The Schedule​

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Day 1 - Road Transfer to Bukima - Upon arrival at Kigali Airport you’ll be met by your guide Daniel prior to your vehicle transfer to the DRC border. Note that your arrival in Kigali must be before 9am, so if your planned flight cannot accommodate this we can assist you with booking a night at a Kigali hotel to ensure a prompt departure in the morning. The drive to the border is approximately 4hrs and everyone will be supplied with pack lunches and water. After the border crossing we will be picked up by Virunga Rangers for a 2 hour transfer to Bukima camp. Once we have all settled into our new base we’ll meet up for a casual introduction to our photography workshop and safari briefing before supper in camp.

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Day 2/3 - Gorilla Treks - The day will begin with an early morning and a light Breakfast. We’ll aim to head out on our first Gorilla trek before 8.30am. We’ll spend the whole morning searching for and interacting with the Gorillas, before getting back to camp for lunch. We’ll have the whole afternoon to relax in the stunning surroundings of the camp and meet up with our laptops to download and review our images over a casual photography and Adobe CC talk before supper.  

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Day 4 - Transfer to Mikeno - Gorilla Orphanage Orientation - The morning begins with a light breakfast before packing our gear for our road transfer to Mikeno Lodge. On arrival we’ll be welcomed to our new base before our Gorilla Orphanage Orientation at the Senkwekwe Centre, who play a critical role in rehabilitating orphan Eastern Lowland Gorillas confiscated from animal traffickers.  

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Day 5/6 - Chimp Treks - The next two days begin with an early Breakfast before our Chimpanzee habituation treks. We leave the camp at 06.30am and get back between 11.00 - 14.00 for lunch.  We’ll have the whole afternoon to relax in camp, enjoy the local birdlife and meet up with our laptops to download and review our images over a casual photography and Adobe CC talk before supper.

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Day 7 - Transfer to Kibati, Nyiragongo Volcano Camp - After Breakfast we’ll be transferred to Kibati Camp at approximately 8.00am. On arrival at Kibati we’ll have an activity briefing before the volcano ascent which will take between 4-6hrs, depending on the fitness of the group. Heart-stopping views of Virunga’s rainforest, Lake Kivu and the city of Goma are spread out below you. As as you approach the Volcanic crater you will begin to feel the rumbling of the volcano from deep underground. Peering into the heart of the Nyiragongo Volcano is a truly once in a lifetime experience. There are 12 simple huts where we will camp for the night. The huts are basic but at 11,380 ft, you will appreciate the shelter from the cold! 

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Day 8 - Descend Volcano, transfer to Tchagera Island Camp - We’ll have one more opportunity to look into the volcano before a light breakfast and our descent of Nyiragongo, arriving back in camp in the mid-morning. We’ll collect our gear and transfer into the lakeside town of Goma to board our boat transfer to the idyllic Island of Tchagera on Lak Kivu. At Tchagera we’ll have time to relax and recuperate after our big two days of trekking the volcano, a hot shower will be beckoning. You’re free to spend the afternoon at your leisure, you can take a paddle around the island in one of the camp’s kayaks, relax on the shores of lake Kivu and the birdlife around the island is especially impresive. 

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Day 9 - Tchagera Island - Our last full day of the trip can be spent at your leisure. For those who need extra photography guidance or would like to repeat any of the subjects covered, Daniel is available to deliver one-to-one tuition.

 

Day 10 - Onward Journey - After Breakfast we’ll board the ferry back to Goma. We’ll be picked up by the rangers who will escort us back to the Rwanda border. After clearing customs we’ll be transferred back to Kigali for your onward Journey.