The Great ape package is an extraordinary safari package characterized by one night at Mikeno lodge, another night at Ngila, two gorilla treks and two more nights at Mikeno lodge. The package also gives guests an opportunity of seeing the great ape taxa in the magical Virunga national park. It starts with departure from Goma on Monday and Wednesday at 1300 hours.
Detailed tour
Upon arrival at the Grande Barriere border crossing at about 11:00am, you will check in with Virunga Tourism (at around 12:30pm) whose office is located in the Grande Barriereborder post building just opposite passport control. You will then be given gorilla trekking permits by the available staff members at the check-in point which will help you qualify for gorilla trekking activities ahead.
Together with fellow visitors, you will be transferred to Mikeno lodge – park headquarters also known as Rumangabo sector from where you will be served with a late lunch. After lunch, you will choose one of the options; exploring Rumangabo natural trails, paying a visit to Virunga’s Congo hounds and bird watching as way of spending your afternoon in a stylish manner.
After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to Bukima Ranger post from where you will meet rangers / guides who will brief you on the dos and don’ts of the trekking activity. The activity begins there and then and it usually lasts for at most two and a half hours depending ondifficulty of the terrain of the land and location of the gorilla family being trekked.
You will be given enough time to spend in the presence of the gorillas upon meeting them and then make a return to Bukima Ranger post. Check in to Ngila and be served with a late lunch. Relax for a few hours and choose to either bird watching, exploring Bukima sector or visiting the park’s bamboo project in the later hours of the day.
After a delicious morning breakfast, guests will start their second gorilla trek at around 8:30am. You will then be served with a delicious lunch at Ngila upon return and then be transferred back to Mikeno lodge. Upon arrival you will either relax on the lodge terrace or explore the park headquarters in the afternoon.
Day 4 starts at 6:00am with guests heading out for one of the spectacular activities in Mahura forest – chimpanzee trekking. It is an opportunity for visitors to meet a team of chimpanzee professionals and get to learn more things about the creatures of Mahura forest and Rumangabo.
You will then make a return to the lodge for a late breakfastand spend a day exploring the park headquarters, Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage or relaxing on the terrace of Mikeno lodge.
Day five marks the end of this great safari, it starts with a delicious breakfast and then transfer to Goma for checking out of the Grande Barriere border post and then boarding a plane back home at Kigali international airport.