THE GREAT APE TREK
The “Great Ape Package” is an awesome and extraordinary Safari package offering visitors with the golden opportunity of encountering two Great Ape species (mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees) within Virunga National Park, of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This 5 days Package is every primate lover’s ultimate safari and involves double gorilla treks, spending the first night within the remarkable luxurious Mikeno Safari Lodge, second night at Ngila and the remaining nights in Mikeno Lodge. The Trip starts and ends in Goma, within the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to the Grande Barriere border point
Be at the Grande Barriere border point not later than 11:30am to finalize the necessary formalities at Virunga Tourism Office by 12:30pm. This border crossing is within the Goma side of the Rwanda-DRC border and its where visitors planning to visit Virunga National Park check-in for gorilla trekking or Nyiragongo hiking permits, receive the Congo tourist Visa and present the yellow fever inoculation certificate before crossing into Congo. The Tourism Office of Virunga National Park is also found in the Grande Barriere building opposite the Passport control Office. Receive your gorilla permits, Chimpanzee Habituation permit then be transferred to the stupendous Mikeno Lodge within the verdant Mahura Forest, at Rumangabo Park Headquarters. Delicious meals, relaxation and dinner await your arrival at the Lodge.
Day 2: The First Gorilla Trek in Virunga National Park
After a lovely breakfast at the Lodge, meet your Safari driver and set off for Bukima Ranger Post. On getting there, you will join other trekkers for briefing, be allocated a gorilla family and meet your Ranger guides before embarking on the life-changing trek. Gorilla treks within this magnificent Park necessitate 1-3 hours of hiking each day, depending on the movement/location of the allocated gorilla group being trekked as well as the difficulty/ease of the terrain. After using up the allotted one hour with the mountain gorillas, you will be required to descend back to Bukima Ranger Post and be transferred to Ngila Lodge where Lunch will be served. You will have the remainder of the afternoon to undertake tours of Bukima where Virunga’s Bamboo project as well as the different bird species will be explored.
Day 3: Second amazing Gorilla Trek in Virunga National Park
After breakfast, be driven to Bukima Ranger post for the same process of briefing and assigning a different gorilla family and ranger guide. At 8:00am start your second gorilla trek and on returning from the trek, return back to Ngila Lodge for a quick Lunch. Check-out and be driven back to Mikeno Lodge for relaxation along the Lodge terrace or leisure tours around the Park Headquarters.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Habituation Trek within Virunga National Park
At 5:30am breakfast will be served to allow you head out for the Chimpanzee trek within the remarkable Virunga National Park. By 6:00am start the exceptional chimp trek, where visitors are allowed to join a team of researchers studying and habituating Chimpanzee troops within the lush Mahura Forest adjacent to Rumangabo. Return to the Lodge for Lunch and in the afternoon either visit Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage Center, unwind with a book and glass of wine or share experiences with fellow visitors along the Lodge terrace.
Day 5: Drive back to Goma
After an amazing breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, you will be driven back to Goma Town. Visitors can also arrange for transfers to any location in Kigali via Grande Barriere border post. This marks the end of the amazing Great Ape Trekking Package.

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