12 Days Luxury Republic of Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari

12 Days Luxury Republic of Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari

A former French colony, Congo-Brazzaville has had a trouble in the past but is now considered calm, stable, and rapidly developing. Dubbed the ‘Little Paris of Africa, its French history is most felt in the capital city of Brazzaville with its vibrant streets lined with art, fabric stalls, flower markets, cafés that said, tourism is still relatively new. Travelers should not expect five-star amenities in the cities, but because it has been off-the-radar for so long, its wilderness areas and wildlife encounters are truly unforgettable adventures. If you can stand to get your hands a little dirty, the Congo won’t disappoint.

Safari highlights

• Western lowland gorilla trekking experience in Republic of Rwanda
• Mountain gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda
• Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest
• Kigali city tour
• Brazzaville city tour

Detailed safari itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Republic of Congo (Maya Maya Airport)

On arrival at Maya Maya Airport you will be received by our expert guide and transferred to your hotel for relaxation and overnight, depending on the time of arrival we recommend changing enough money and buying all you will need for the next few days and enjoy dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Flight from Brazzaville to Odzala Kokoua national park

After Lazily morning breakfast you will be transferred back to the airstrip for your Departure flight from Brazzaville at 1 pm and arrives at 3pm at Mboko (Odzala-Kokoua National Park, after you will be received by our guide and transfer from the airstrip to Ngaga Camp (3-hour drive through the Odzala-Kokoua National Park.

Day 3: First western lowland gorilla trekking experience

After early morning breakfast at the Lodge you will meet the guides and trackers who will lead you to one of Africa’s most diverse rainforests, well dressed with picnic lunch and enough drinking water you will trek the vibrant western lowland gorillas on foot, on locating the gorillas you will spend 1 hour with them as you follow the gorillas and later return to the lodge for Lunch and relaxing afternoon, followed by a late afternoon forest walk for bird watching and discovery of forest life.

Day 4: Second western lowland gorilla trekking experience

After morning breakfast you will again head out for your second western lowland gorilla trekking with a guide and tracker from our team Spend time with your tracker from the gorilla research team and learn more about your observations after return to the lodge for relaxation and later head out on foot for a night walk to view nocturnal forest life after return to the lodge for Overnight.

Day 5:Transfer to Mboko Camp

After Lazily morning breakfast you be transferred by Road through Mbomo village and the Odzala-Kokoua National Park on arrival at Mboko for lunch followed by a kayak safari or sundowner river cruise on Lekoli River.

Day 6: Depart Odzala Kokoua for Brazzaville for your onward Journey

This morning enjoy an early morning breakfast at the camp before check out. You will be driven back to the airstrip for your flight back to Brazzaville. Upon arrival in Brazzaville you will be met and transferred to your lodge for overnight.

Day 7: Flight from Brazzaville to Kigali Rwanda

Depending on flight schedule you will be received by our guide and transferred to Maya Maya airport for your international flight to Kigali international airport Rwanda, on arrival you will be received by our representative and transferred to your lodge in Kigali for relaxation and overnight.

Day 8: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After early morning breakfast your guide will pick you up from the Lodge in Kigali and you will start your drive to Nyungwe with the first stop in Nyanza where you will visit the King’s palace and after you will continue to Huye or Butale where you will visit the ethnographic Museum and also have lunch after lunch you will then drive to Nyungwe forest for check-in and overnight.

Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe forest

Today you will start the day very early from your lodge depending on your permits you may start the day as early as 4 am by a drive to the park station at Gisekura to meet with the rangers and then drive to Cyamudongo where you will start your chimpanzee trekking experience the trek may take between 2-3 hours after you will return to the Lodge for relaxation.

Day 10: Drive to Volcanoes National Park

After morning breakfast you will start your scenic drive via the famous Kivu belt which is the road that runs along Lake Kivu providing some breath-taking views of the Lake and Gishwati Mukura national park forest upon arrival in Volcanoes national park you will check in to your accommodation for relaxation.

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Volcanoes NP

One of Africa’s greatest wildlife encounters are nothing other than gorilla trekking experience, on this day you will have an early morning breakfast, after you will then be transferred to the Kinigi for a briefing about the Mountain gorillas, after you will drive to the starting point for the gorilla trekking experience, here you will start the trek into the rainforest upon locating the gorilla family you will spend one hour with the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and after you will return to the Lodge for relaxation.

Day 12: Drive to Kigali for city tour and departure flight

After morning breakfast you will drive to Kigali, on arrival you enjoy city tour of Kigali where you will visit the genocide museum and the Belgian peace centre and after you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.

Trip Includes

This expedition is escorted by our expert Guides from Wilderness Explorers Africa and all tour includes are paid for in advance including gorilla permits, air transfers.

Trip Excludes

• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Republic of Congo Tourist Visa
• Tips for guides and hotels
• Post safari accommodation

When to book this safari package

We recommend booking at least 1 year in advance as the camps in this area are small and intimate and gorilla permits are very limited to in house guests.

Best time for western lowland gorilla trekking in Congo Brazzaville

The dry season is from June to October. There are light rains from October to December and heavy rains between January and May.