7 Days Budget Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking Safari

The eastern lowland gorilla—also known as Grauer’s gorilla—is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. It is distinguished from other gorillas by its stocky body, large hands, and short muzzle. Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other herbaceous materials, just like other gorilla subspecies.

Kahuzi Biega national park is located in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo just 50 km away from Bukavu town which is one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s biggest business districts bordering Rwanda’s Rusizi which is also a big business Hub and beach holiday destination on the shores of Lake Kivu. Kahuzi Biega national park is listed as the world heritage sites as it’s known to be holding one of Africa’s few remaining Lowland gorillas in the base of Mount Kahuzi and Biega, being the only habitat for the eastern lowland gorillas which are only found in Democratic Republic of Congo in the entire world. The 75,000 ha eastern sector is entirely montane. The massif is part of the Mitumba Mountain range, the western mountains of the Great Rift Valley.

Safari highlights

Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest

Detailed safari itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park

On arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be received by our guide and transferred to Volcanoes National Park located North West of the capital Kigali is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant Crater Lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga, and Muhavura which supports some of Africa’s top rainforests which is home to the Endangered Mountain gorillas.

Tracking endangered African Mountain gorillas through the tucked jungle is a highlight of your safari to volcanoes national park, the park is home to over 200 species of colorful forest birds and exclusively rare golden monkeys that occupy the bamboo zones of the forest on arrival you will check in to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 2: Golden monkey trekking experience in Volcanoes NP

After a great experience with the Mountain gorillas, you will again get ready for another day of primate encounter, after your morning breakfast your guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer Kinigi park headquarters for a golden monkey trekking experience upon arrival you will meet the park rangers for a briefing after you will drive to the starting point for golden monkey trekking after you will start your trek o foot to located the monkeys, upon locating the golden monkeys you will then spend one hour with the monkeys and later return to the lodge for relaxation.

Day 3: Drive to Bukavu in DR Congo

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega national park

After an early morning breakfast you will be transferred to Kahuzi Biega national park to meet the park rangers for a lowland gorilla trekking briefing, here the guides will take you through what to expect and after you will transfer to the starting point for your trek, this trek will take you through incredible forest cover, upon locating the Lowland gorillas you will spend 1 hour with them and return to the park for a debrief after drive back to Bukavu for overnight.

Day 5: Cross over to Rwanda and drive to Nyungwe forest national park

After lazily morning breakfast you will drive to the border point and clear immigration and after you will drive to Nyungwe forest national park one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, Nyungwe is rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. Primate tracking tops most visitors’ lists, but it’s worth lingering a little longer for those with time to relax and take in the primal atmosphere.

Botanists will marvel at the 1,068 plant species and 140 orchids. The birding trips are among the best in Africa with 322 bird species including Red-collared Babbler and 29 other Albertine Rift Endemic species. Butterflies are also a common sight, with at least 120 species.

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe forest

After early morning breakfast, you will drive to Gisakura park headquarters to meet the rangers, after a short briefing, you will drive to the Cyamudongo section of Nyungwe forest start your trek, upon arrival you will head into the forest, upon locating the chimpanzees you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees and later return to the lodge for relaxation.

Day 7: Drive back to Kigali

After morning breakfast you will bid farewell to the lodge and start your drive via the forest to Butale where you will visit the ethnographic museum after you will continue to Nyanza where you will visit the King’s palace and enjoy the Rwandan cultural experience and later continue to Kigali, upon arrival in Kigali you will be transferred to your booked lodge or transfer to Kigali.

Trip includes

Vehicle, guide and Fuel
Accommodation
Gorilla permits
Golden Monkey permits
Chimpanzee permits
Enroute meals and drinking water

Trip excludes

International flight
Travel insurance
Rwanda and DR Congo tourist Visa
Tips for guides and hotels
Personal expenses like donations, alcoholic drinks

When to book this safari package

We recommend booking 1 year in advance but last minute inquiries can be made through our office in Rwanda.

Best time for trekking Eastern Lowland gorillas in DR Congo

Trekking eastern lowland gorillas in Congo can best be done between June to September and January to mid-February. However, visitors can always trek lowland gorillas at any time of the year.

OTHER SAFARI TOURS & HOLIDAYS