Join our July 2024 Group Tour Starting on the 15th of July (1 confirmed booking: a male from Latvia, EU)
This 15 days ecotourism expedition experience brings you to Congo. It features Nyiragongo, a stratovolcano that boasts the world’s largest lava lake. Additionally, it encompasses the Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in the Kahuzi Biega national park and the Pygmy cultural visits. This 15 days ecotourism expedition starts in eastern Congo to end in the western part of Congo. In the west, you will experience the Congo River and the pygmy communities.
The trek up to the volcano will not be the easiest (it takes 4 to 6 hours). However, it will completely worth it once at the top. Additionally, the lava lake is incredible, and tourists spend hours watching the waves of lava and listening to its roars. The experience with Pygmy will involve mesmerizing moments flowing down on the Congo River using a traditional canoe.
In the morning, you will be picked by the driver from your hotel or from the airport in Kigali and drive southwards to Cyangugu boarder on the way to Bukavu in DR Congo. You will have a stopover in Butare, where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, the king’s palace in Nyanza, and the Rwanda genocide memorial site. After lunch, continue a scenic journey to Bukavu with wonderful views of the hills in Rwanda through the tropical forest of Nyungwe National park and a clear view of Lake Kivu. Dinner and overnight at Panorama Hotel (Luxury)
In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of trekking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. Trekking lowland Gorillas is amazing, the lowland gorillas are bigger in size and stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas. The trekking experience usually takes 1-4 hours. This comes as a once in a lifetime experience as Eastern lowland gorillas are endemic to the DR Congo. Later in the afternoon drive back to your hotel.
In the morning you will be transferred to Goma city using a speedboat. Upon reaching Goma, you will be checked in at your hotel and go for a crash Goma city tour that will include the Goma beach, Goma downtown, the docks, the city vibes, the people, the market and shopping for some Congolese hand crafts. You will end your day tour at Maghali Restaurant where you will taste local foods. Dinner and overnight at Goma Serena Hotel
After breakfast at your hotel, proceed to Kibati Ranger post at 8:15am, departure point for the Nyiragongo volcano trek. The climb up the volcano will take around four to six hours and trekkers will overnight on the summit. Overnight in wooden shelter
In the early morning, start the descent back to Kibati. Average descent time is four hours. Once at the bottom proceed back to Goma International Airport for departure 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.
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
After breakfast, transfer to N’djili International airport for a 50-minute flight. Arrival in Mbandaka at around 11 am. Transfer to your hotel. Lunch at the restaurant “Bienvenue around the river” (ex Belle Vue) located on the banks of the Ruki river. After lunch, head to the “Eala” botanical garden located 7 km from the city center. Then direction the ethnographic museum and the evangelical mission "New Life" sponsored by the Pygmies. Transit to hotel before returning to the unique standard “Welcome to the River” restaurant. The city is located at the crossroads of the Congo River and the Ruki River.
After breakfast, we take the road from Mooto to the south of the city with a stopover at the crossing of the Equator line. Mooto is an old Catholic mission established since 1960.
Setting out of tents, visit of the mission, the cathedral and the surrounding area. Free evening and night in a tent.
After the morning breakfast, visit of the pilot center of the non-profit association "VZW MOOTO & BIKORO" which supports the population in sustainable development: agriculture, health and education: plantations (palm groves, cocoa, beans, etc.), etc... We enter in the forest for a demonstration of different types of traps, collecting medicinal plants with the pygmies. Return to the camp for lunch. And pause.
In the afternoon, we go around the village and discover the daily activities of the inhabitants. Around 6.30 p.m. after dinner, cultural evening with Bobongo Pygmies and Bantu group. Night in tent.
After breakfast, departure for Bokote village via Samba to the embarkation port. Embarkation in our canoes (rowing) for 5 hours of navigation in the middle of the submerged forest. Arrival at the village of Bokoté around 4:00 p.m. A small visit from the village to the Pygmy district is planned after hours sitting in the canoe. In the evening after dinner, free exchange with the villagers (Pygmies and Bantu) around the fire. Night in tent.
This part of the circuit puts you in communion with the ‘virgin’ nature in which you will see some animals such: squirrels, birds, monkeys ...
After breakfast, boarding our motorized canoes to cross Lake Tumba to reach the city of Bikoro on the shore of Lake Tumba. Free evening / night at La ’rizière’ ’hostel
After breakfast, a visit to the Catholic Mission of Bikoro, the general hospital of reference, the market followed by the transfer to Mabali with a stopover in the rubber plantation 3 km away from Bikoro and the continuation of the expedition to Mabali Village. Arrival at around 3 p.m. just after we set up the tents, we enter the forest to return to the camp around 5:30 p.m. Break and dinner. Option night out in the forest from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Night in tents.
Mabali is an agronomy and forestry research center in Central Africa. Formerly called IRSAC (Institute for Scientific Research in Central Africa). In the reserve you will find a well-protected forest where the animals are free and protected. Monkeys live like pets. An old research lab, a beautiful view of Lake Tumba.
After breakfast, visit of the center, old lab, museum, return to the camp around 11am followed by dinner and return directly to Mbandaka by road to arrive around 5.30pm. Return to civilization after or before dinner. In the evening, you will have an evening to go for a good beer in a bar in Mbandaka.
After breakfast, transfer to Mbandaka airport and flight to Kinshasa. Free evening. Night at Léon hotel
After your morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for drop-off.
End of the trip
Note
- Accommodation
o Kinshasa: Léon Hotel
o Mbandaka: Karibu Hotel (Downtown and at the shore of the Congo River
o On field: Basic Tents and guests houses.
- Food during the expedition
o Breakfast: Tea, coffee, sugar, milk, jam, chocolate, butter, egg omelet
o Meals: chicken, meat, fish, vegetables… / corned beef, sardines, tuna, crabs,…
o Accompaniment: Rice, bread, pasta, sweet potato, Plantain bananas, chikwangues, fufu
o Dessert: pineapple, fruit bananas, oranges, pawpaw and other wild fruits.
We handle all the food as per the itinerary.
Luggage
We have no problem with extra baggage however airlines allow 30 kg checked and 10 kg in hand luggage. For this kind of expedition, we advise our customers to take this into account to avoid excess baggage. For average airlines, $ 5 per Kg for excess baggage.
To take with you
- Hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses,
- Preventive treatment against malaria and other personal rescue medications
- Bush shoes, shirt or long-sleeved T-shirts for walking in the forest
- Pair of binoculars, individual lamp (headlamp)
- Chargers, cables, batteries, cards
Additional info
- Electricity in the DRC is supplied at 220v
- This package being in immersion with local populations we ask you for courtesy and total respect of our hosts and their culture. Pygmies are naturally welcoming but hate contempt.
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