Circuit 1: Gorillas-Chimps-Nyiragongo-Pygmies-Okapi-Kigali - 7 Days

DR CONGO EAST

Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Volcano

Okapis and Pygmies

KIGALI – GISENYI - GOMA – Mountain GORILLAS – CHIMPANZEES

NYIRAGONGO Volcano - ITURI PRIMARY RAINFOREST

EPULU – OKAPIS & PYGMIES

7 days / 6 nights from Kigali

Discover a land of incredible beauty, as rich in wildlife and flora as it is in the hospitality of its inhabitants and the only place in the world where one can approach gorillas, chimpanzees and okapis in their natural environment and admire the lava lake of a volcano in turmoil at an altitude of 3.470m.

This responsible travel itinerary will make you discover or re-discover beautiful areas while participating in the development and revival of this region. A journey that is secure and organised by specialists of the region.

Day 1 : Kigali - Gisenyi

You will be welcomed and greeted at the Kigali airport. Depending of the time, visit of the city and of the 1994 genocide memorial and lunch at the excellent and very known “Mille Collines” hotel ****

Depart to Gisenyi through the beautiful roads of the ‘Mille collines’ (thousand hills), 3h drive, stop to eat a “brochette and a Sambusa” and visit a traditional brick production site and the nice Kiaka art workshop.

Registration at the hotel Serena**** in Gisenyi where lye the most beautiful white beaches of Rwanda.

Dinner with dances and songs performed by local and traditional young dancers, the wellknown “Intore”. Overnight stay at your hotel.

Day 2 : Goma - Bukima

Early transfer to Goma in DR Congo and travel to the north to the Virunga National Park by jeep (2h30) in the direction of Rutshuru along the volcanoes Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira and through the fields of lava resulting from the volcanic eruption of 2002.

Upon arrival in Bukima you’ll get a full panoramic view of the volcanoes where the mountain gorillas reside. After a 2 to 3h trek through tropical forests, you’ll be treated to an unforgettable sight and moments spent in the company of the mountain gorillas of Bukima in the Virunga National Park.

You’ll most likely be able to approach them and almost touch them!! 

Late lunch next to the volcano in Bukima. Drive back to Rumangabo (1h30) and registration in the new and luxurious Mikeno lodge**** situated in the primary forest of the Virunga National Park, home to baboons, colobuses and other monkeys you will be able to see from your rooms!

Dinner and overnight stay at the Mikeno lodge.

Day 3 : Chimpanzees in Tongo

In the primary forest of Tongo, lying on a 300 years old lava flow of the Nyiaragongo volcano, you will observe a second species of primates living in their natural habitat. There you will be able to observe many chimpanzee families playing and hunting for food in there natural environment of the Tongo Forest.

Late lunch at the Mikeno lodge. In the afternoon, visit of the gorillas rehabilitation program of Virunga National Park in Rumangabo.

Dinner and overnight stay at the Mikeno lodge.

Day 4 : Nyiragongo volcano

Drive back to the South up to Kibati (1h), where you will begin the climbing of the volcano. Climb the active Nyiragongo volcano (3.470m in

altitude) for about 5h with a volcanologist who will give you very interesting explanations. A picnic is provided along the way!

Your chef cook will await you at the top of the volcano and after dinner you’ll stay at one of the little chalets.

A breathtaking and unforgettable view of the crater with boiling lava awaits you.

Day 5 : Nyiragongo – Goma - Epulu

Get an early start to the day and watch the sun rise between the Karisimbi and Visoke volcanoes. After an invigorating breakfast complete with bacon and eggs, climb down the volcano and find yourself amidst magnificent and extremely diversified volcanic flora.

Arrival in Goma around noon to take a shower and a lunch at the Lake Kivu lodge *** before going to the airport to take off in your charter aircraft to Epulu (1h30 flight)

Welcome at the Okapi Wildlife Reserve Epulu by the program director and the park manager.

Dinner and overnight stay at the station Guest House* along the Epulu river.

Day 6 : Okapis - Pygmies

After the breakfast served in the hut located along Epulu river you will have the opportunity with a guide to visit and photograph the Okapis.

You will learn about the diet of the Okapis who are feed every day by the pygmies.

Later this morning you will leave with a group of pygmies and a guide to their hunting camp, which can take as long as a 3 hours walking time. 

Pygmies are nomadic hunters and gatherers! In the afternoon you will have the chance to participate in a traditional net hunt. In the evening after the dinner prepared by them with food brought by us you will listen to their songs and admire their dances in the dark forest. You will spend the night with them in the forest. It is a once in your life experience !

Day 7 : Goma - Kigali

Early wake up and after a cup of coffee in the forest … you will walk back to the conservation center.

After taking a shower and a good breakfast, you will take a flight back to Goma and experience en route the beautiful views offered by the summit of the Rwenzori ; the 3rd highest mountain in Africa with its pic Marguerite at 5.200m.Around noon, you will cross the border to go back to Kigali. Transfer to the airport for the return flight.

END OF SERVICES

Useful tips

• Climbing the volcano requires an excellent physical condition as well as visiting the gorillas and the chimpanzees. Also, trekking equipment is required (see “Infos” on our website).
• The visit to the mountain gorillas (400$) and to the chimpanzees (100$) and the scaling of the volcano (200$) are also included in the prices. They can be changed at any time until receiving a firm booking with advance payment.
• In DR Congo, the Kahusi Biega park with its Lowland Gorillas, the Lake Kivu, the Garamba park with its multiple and varied fauna; in Rwanda, the Akagera park with its wonderful birds island, the primary Nyungwe Forest with its colobus and varieties of Monkeys or in Burundi, the lakeside town of Bujumbura and its relaxing white sand beaches along lake Tanganika.
• Our prices include everything mentioned in the program in full board but excludes the visa fees, drinks, tips and any other personal expenses. 
• Events beyond our control may still lead us to modify our programs even on last minute. Any changes will be made in your best interest and, if possible, with your prior agreement.
• To add a special touch to your journey, several extensions can be organized on demand:

An amount of $10 per travel day will be given by CTT to a development project visited and chosen by each traveler.

The specialist of Kivu and of the Great Lakes region !

CTT promotes responsible tourism in the region of eastern DR Congo, real paradise of fauna and flora, but also in Rwanda and Burundi !

In Kivu, you can … visit the mountain and lowland gorillas and the chimpanzees in their natural environment of the famous and well-known Virunga Park or of the Kahusi Biega Park … climb the active Nyiragongo volcano and enjoy during the night at 3.470m high an unforgettable view on the largest lake of boiling lava in the world … travel by pirogue on the splendid lake Kivu and visit the coffee and tea plantations in the magnificient region of Masisi, also called « the Little Switzerland of Kivu » … stay in the main towns Goma and Bukavu … climb the Rwenzori which is the 3th higher peak in Africa …

And also further to the north … have a visit to the beautiful Garamba Park or go to the Epulu forest to meet the Okapis and the Pygmies …

In addition, you will experience unforgettable meetings with the local population in the different development projects that you will support directly by traveling with CTT (10$/person/day out of your travel’s price will be given to a project chosen by each traveler).

CTT’s Congolese and foreign partners are experts of this area which they know very well and where they have an excellent network !