Congo Expedition - 9 Days

9 days congo expedition
Congo Expedition
6150

Congo Expedition package exposes you to Congo, the world’s geological scandal. You will experience Nyiragongo volcano, a stratovolcano that features the world’s largest lava lake. Moreover, you encounter with the mountain gorilla exploring their general behavior and lifestyles (feeding, mating, nesting, body gestures and others). After the challenging Nyiragongo Volcano hike, the Congo expedition package will direct you to Eastern Congo’s iconic island for a relax time. Tchegera Island is the greatest place to be and escape the hustles of the city more so after hiking Nyiragongo and tracking the gorillas.
Furthermore, before departing to Kinshasa for the second part of the Congo Expedition, you will discover Goma through a crash city tour. Goma city is Congo’s touristic capital.
While in Kinshasa, you will go for an excursion to Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary. The Bonobos are our closest living relatives, with more than 99% identical DNA. The specie is endemic to Congo where it is protected in a special preserve outside Kinshasa. After the visit of Bonobos, the driver will take you back you to Kinshasa for a majestic Congo River Cruise.
The Congo expedition package ends with a Kinshasa City Sightseeing that will make you discover Kinshasa’s vibrant culture and history on a tour of the city that explores local landmarks, a bustling market, the banks of the churning Congo River. Certainly, you will be brought in an incredibly unique aspect of Kinshasa’s Sapeurs. La Sape is an abbreviated way to refer to the movement of Sapeurs. Traveling with a local guide, you’ll learn the stories behind each place you see.
Note
The sale price estimated is the one for 1 pax. The more people per booking the more the price will go down. Write to us for additional info concerning this Congo Expedition package.

Day 1
Pick up in Kigali

Pick up from Kigali International Airport and transfer to City Blue Hotels for rest and overnight.

Day 2
Transfer to the DR Congo

In the morning, our representative guides and drivers will bring you to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This will take you roughly 4 hours to reach Goma. You will stop at Maghali restaurant for lunch before heading to the Virunga National Park. Overnight in Kibumba Tented Camp

Day 3
Gorilla trekking

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 1-2.5hours 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 gorilla family group, trekkers will make their 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 4
Nyiragongo hike

After breakfast in Kibumba, proceed to Kibati Ranger post at 8:15am, departure point for the Nyiragongo volcano hike. Nyiragongo is a beautiful stratovolcano that features the world’s largest lava lake. During the hike at the volcano’s forested lower slopes you will see a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bushbuck. Nyiragongo’s summit rim is largely devoid of vegetation and is sometimes dusted with snow. The climb up the volcano will take around four to six hours and trekkers will overnight on the summit.

Day 5
Departure to Tchegera Island

After the challenging Nyiragongo Volcano hike, place to a relax time in Eastern Congo’s iconic island. Tchegera Island is the greatest place to be and escape the hustles of the city more so after hiking Nyiragongo and tracking the gorillas. A picnic will be organized in the island, and for those who wants to do more than put their feet up you can swim in the (croc-free) bay and there are kayaks available for use – the area immediately in front of camp is well protected from the elements and is typically mill-pond calm, while the open lake beyond can get quite sporty. On clear nights, Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes add to the drama by turning the night sky red with their glowing lava. Overnight in Tchegera Island Camps

Day 6
Goma city tour and Departure to Kinshasa

In the morning, you will embark in a boat cruise to Goma for a city tour. Goma is known as the Congo’s touristic city, but it can be hard for new visitors to find their way around the many highlights. You will discover the city like a local on a crash city tour that includes the Goma city monument, the Goma beach, Goma downtown, the docks, the city vibes, the people, the market and the shopping for some Congolese hand crafts. After the tour, you proceed to Maghali restaurant for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will take off to Kinshasa. You will be met at N’djili International Airport by Kwafrika Travel representative who will whisk you away to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day unwinding.

Day 7
Bonobo Sanctuary and Congo River Cruise plus Buffet

You will leave too early from your hotel for an excursion to Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary. The road after Kinshasa will be a little bumpy, but you will most likely be distracted by the scenery outside. The Bonobos are our closest living relatives, with more than 99% identical DNA, are protected in a special preserve outside Kinshasa. Founded by Claudine Andre in 1994, Lola ya Bonobo is the world’s only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos. Bonobos are thus found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Once you arrive at the Park, which is surrounded by the rainforest and has a lake inside, we can proceed to the trail that goes around it. If we are lucky enough, staff scientists or researchers will give us an introduction to the life of the bonobos in the wild and in the sanctuary. Sometimes they can be busy, feeding little baby bonobos or helping with daily needs of the sanctuary. You will be able to see several families, living on the territory, which highly resembles their natural habitat deep in the north of Congolese jungle. After the visit, the driver will take you back you to Kinshasa for a majestic Congo River Cruise.

This is the world’s deepest river, the second-longest in Africa, after the Nile, and the third largest in the world in terms of volume, after the Amazon and the Ganges-Brahmaputra. You will cruise the river into the heart of darkness in comfort, and you will not get this kind of ride, this kind of safety, this kind of service on the platform barges or dugout canoes.

We go by modern and comfortable cruiseboat with cushioned seats, full buffet restaurant (included) and extremely powerful engines, not a local motorized wooden pirogue, like most operators offer....and we take you REALLY into the interior and up the river to see the cities, villages, and sites as you enjoy with your friends, and stop for a beach break upriver where you can try some dancing with the locals. This is really a cruise!

Day 8
Kinshasa City Sightseeing

On this day you will discover Kinshasa's vibrant culture and history on a tour of the city that explores local landmarks, a bustling market, and the banks of the churning Congo River. Traveling with a local guide, you'll learn the stories behind each place you see, from the National Museum to Kabila's Mausoleum and the Place of Independence.

You will also be brought in another incredibly unique aspect of Kinshasa, Sapeurs. La Sape is an abbreviated way to refer to the movement of Sapeurs. The translated meaning of the term La Sape is "Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People". Also known as Congolese Dandies, the importance of physical appearance and attire is of the utmost and this is very clear, as you will see. You will experience the city in the safety of a private vehicle that will comfortably accommodate you, with all entrance fees included.

Stop At: Musee National de Kinshasa (National Museum), Kinshasa

Stop At: Academie des Beaux-Arts, Kinshasa

Stop At: Congo River, Kinshasa

Stop At: Symphonie des Arts, Kinshasa

Stop for lunch at Chez TinTin with an overview of the river

In the evening transfer back to your hotel for rest and overnight.

Day 9
Departure from Kinshasa

In the morning, you will be transfer to N”djili International Airport for departure.

End of the trip

Inclusions and Exclusions

  • Professional guide
  • Gorilla Trekking Permit
  • Volcano hiking permit
  • Private transportation
  • Meals (Lunch – Dinner rand breakfast)
  • Airport pickup and drop-off
  • All fees and taxes
  • Entry/Admission in the park
  • Congolese visa fees (400$)
  • Domestic flights

Exclusions

  • Gratuities
  • Alcoholic drinks (available on purchase)
  • Souvenir photos (available on purchase)
  • International flight
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Travelling to Congo

Is it safe to travel to Congo

All Congo Safaris tours are fully guided from the moment you step over the border to your departure back home. Almost all our tours start and end in Kigali (the capital of Rwanda), and we ensure that our guests are assisted across the border without any hassle. Members of our team will collect you as soon as you land in Kigali, and will remain with you until you enter Congo – at which point the Virunga National Park team will take over. As the Park is responsible for the livelihood and infrastructure of the four million people who live around it, its officials, rangers and visitors are highly respected by the locals. You’ll be transported in our vehicles but escorted by official parks vehicles loaded with rangers, and will be made to feel safe and warmly welcomed by all whom you encounter. Virunga National Park has brought electricity, power stations, roads, schools, security and jobs to the area, and the locals are well aware of the fact that the tourism income generated by your presence is largely to thank for all of this. Virunga national Park is receiving an average of 500 tourists each months, they are enjoying new gorillas groups that have been habituated as well as the Picnics at the Tchegera Island. Since February 2019, Nyiragongo is giving a treat to every visitor that climbs her. The lava lake is at the highest it has been for years and now is overflowing its cone with the fissure growing daily with an occasional spew of lava. As one sits and watches the lava flow over the edge, it gives one a sense of what it would feel like to watch an eruption. Kahuzi Biega National Park as the third best destination in Africa by Best Top 100 Destination showing global leadership in actively protecting its scenic views, natural habitats and wildlife, and showing respect for animals, a basis for its sustainable tourism development. (https://greendestinations.org/2019-top100-awards/). Tourists are enjoying unique Eastern Lowland Gorillas found only in the DR Congo.

Is it safe to climb Nyiragongo?

You can’t escape the fact that Nyiragongo is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. So is it really safe to climb an active volcano? I would say yes, but the truth is that you never know. Walking around independently might be dangerous, since volcanic area has fractures emitting gas, but locals know how to avoid them. Goma has its own seismologic observatory monitoring both Nyiragongo and its sister volcano, Nyamuragira, which is titled the most active volcano in Africa. Volcanologists should know well in advance what these giants are up to.

I want to hike the Mount Nyiragongo, what should I expect? What should I pack?

Park rangers lead the trek even if you have booked the trip through a tour company. Only one group can trek to the Nyiragongo summit daily and the group size is limited to 24 people, due to the accommodation capacity. During June and July, the treks can be fully booked, so assure your spot well in advance. The climb takes 4-6 hours depending on the weather conditions and overall fit of the group. It is possible to conquer Nyiragongo also on a day trip, but it will be a long and very challenging day (for sure). You must arrive to the Kibati ranger station before 9AM; the hike starts around 10AM. Be sure to pack full rain gear, warm layers, long underwear, enough warm socks, gloves, a hat, and some snacks. When finally reaching the summit, you need to change to a dry base layer immediately. Don’t underestimate the conditions, as temperature at the summit might be near freezing and the risk of hypothermia is real. Sleeping bags can be rented for 10$. If you don’t have a cook with you, bring also enough food. A hot 3-course dinner can really make the day after an exhausting trek, when you are shivering from the cold night. So consider hiring either a cook or cooking utensils. Porters can be hired at the Kibati ranger post for 25$ and I strongly recommend taking one to save your energies. The maximum weight for one porter is 15 kg.

What is the best time to visit Virunga?

As Virunga is located on the equator, the temperature remains roughly the same (hot and humid) throughout the year. The notable difference is between the rainy and non-rainy seasons. Ironically enough, the best time to enjoy clear blue skies (particularly for photography purposes) is during the rainy months (April, May, October and November), as it can get quite foggy during the dry season. The good news is that it rarely rains for a full day, and the periodic spatters actually make way for beautifully clear viewing conditions.

What is the food like in Congo

The food in Congo is fantastic! The soil in central Africa is so rich that every single fruit and vegetable tastes exactly as it should. As the temperature is always right and the ground is so rich, harvests take place multiple times a year, and there is always a significant supply of fresh produce. Add to this the fact that there’s great fish and meat in the area and the local chefs are French-trained, and you’ve got a surprisingly impressive culinary destination.

Do I need to be physically fit to hike the Nyiragongo Volcano or Trek Gorillas in Virunga National Park

Yes, you need to be in good health and able to walk for at least three hours if you want to see the gorillas, and five hours if you want to access the top of the volcanoes. Although getting to the top of the volcanoes doesn’t necessitate a climb per se, it’s still more of a hike than a stroll.

9 days Congo Expedition Kwafrika

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