Overview
The Le Petit Mikeno Package is a must-do Virunga safari that involves 4 days of comprehensive discovering of its raw beauty. It comes with 3 nights that encompass two nights at the luxurious Mikeno Lodge while the last night will be at the summit of Mount Nyiragongo. The start and end location of the trip is Goma Town but expect immensurable enjoyment and unforgettable experiences.
Virunga National Park is one of the unmissable places in Africa, for its secluded and affordable gorilla trekking experiences as well as the opportunity to hike one of the active Volcanoes on Earth. For gorilla tours, visitors have the chance to spend time with one of its 8 habituated gorilla families, with one hour provided for photography after hours of hiking through the forest.
Detailed Itinerary
Entry into Grande Barriere border building is by 11:30am and check-in at Virunga Tourism Office should be finalized in an hour’s time. The Tourism Office is readily situated within the same building and also faces the passport control office. We shall meet the friendly staff that will be willing to provide any information in addition to issuing the gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hiking permits, which will be required before beginning the respective treks.
Afterwards, we shall be transported to the reserved place of sleep – luxuriousMikeno Lodge, close to Rumangabo park headquarters. We shall be treated to one of the warmest receptions, hot meal and later relaxation with options of undertaking several activities at leisure.
An early start with breakfast will see us head-off to Bukima Ranger Post. On getting there, we shall meet the enthusiastic Park Rangers and local porters to be taken through the rules and regulation of gorilla trekking before beginning the superlative mountain gorilla trek.
Treks in Virunga National Park call for 1-3 hours of committed hiking, although it sometimes takes longer depending on the location of the allocated gorilla family and nature of terrain. After one hour of endless photography and observation, we can get back to the Ranger post, after which be driven back to the lodge for late lunch. The remainder of the day will be spent at leisure-unwinding at the Lodge terrace, tours to Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage, bird watching or trying out some of the nature trails at Rumangabo.
Following a sumptuous breakfast, we shall be transported to the starting point of Nyiragongo Volcano climb at Kibati Ranger Post. On reporting there, we shall go through the mandatory briefing process before starting the hike and later get the chance to hire porters as well as be introduced to the climbing team.
The hike up Mount. Nyiragongo is without doubt challenging with five phases that last 4-6 hours until the summit. Count yourself lucky to be among the few people to see the World’s largest Lava Lake where you will be marveled by its jaw-dropping appearance. Dine and sleep at the summit shelters.
Just before sunrise we leave the brim of the Crater and begin descending to Kibati Ranger Post. This normally takes 4-5 hours and on getting to the base of the Volcano, expect transportation to Goma Town with specific drop-off at Grande Barriere border point. This sadly brings our safari to an end and hope you had a good time.