- Duration: 7 Days (approx.)
- Product code: drc-overland-8-en
Lakes and Lowland Gorillas from Bukavu
Explore the sweeping forest steppes of the African Great Lakes region, and its most important and beautiful lake city, Bukavu. Nestled in Congo-Kinshasa’s eastern region, this jungle hub is the launching point to Kahuzi-Biega National Park (only 30 km away) for lowland gorilla spotting. Meet more of your relatives in one of Jane Goodall's famous chimpanzee sanctuaries and protection zones. Finally, gaze at Chibati waterfalls set in an equatorial jungle straight out of Michael Crichton's Congo, and Idjwi, Africa’s second largest inland island.
The forests of eastern DRC are among of the most important regions on earth for biodiversity. The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) with funding and help from the Congolese government and multiple foundations is leading a conservation action planning (CAP) process in the region. The CAP process targets more than 66 million acres, including the areas on this tour, which contain more than 35,000 chimpanzees and somewhere between 2,500-3,000 gorillas. You will be directly participating in their survival by showing interest and incentivizing locals to protect them.
Day 1: Arrival and Welcome
International airport or international border pick up, depending on the arrival time and place (overlanders are welcome). Drive to the harbor and take a shared speed boat to Bukavu via Lake Kivu. Along the lake enjoy seeing the biggest island of DR Congo and the second biggest in Africa after Madagascar. Arrive in Bukavu, overnight at Orchid Safari Club (top class, based on bed and breakfast, self contained with hot shower and internet). (B)
Day 2: Bukavu City
After an early breakfast, enjoy a Bukavu full day city tour, including a visit to the Cathedral, the beer brewery, the famous market called Kadutu, Panzi hospital, and meet traditional people and artists. Visit different corners of the town while hearing the ancient story of this historical great lake city. Overnight at Orchid Safari Club. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Kahuzi-Biega National Park
After an early breakfast, drive to Kahuzi-Biega national park and enjoy Eastern Lowland Gorillas tracking. After spotting gorillas up close, enjoy an evening of riverbed animal watching and forest walk in the park. Overnight at Bugulumiza summit at the campsite (catered tent). (B, L, D)
Day 4: Kahuzi Mountain Hike
After an early breakfast, drive in the park and take on Kahuzi Mountain, hiking for the whole day. After the hike, return to the campsite for overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Chibati Waterfalls
After an early breakfast, drive to the northern part of this park and visit Chibati waterfalls then drive down to Lwiro where we will visit the Scientific Research Center built originally by Belgians. Attractions here are the chimpanzee sanctuary, jungle snakes, the museum, and the biggest laboratory in Central Africa. Drive back to Bukavu, overnight at Orchids Safari Clubs. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Idjwi & Shushu Islands
After an early breakfast, drive to the harbor again and proceed to Idjwi Island precisely situated in the northern region. Visit Shushu Island for unique bird watching, fisherman villages, and otherworldly trees species. Enjoy an evening Idjwi city tour with motorbikes (no cars there), overnight at Ngando Guest House (mid class based on full board - but there is no hot shower, so the cook can preheat it for the client). (B, L, D)
Day 7: Final Day - Departure
After an early breakfast, enjoy tribal folklore while watching local women dance and sing in Kihavu language, expressing the culture of the Congolese and the Great Lakes region. After the folklore, take motorbikes to the harbor and transit to Goma. Once in Goma, drive to either Goma international airport or the Rwandan border. (B)
Price: $4,149 per person
The package for any and all passengers will include all transportation (4wd, the driver, fuel, road & government taxes, the shared speed boat, motorbikes while on Idjwi Island), all permits and entry fees in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and different areas to visit, all accommodations (hotels and campsite in Kahuzi-Biega National Park), drinking water (3 liters a day), park rangers assistance and security, and any custom arrangements.
Our overland tours include all insurance, transport, permits, entrance fees, taxes, 4x4 with a/c, and accommodation in safari-style lodges, villages, and tourist hotels (where applicable). Alcoholic drinks are extra. Congo Travel and Tours will arrange your visa facilitation upon purchase of a tour, and you must apply with our invitation letter at your nearest possible embassy.
The forests of eastern DRC are among of the most important regions on earth for biodiversity. The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) with funding and help from the Congolese government and multiple foundations is leading a conservation action planning (CAP) process in the region. The CAP process targets more than 66 million acres, including the areas on this tour, which contain more than 35,000 chimpanzees and somewhere between 2,500-3,000 gorillas. You will be directly participating in their survival by showing interest and incentivizing locals to protect them.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Welcome
International airport or international border pick up, depending on the arrival time and place (overlanders are welcome). Drive to the harbor and take a shared speed boat to Bukavu via Lake Kivu. Along the lake enjoy seeing the biggest island of DR Congo and the second biggest in Africa after Madagascar. Arrive in Bukavu, overnight at Orchid Safari Club (top class, based on bed and breakfast, self contained with hot shower and internet). (B)
Day 2: Bukavu City
After an early breakfast, enjoy a Bukavu full day city tour, including a visit to the Cathedral, the beer brewery, the famous market called Kadutu, Panzi hospital, and meet traditional people and artists. Visit different corners of the town while hearing the ancient story of this historical great lake city. Overnight at Orchid Safari Club. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Kahuzi-Biega National Park
After an early breakfast, drive to Kahuzi-Biega national park and enjoy Eastern Lowland Gorillas tracking. After spotting gorillas up close, enjoy an evening of riverbed animal watching and forest walk in the park. Overnight at Bugulumiza summit at the campsite (catered tent). (B, L, D)
Day 4: Kahuzi Mountain Hike
After an early breakfast, drive in the park and take on Kahuzi Mountain, hiking for the whole day. After the hike, return to the campsite for overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Chibati Waterfalls
After an early breakfast, drive to the northern part of this park and visit Chibati waterfalls then drive down to Lwiro where we will visit the Scientific Research Center built originally by Belgians. Attractions here are the chimpanzee sanctuary, jungle snakes, the museum, and the biggest laboratory in Central Africa. Drive back to Bukavu, overnight at Orchids Safari Clubs. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Idjwi & Shushu Islands
After an early breakfast, drive to the harbor again and proceed to Idjwi Island precisely situated in the northern region. Visit Shushu Island for unique bird watching, fisherman villages, and otherworldly trees species. Enjoy an evening Idjwi city tour with motorbikes (no cars there), overnight at Ngando Guest House (mid class based on full board - but there is no hot shower, so the cook can preheat it for the client). (B, L, D)
Day 7: Final Day - Departure
After an early breakfast, enjoy tribal folklore while watching local women dance and sing in Kihavu language, expressing the culture of the Congolese and the Great Lakes region. After the folklore, take motorbikes to the harbor and transit to Goma. Once in Goma, drive to either Goma international airport or the Rwandan border. (B)
Price: $4,149 per person
The package for any and all passengers will include all transportation (4wd, the driver, fuel, road & government taxes, the shared speed boat, motorbikes while on Idjwi Island), all permits and entry fees in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and different areas to visit, all accommodations (hotels and campsite in Kahuzi-Biega National Park), drinking water (3 liters a day), park rangers assistance and security, and any custom arrangements.
Our overland tours include all insurance, transport, permits, entrance fees, taxes, 4x4 with a/c, and accommodation in safari-style lodges, villages, and tourist hotels (where applicable). Alcoholic drinks are extra. Congo Travel and Tours will arrange your visa facilitation upon purchase of a tour, and you must apply with our invitation letter at your nearest possible embassy.
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"Hi Chris,
It was great! The airport hospitality is wonderful and was very appreciated. Waiting with us for hours to get our luggage on the entry, and taking us into the Vodacom place at the airport for a SIM card, and then giving us a drink and letting us wait in their office at the airport on the exit. They were great about getting our luggage through/on board, buying the go pass, and walking us over, and getting through. Thank you for arranging for the ease and stress-free part of that. Very professional and no funny business.Our guide Jeremie Ben was great. He graduated from academie des beaux arts so he made our visit there especially meaningful. It started to rain so we couldn't do the walking tour I hoped for. He also recommended and took us to the best Congolese restaurant in town, Chez Flor. Koen's recommendation for the best Lebanese restaurant was on the mark! We loved Le Palais. Niccolo said it was the highlight meal for him.The Bonobo Sanctuary was perfect - lucky for us the rainy season hadn't kicked in yet - there were deep trenches in the roads that only the expert driver and high 4-wheel drive could do. Our driver was great. We went to Lac de ma vallee too ! We were later told that it is packed on the week-ends, so we lucked out there too and had a lovely lunch and the place to ourselves with fun conversation.It rained on Wednesday, so traffic in Gombe was not so nice. The prime minister was in town so we didn't get to do the river walk I wanted to show Niccolo. But we still managed to buy fabric and have chocolate fondue at Nice Cream. I appreciated that later that afternoon they drove me to Ngiri Ngiri to see the young singers' rehearsal and the Opera Fellows we have been working with, and also the music school building developments. The driver and guide waited for me and got me back to MPH safely. That was very kind of them, I know it was not easy.Thank you again for wonderful trip arrangements !Best wishes,"- Joy Bechtler, Operanauts Princeton University and Orchestra Symphonic of Kinshasa Tour, Kinshasa and Princeton Orchestra Operanauts Tour
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