Visit of Virunga National Park : Gorilla trekking and volcano climbing

Virunga National Park (covering an area of 790,000 ha) comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. Mountain gorillas are found in the park, some 20,000 hippopotamuses live in the rivers and birds from Siberia spend the winter there. It extends along the eastern rim of the Great Rift Valley and separates the basins of the Nile and Congo rivers. It is also called the Mfumbiro range.

In the mists of the Virunga Volcanoes the last remaining mountain gorillas face extinction. The rarest and largest of the great apes, they are among our closest relatives yet one of the most endangered mammals on earth. They are threatened by poaching, loss of habitat, disease and war. Mountain gorillas are an important resource for the people of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda across whose borders their tiny forest habitat stretches. Deep in the forests, the primates live in family groups that are very protective of their home ranges. Each group usually consists of a dominant male, with several females and their young, and some non-adult males. To watch them in their natural habitat is certainly one of the most inspiring experiences available to the serious safari-goer.

Please note that gorilla trekking is a strenuous activity and one should be physically fit to enjoy this safari. Minimum trekking age is fifteen years. Anyone with signs of communicable disease will not be allowed to trek. While possession of a gorilla permit is a guarantee of trekking and sighting the gorillas, the quality of the gorilla trekking can not be guaranteed totally. Maximum time allowed with the gorillas will not exceed one hour. For Gorilla Tracking, we strongly recommend a rain poncho, knapsack, long-sleeved shirt and trousers, sturdy hiking boots, leather gardening type gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent and any necessary medications be brought with the clients.

VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, GORILLA TREKKING, VOLCANO CLIMBING

· Kibumba Tented Camp

· Mountain gorilla trek

· Nyiragongo volcano trek

This package includes a three night stay in Virunga: two nights in Kibumba Tented Camp with a gorilla trek and one night stay on Nyiragongo volcano.

Day 1: Arrive at Grande Barriere border crossing at 10:30am and assistance from our guide for check-in with Virunga tourism office by 11:15am. Guests will receive gorilla and volcano trek permits at check-in which must be presented at the start of each trek. Once check-in is complete, visitors will be transported to Kibumba.

Day 2: After an early breakfast at Kibumba Tented Camp, trekkers will head down the hill to meet their Ranger guides and have a briefing before the gorilla trek. Treks usually require 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the gorilla group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted hour with the gorilla family group, trekkers will make their way back to camp, enjoy a late lunch and have the rest of the day at leisure, including time for nature walks and bird watching.

Day 3: After breakfast in Kibumba, guests will be transported to the Kibati Ranger Post at 8:15am, departure point for the Nyiragongo volcano trek. On arrival to Kibati, guests will receive a briefing and will have the opportunity to hire porters. The climb up the volcano will take around four to six hours and trekkers will overnight on the summit.

Day 4: In the early morning, guests will leave the crater rim and start the descent back to Kibati. Average descent time is four hours. Once at the bottom, guests will be transported back to Goma with drop-off at the Grande Barriere and assistance from our guide for transport to the hotel

Included in this package: 2 nights accommodation at Kibumba Tented Camp, gorilla trek permit, one night stay on Nyiragongo, volcano trek permit, all transport to, from and within the Park once in country.

Not included in this package: Drinks, porter fees, gratuities and anything of a personal nature.

Inclusive in the rates:
Accommodation, on a full board basis, transport to and from the park, permits for all treks and laundry.
Single: 1.388 $
Double: 2.436 $
Triple: 3.504 $
Border visa valid for 2 weeks : 105 $/ pers
EXTRA SERVICE POSSIBLE:
Guide assistance at the border crossing both ways: 80 $
Pick up and drop off Kigali:

Extensions to Idjwi Island (TP 26) and out of Kindu to a gold diggers camp

Not inclusive in the rates:

Drinks, porter fees, gratuities and anything of a personal nature