The best of Eastern Congo: Visit Bukavu, Idwji islands, Goma and Masisi - 9 Days

Upon landing at Goma International Airport, a Kwafrika Travel representative will pick you and whisk you away to the Goma Port. From there, you will embark in a speedboat to Bukavu. Bukavu is the old Belgian colonial capital in Eastern Congo which is strategically located near the Kahuzi Biega National Park known for Eastern Lowland Gorillas which can be found nowhere else than the DR Congo. Overnight at Elisabeth Hotel (Midrange)

In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. Trekking lowland Gorillas is an amazing experience, lowland Gorillas differ from the mountain gorillas, the lowland gorillas are bigger in size, it usually takes 1-4 hours tracking the lowland Gorillas. The lowland Gorillas stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas and unlike Mountain Gorillas which can be found also in Rwanda and Uganda, Eastern Lowland Gorillas are endemic to the DR Congo. This comes as a once in a lifetime experience! Later in the afternoon drive back to hotel in Bukavu.

Get up early in the morning to proceed to Idjwi Islands. The speedboat will drop you at Monvu then a traditional boat will move you around the islands as you enjoy the view and scenery up to Kintama. Given that Thursday is a market day in Kintama (Idjwi), you will immerse in the mood starting from the market, Kashonfu (a congregation of nuns build during the colonial era) to Congomani Hotel for overnight. Idjwi is the second largest lake island in Africa. Activities will include visiting one of the many pineapple plantations (and of course picking and eating one), village and nature walks, birdwatching, swimming in the lake and interacting with the local people to learn about life on Idjwi. You will move around using a boda boda once in Ijdwi

After breakfast, visitors will walk to Kintama, board a traditional wooden boat to Monvu where the speedboat to Goma will pick them up from. As you reach Goma, you will be brought to your hotel. Take the rest of the day unwinding. Dinner and overnight at Jerryson hotel (Midrange)

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 city tour that includes the Goma city monument known as Tchukudu, the Goma downtown (Goma is the cleanest city in the DR Congo), the docks, the city vibes, the people, the market, the recent Nyiragongo Volcano lava fields and the shopping for some Congolese hand crafts. During the tour, you will have an opportunity to taste local cuisine from Maghali restaurant (lunch).

You will end your tour visiting the lakes that abound in the city of Goma. Goma is indeed rich of three lakes: Lac Vert, Lac Kivu and Lac Noir. Overnight at Jerryson Hotel

You will leave your hotel very early in the morning for Mushaki, a neighboring village to the city of Goma and located in Masisi territory. The territory of Masisi is recognized for its vegetation and its relief comparable to the Alps in Europe. It is a wonderful region, one of the most beautiful places in the world. You will spend the morning at Maman rica's farm. Located 120 ’from the city of Goma, Maman Rica Farm (Malaika Lodge) is full of horses, cows, donkeys in addition to mountainous vegetation. You will have the option to go horseback riding, visit the vegetable gardens, participate in the extraction of cow's milk and learn about the process of turning milk into cheese. In the afternoon return to Goma. Overnight at Jerryson Hotel

This is a day for hiking to the summit of Mt Nyiragongo an active volcano in the heart of Virunga national park. You will have a morning breakfast and go for briefing at the hiking starting point. Hiking starts at 10:00am, depending on the speed of the group, it could take you from 4 to 6 hours to reach the summit of the volcano. Dinner and overnight in the tented camp. You will sleep in basic huts (make sure to bring warm clothes as it is quite cold up there) and you will probably wake up above the clouds. Note that Nyiragongo Volcano has recently erupted on the 22nd of May and the crater is yet to be refilled with red-hot liquid lava;

Meals included:

• Dinner: We will arrange food for you

Accommodation included: Overnight in shelters at the summit of the volcano

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

In the morning, you will embark in a boat cruise to Goma. Upon reaching the city, you will be whisked away to Goma International Airport for a departure.

End of the trip

The trip package involving 8 nights and 9 days cost USD 4 297 for one person.