The Virunga Classic Safari

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali by 7 am and Transfer to Goma then Mikeno lodge

Pick up from your hotel in Kigali city and drive to Goma. Arrival at Grande Barrière border crossing by 10:30am and ensure check in with Virunga park tourism office by 11:15am. The tourism office is conveniently located in the Grande Barrière border post building, opposite passport control. Tourism staff will provide guests with gorilla and volcano trek permits at check-in. These permits must be presented before the start of each trek. Once check-in is complete, guests will be transported to Mikeno Lodge at the Park headquarters in Rumangabo. On arrival to Mikeno Lodge, a late lunch will be served and the afternoon can be enjoyed at leisure, including exploring Rumangabo’s several nature trails, bird watching or paying a visit to Virunga’s Congo hounds. Dinner and overnight at Mikeno Lodge

Day 2: First Gorilla Trek

After an early breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, guests will set off for the first gorilla trek at Bukima Ranger Post. On arrival to Bukima, trekkers will meet their Ranger guides and local porters to receive a briefing before starting the gorilla trek. Treks usually require 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted hour with the gorillas, trekkers will return to Bukima camp where a late lunch will be served. Guests will have the rest of the afternoon off to explore Bukima, including bird watching and visiting the Park’s bamboo project. Dinner and overnight at Bukima Tented Camp

Day 3: Chimp Trek

Guests will go for a chimp trek at 6:00 a.m. A trip with these creatures is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for guests to join our team as they research and acclimate the chimp family situated in the Mahura Forest near Rumangabo. After returning for a late breakfast, visitors are encouraged to spend the remainder of the day visiting the Park headquarters or simply resting with a book on the Mikeno Lodge terrace.

Day 4: Second Gorilla Trek

At 8:30am, guest will start their second gorilla trek. Upon return, a quick lunch will be served at Bukima and when all gorilla trekkers have returned, guests will be transported back to Mikeno Lodge. On arrival to Mikeno, guests have the afternoon at leisure, free to explore the Park HQ or cozy up with a nice book by the fire. Dinner and overnight at Mikeno Lodge.

Day 5: Drive Back to Kigali

Have breakfast at leisure and then check out of your lodge. You will then be transferred back to Goma where you will cross the border Grande Barrière and drive back to Kigali city in Rwanda. You will have lunch enroute and once you arrive in Kigali, your driver guide will drop you off at a hotel of your choice or at Kigali International Airport

Route Map

Inclusions

Enquiry Form