your ranger guide that will give you knowledge and information about Kahuzi Biega National Park. When you reach the park you will start looking for the eastern lowland gorillas in their natural habitats. You explore the park’s lush forests and look for the gorillas, gorilla trekking takes a period of thirty minutes to 5 hours depending on the location of the gorillas.
Along the way looking for the gorillas you will be rewarded with the unique sightings of the unique landscapes, until you find the gorillas. And once the gorillas are located you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of gorillas, that is watching them play, watching the female gorillas grooming their young ones, taking their pictures and recording their movies. After the period of one hour experience you will then return back to the starting point of the park to where you will be awarded with the gorilla trekking certificates for participating part in gorilla trekking. After you will transferred back to your lodge for relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 11: Departure.
On the last day of the safari, get up early in the morning and enjoy your delicious breakfast, after breakfast, you will check out from lodge and meet your safari guide and prepare to return to Kigali from Bukavu through using the Rusizi border with the impressive views. Along the way you will have enroute lunch and later proceed with your journey, you will have a stopover at Butare Ethnographic Museum and the King’s Palace and then later you will be dropped to your convenient place that will make the safari come to the end.
End of 11 Days Congo safari and Tchegera island Retreat
Safari inclusions.
Gorilla trekking permits.
Chimpanzee trekking permits.
Hiking fees.
Full board accommodation.
Transport.
Full time English speaking safari guide.
Bottled drinking water.
Convoy.
Safari exclusions.
Beverages.
Porter fees.
Souvenirs and Tips.
Flights.
Personal expenses like laundry, telephone.
