Highlights

Mikeno Lodge

Gorilla trek

Bukima Tented Camp

Nyiragongo volcano trek

The Virunga Classic is a five-day trip into Virunga: one-night initial accommodation at Mikeno Lodge, one-night accommodation at Bukima Tented Camp, two gorilla treks, two additional nights’ accommodation at Mikeno Lodge and one night stay on Nyiragongo volcano. This package departs Goma on Monday and Wednesdays at 13:00.

Day 1: Arrival at Grande Barriere border crossing by 11:30am and ensure check-in with Virunga tourism office by 13:00am. The tourism office is conveniently located in the Grande Barriere border post building, opposite passport control. Tourism staff will provide guests with gorilla and volcano trek permits at check-in. These permits must be presented before the start of each trek. Once check-in is complete, guests will be transported to Mikeno Lodge at the Park headquarters in Rumangabo. On arrival to Mikeno Lodge, a late lunch will be served and the afternoon can be enjoyed at leisure, including exploring Rumangabo’s several nature trails, bird watching or paying a visit to Virunga’s Congohounds.

Day 2: After an early breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, guests will set off for the first gorilla trek at Bukima Ranger Post. On arrival to Bukima, trekkers will meet their Ranger guides and local pisteursto receive a briefing before starting the gorilla trek. Treks usually require 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted hour with the gorillas, trekkers will return to Bukima camp where a late lunch will be served. Guests will have the rest of the afternoon off to explore Bukima, including bird watching and visiting the Park’s bamboo project.

Day 3: At 8:30am, guest will start their second gorilla trek. Upon return, a quick lunch will be served at Bukima and when all gorilla trekkers have returned, guests will be transported back to Mikeno Lodge. On arrival to Mikeno, guests have the afternoon at leisure, free to explore the Park HQ or cosy up with a nice book by the fire.

Day 4: This is a day to relax, explore and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Mikeno Lodge.

Day 5: After breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, guests will be transported to the Kibati Ranger Post, departure point for the Nyiragongo volcano trek. On arrival to Kibati, climbers will receive a briefing and have the opportunity to hire porters. The climb up the volcano takes around four to six hours and trekkers will overnight on the summit.

Day 6: Early in the morning, climbers will leave the crater rim and start the descent back to Kibati. Average descent time is four hours. Once at the bottom, guests will be transported back to Goma with drop-off at the Grande Barriere border crossing.