Are you ready for the unforgettable road trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)? Then consider choosing from our multiple road trip itineraries for you to discover Congo hassle-free. Our road trip itineraries offer the most memorable holiday experience. You can choose from already customized/tailor-made itineraries or talk to our expert to plan your road trip with you.
Congo is an endowed destination in Central Africa. Road trips present you lifetime opportunity to unearth Congo’s diverse attractions including the rare mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas. Book any of our top road trip itineraries and start your discovery journey in Congo. Here are the top road trip itineraries for discovering the Congo.
3 Days Virunga Gorilla trekking trip
The 3 days Virunga gorilla trekking trip takes you deep into the lush Virunga National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Embarking on this trip allows you to participate in the thrilling mountain gorilla trek to explore in depth the rare mountain gorillas in the wild. You can set off from Kigali, and drive across the border between Rwanda and Congo to get to the Virunga National Park.
Day one of the 3-day road trip to the Virunga involves transferring from Kigali to Congo. This can include border crossing via Gisenyi and you can only be allowed to access Congo after clearing with the border authorities. On arrival, you will check in your pre-booked accommodation option. At the lodge, have maximum relaxation moments in the comfort of your lodge.
Your day two includes an actual gorilla trekking adventure in the Virunga National Park. The Virunga National Park Congo is where you can find a section of the 1063 endangered mountain gorillas that are surviving in the wild. On this day, you will get briefed on the guidelines to be followed as you trek gorillas. Gorilla groups will be allocated to visitors during the briefing session in the Bukima ranger post. The park ranger guides will also be available and each group of 8 (eight) guests will be assigned an armed ranger guide to lead them.
In the jungles with mountain gorillas, your search is entirely unpredictable. Expect to take at least 2-6 hours or less. But this long trek includes an hour which you will spend face-to-face with a family of mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park. You are expected to maximize this period to take pictures and observe how these apes behave in the wild.
Currently, a total of about 8 (eight) gorilla families thrive in the jungles of the Virunga National Park. You will be visiting only one per day and visitors who prefer exploring more groups may require a longer stay in the park. The habituated gorilla families in Virunga include Rugendo, Humba, Mapuwa, Kabirizi, Lulengo, Nyakamwe, Bageni, and others.
Day three will involve checking out of the lodge and you transfer back to Kigali. This is the day that will mark the end of the unforgettable 3 days Virunga gorilla trekking tour in Congo.
3 Days Eastern lowland gorilla trek tour to Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Still on gorilla safaris in Congo, you can book 3 3-day Eastern lowland gorilla trek tour. This takes you on a thrilling trek through the lush rainforest in Kahuzi-Biega National Park to see the Eastern lowland gorillas.
Kahuzi-Biega is where habituated gorilla groups exist that also open to eastern lowland gorilla trekking. A trek through the Kahuzi-Biega natural forest involves exploring more about the Eastern lowland gorillas in the wild, observing their daily behaviors, and taking photos.
Day one of your captivating 3 days to explore Eastern lowland gorillas will include pick up and transfer to Kahuzi-Biega Park in Congo. You leave Kigali after having a hefty breakfast and drive to Bukavu and ensure that you have a tourist visa plus a yellow fever card to clear with authorities. Arrive early such that you check in at your hotel or camp.
The following day (day two), you will get up and join the rest of the visitors for a briefing about Eastern lowland gorilla trekking guidelines. The briefing process will be conducted by an experienced park official. He or she will also take this opportunity to allocate park rangers and gorilla groups to visitors. Some of the gorilla families to trek in Kahuzi-Biega include the Mpungwe, Chimanuka, and Bonane gorilla families.
Day three marks the end of your gorilla expedition in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Congo. This will include transferring back to Kigali in Rwanda.
3 Days Nyiragongo trek
If you are interested in mountaineering/hiking adventures, then booking a 3-day Nyiragongo trek tour should be a must. Mount Nyiragongo is lying in the Virunga National Park and is the most powerful volcano out of the 8 that make up the Great Virunga Massifs.
The road trip to explore Nyiragongo will include transferring from Kigali via Gisenyi to Congo. En route, expect to enjoy the scenic views of Lake Kivu.
The first trek to the summits of Mount Nyiragongo (3470m) begins on the second day. At the summit of Mt. Nyiragongo, expect to get blown away by the breathtakingly powerful fiery & smoky lava lake. The glow in the night is breathtaking and leaves long memories. Enjoy the long night capturing great pictures and also exploring more about the crater, formation of Nyiragongo and everything else as your guide will be explaining to you.
On day three, you can begin descending back to where the actual trek began. Get to Kibati early and meet the driver guide as he or she awaits you. Transfer back to Kigali via the Grande Barriere and this brings to an end the remarkable three-day Nyiragongo volcano trek.
Best time to go for a road trip in Congo
The dry season is notably the most preferred period to embark on a journey to explore Congo. This is from June to September or travel from December to February –these are the best months to engage in gorilla trekking adventure, hiking or mountaineering.
What to pack for your Congo road trip
Essential items to carry or pack for the Congo road trip include a safari hat, long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, a waterproof daypack, a rain jacket, valid visas, insect repellents, a first aid kit, and others.
