This Expedition is currently closed for applications.
Hands down, one of the biggest adventures you can find today! Our Expedition will explore active volcanoes, the biggest lava lake in the World, the lush rainforests of the emblematic Virunga NP, underrated gems like Lake Kivu and of course, the majestic mountain gorillas. Most tourists come for the gorillas, but miss all the local life and culture. Having 8 days in Eastern DRC will allow us to experience this region fully.
Trip dates: April 2021. Total of 8 days / 7 nights.
Itinerary
Day 1: Meet and Greet in Addis International Airport. Arrival in Goma International Airport. Masisi Hills and cattle farmers.
Arrival in Goma right after noon. After checking in and registering in the immigration office at the airport, we’ll will stop in Goma town for lunch and From there, we have an hour drive to Masisi Hills and enjoy the pleasure of winding down with some coffee or chai before a very delicious barbecue surrounded by the endless lush grass hills. In the afternoon, we’ll walk in the village for a glimpse of their lifestyle and experience their cattle farms.
Dinner and overnight camp at Rica’s Home.
Day 2: Tchegera Island.
In the morning, we’ll take motorbikes to ride around the hills looking for the best photography spots.
After lunch we’ll enjoy an afternoon kayaking with fabulous views of
the Nyiragongo volcano we just conquered in the background. We’ll have an evening around camp fire before retiring in your luxurious tented room at Tchegera Island.
Dinner and overnight at luxury tented camp in Tchegera Island.
Day 3: Virunga National Park.
After enjoying a morning in the calmness of Tchegera Island, we will return to Goma and join an escorted convoy to Virunga National Park. Around 3pm we’ll check-in the luxurious Kibumba Tented Camp at the slopes of Mikeno Volcano and get to go for a guided evening walk in the jungle.
Dinner and overnight camp at the luxurious Kibumba Tented Camp.
Day 4: Mountain Gorillas Trek.
After breakfast at Kibumba Tented Camp, we’ll head in the jungle for our gorilla trek briefing. The trekking usually requires up to 2.5 hours of hiking one way, depending on location of the gorilla group and depending of the difficulty of the path. After spending the one hour with the gorilla family, we’ll make our way back to camp, enjoy a late lunch and have the rest of the day at leisure at Kibumba tented camp.
Dinner and overnight camp at Kibumba Tented Camp.
Day 5: Hiking Nyiragongo Volcano: largest lava lake in the World.
We start the day driving for 1h to the base of Nyiragongo Volcano. Around 10 am, you will join our crew of porters, cooks and rangers and start the climb. We’ll get to spend a night at the crater edge watching the one of the most fascinating spectacles in the World: the largest lava lake in the World.
Dinner and overnight in the shelters at the crater edge.
Day 6: Lake Kivu
After enjoying unparalleled sunrise views from the Crater’s Rim, we’ll descend slowly and once at the bottom, jump in our vehicle and transfer to Lake Kivu Lodge for a pleasant stay near the scenic shore of this iconic Central African gem.
We’ll enjoy some well deserved rest in the afternoon and in the evening we can head out to Pilipili Casino for Karaoke and drinks.
Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Lodge.
Day 7: Goma and/or daytrip to Idjwi Island.
We’ll explore Goma and learn how the volcano eruptions destroyed the beautiful city. We’ll then head to the market and get to know more of the local produce and businesses in Congo. Later on, we’ll go to try the Tchukudu ride (a wooden scooter locally made and used to carry goods). We’ll have lunch at Maghali Restaurant and enjoy the best congolese cuisine. If we prefer, we have the alternative to take a daytrip to nearby Idjwi Island, and visit coffee plantations and fishing villages.
Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Lodge.
Day 8: Congolese Wedding, and transfer to the airport.
Last day in DRC, enjoying some free time in the morning exploring Goma, buying souvenirs or relaxing by Lake Kivu. As it’s Saturday, we might get to experience a real traditional Congolese wedding celebration. After lunch, we’ll drive straight to Goma International airport with ample time before our 4pm return flight.
The trip includes:
Entry fees in National Parks, protected areas and activities.
Gorilla permits: Bear in mind that these are very expensive, just one hour with the gorillas costs $400!
Accommodation Fees: From luxury tented camps to mid-range with all basic facilities: wifi, Hot shower. Some nights, like on top of the volcano and in the Ferry will be more basic stays. Accommodation is on a shared room basis. For single rooms, please request for the supplement fee if interested.
Full board meals: 3 meals per day including water and snacks.
Transportation: Comfortable private van and speed boat/ferry tickets.
Experienced Tour guide: English speaker.
Visa processing: We will take care of the visa application for you so that you only have to pay the fee on arrival.
Tips to local communities.
Assistance with flight logistics and trip bookings.
The trip doesn’t include:
Insurance: Chances are your usual travel insurance won’t cover you in DRC, hence you might need to cover your risks with special insurance for this trip.
Flights to Goma: International flights to DRC aren’t included. We’ll fly in from ADD with Ethiopian Airlines. Check options from your departing point.
Visa: cost is $100.
PCR tests: You will likely be requested a PCR upon departure. The cost is around $60.
Discretional purchases: Your personal expenses, souvenirs, or other exceptional purchases are not included.
IMPORTANT! If you want to be one of the fortunate travelers selected for the DRC Expedition be sure to:
- Understand the destination and the risks involved.
- Make sure the dates work for you! You need 100% assurance that you can take off on those dates.
- Send us your travel resume and your background (nationality of your passport, city you are based in, age, previous travel experience, usual travel style…) on the contact email as we’ll carry out a selection process. The better the application, the more chances of getting selected. Spots are limited, so usually only 5% of applicants get to travel with us.
- A negative COVID test will be required for everyone’s safety prior to visiting.
- This is a one time opportunity, but make sure you’re responsible enough to understand what it entails. If you have any doubts, just email us on the contact below.
