This 2 Days Congo Gorilla Safari takes you to eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the amazing Virunga National Park. Virunga National Park is one of the last strongholds of the endangered mountain gorilla. Apart from mountain gorillas, the park is blessed with incredible biodiversity and other natural attractions. Unfortunately, despite good management of the park instability in surrounding areas have in the past kept many tourists away from visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site. That is now changing as the country develops and security improves.
Virunga is the oldest national park in Africa. It was formed in 1925 and at one time included the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and parts of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. The key attractions in the park are gorilla trekking and hiking the Nyiragongo Volcano. Mountain gorillas draw more tourists to Africa than any other gorilla sub-species because they are endangered and easily accessible. Only about 1,000 individuals remain in the wild. Gorilla trekking in Congo is relatively less expensive compared to Uganda and Rwanda. Congo Gorilla permits cost $450 or less in some periods of the year. Rwanda charges $1500 per person for a gorilla permit while Uganda charges $700. Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is also special because one can spot chimpanzees while at the park. Other mammals in Virunga include wild cats, smaller monkeys, giant forest hogs, lions and elephants just to mention a few. There are also natural features like the Nyiragongo volcano which we mentioned earlier, Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Mikeno. Nyiragongo has the largest lava lake that is open to tourism in the world.
This 2 days gorilla tour in Congo starts from Kigali in Rwanda or Goma town in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It takes 6 hours of driving to get to the Congo Rwanda border from Kigali. For a more relaxed travel, you might consider our 3 days Congo Gorilla tour package instead. If you are interested in combing gorilla trekking and hiking the amazing Nyiragongo volcano, let us know so that we send you the right itinerary. If you are not interested in gorilla trekking but only observing the lava lake in the park’s volcano, check out our 2 days Nyiragongo Hike package.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport – Cross the border and go to your hotel
Day 2: Gorilla tracking in Virunga national park – Travel back to Kigali
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport – Cross and Travel to your hotel
Our company driver will pick you up from your hotel in Kigali or the airport in the morning hours and begin the journey to the Congo Rwanda border. Once you arrive in Gisenyi, the Driver will take you to a suitable restaurant to have lunch as you wait to cross the border to Congo. Be ready to present your passport and yellow fever vaccination card to immigration officials. Your Visa would be in the system if you chose to book it with us. After crossing the border, you will find the team from Virunga National Park waiting on the other side for all in-coming tourists. You will be taken to your lodge for rest and relaxation.
Accommodation options: Mikeno lodge (Upmarket), Tchegera Island Tented Camp (Mid-range) and Kibumba Tented Camp (Mid-range).
Day 2: Gorilla tracking in Virunga national park Congo – Travel back to Kigali
A driver will pick you up from your lodge early in the morning to take you for briefing. During briefing for gorilla trekking. The park officials will share information about the park, the gorilla groups and what to expect. After the briefing, you will be taken to the starting point and begin looking for the primates in the dense forests of Congo. Tracking gorillas in Virunga is very adventurous because you will encounter pristine forest, chimpanzees, smaller primates, birds, butterflies and reptiles. You will also get stunning views of the three volcanoes in the park.
It will take you between 2 to 4 hours to find the gorillas. Once you are in the presence of the primates, follow instructions from the park Rangers. Do not do anything that could alert the primates. You have 
only one hour to observe them feed, play, make nests, mate and communicate among themselves. Do not forget to take pictures of yourself and the primates. Gorillas are very gentile primates and will go about their business like you don’t exist except for moments when your actions catch their attention. After one hour of interaction with the family, you will get back to the starting point. The team from Virunga will take you back to the border crossing point. After crossing the border, you will find our company driver waiting to take you back to Kigali.
End of Tour
Tour Inclusions and Exclusions
The 2 days Congo gorilla tour includes: –
- Airport transfer to and from Kigali airport
- Gorilla permits
- The Congo Visa
- Meals while traveling
- Accommodation for 1 night with meals
- Driver/Guide fee
- Park fees
Exclusions: Air tickets, the Rwanda visa, Personal expenses (individual bills, laundry, medicine, wines and cigarettes).
Accommodation
Tchegera Island Tented Camp: This beautiful mid-range lodge is built on an island in Lake Kivu. The environment is serene and quiet with stunning views of bright lights coming from the Nyiragongo 
volcano at night. Guests can take nature walks within the island or go and relax by the shores of the lake. Tchegera Island Tented Camp offers 8 rooms that are self-contained and with all the facilities one would need to feel comfortable. There is a bathroom, a toilet, a study desk and a balcony overlooking the lake. The lodge is an excellent place to relax after a long days of activities in Virunga National Park and will appeal to those who are registered for gorilla trekking or hiking mount Nyiragongo.
Kibumba tented camp: Kibumba is also a mid-range lodging facility but built within Virunga National Park. It is more popular because it is easily accessible. The lodge is very close to Goma and the starting point of Nyiragongo hiking. All the tents are self-contained and offer stunning views of the Virunga volcanoes. The surrounding environment is so good that you could spend the whole day just marveling at the views. Food is great and much of it is influenced by French traditions.
Mikeno lodge: Mikeno is the best safari lodge within Virunga and the surrounding area. Visitors to the park choose Mikeno because of its luxury facilities and close proximity to the park offices. Each of the 12 cabins command elegance and quality. From the veranda, guests can spot birds, chimpanzees, baboons, colobus monkeys and other smaller primates. Because Mikeno Lodge is built near the park offices, you will find research and management staff hanging out in the lodge or taking lunch with guests. Only guests from Mikeno are allowed to visit the Senkwekwe Gorilla orphanage and at no cost.
