The Great Ape Trek package offers the opportunity to see two great ape taxa in Virunga National Park. It consists of one initial night accommodation at Mikeno Lodge, one night accommodation at Bukima Tented Camp, two gorilla treks with an additional two nights accommodation at Mikeno Lodge. This package departs Goma on Monday and Wednesday at 11:00.

  • Mikeno Lodge
  • Bukima Tented Camp
  • Two gorilla treks

Day1: Arrival at Grande Barriere border crossing by 10:00am and ensure check-in with Virunga tourism office by 11:00am. The tourism office is conveniently located in the Grande Barriere border post building, opposite passport control. Tourism staff will provide guests with gorilla permits at check-in. These permits must be presented before the start of each trek. Guest will then 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 several nature trails, bird watching or paying a visit to Virunga’s Congo hounds.

Day2: After an early breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, guests will set off for the gorilla trek at Bukima Ranger Post. On arrival to Bukima, trekkers will meet their Ranger guides and 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.

Day3: At 8:30am, guest will start their second gorilla trek. Upon return from the trek, a quick lunch will be served at Bukima camp and when all gorilla trekkers have returned, guests will be transported back to Mikeno Lodge. On arrival to Mikeno Lodge, guests have the afternoon at leisure, free to relax on the lodge terrace or visit the gorilla orphans at the Senkwekwe Center.

Day4: At 6:00am, guests will head out for a chimpanzee trek. A trek with these animals is a unique experience that allows visitors to join our team as they study and habituate the family of chimpanzees found in the Mahura Forest surrounding Rumangabo. Returning for a late breakfast, guests will be invited to spend the rest of the day exploring the Park headquarters or just relaxing with a book on the terrace of Mikeno Lodge.

Day5: After breakfast, guest will be transported back to the Goma with drop-off at the Grande Barriere border post.

Included in this package:

  • Three nights accommodation at Mikeno Lodge
  • Two gorilla trek permits
  • One night accommodation at Bukima Tented Camp
  • All transport to, from and within the Park once in country.

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

*THE GREAT APE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING UNTIL THE 1ST OF JULY 2019*