Itinerary

Day 1 Nairobi

Nairobiis the least expensive arrival city for flights with a full range of hotels and local attractions. Dubbed the “Safari Capital of the World,” cool, clear and cosmopolitanNairobiis the natural departure point for most safari itineraries. A city of contrasts, it is simultaneously the largest, the youngest, the most modern, the highest (1700m) and the fastest growing city inEast Africa. High-altitudeNairobienjoys a pleasant tropical climate all year round. There are ATMs and banks to stock up on cash, great restaurants, and malls where you can purchase any forgotten items.

Mikael Strandberg was born in 1962 in Sweden, and started his professional career as an explorer 25 years ago. His expeditions have included; Chile to Alaska by bicycle (27,500 km including the "impassable" Darien Gap), Norway to South Africa by bicycle (33,000 km including pushing across Sahara Desert), New Zealand across Asia to Cairo by bicycle (90,000 km), a year with gauchos in Patagonia (3,000km by horse), a year with the Masai in East Africa (total immersion in the culture), exploration of the unknown Kolyma River in North-Eastern Siberia (3,500 km by canoe and skis - with temperatures below -60C). His Siberia expedition is globally hailed as one of the coldest ever in the history of exploration.

Mikael is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Explorers' Club, Travellers Club and the Long Riders Guild. Explorers Club in London considers Mikael "the best contemporary explorer in the world" at the present. Mikael has written seven books and numerous articles. He is frequently used by broadcasters for travel and adventure programmes. In Sweden Mikael has become a household name and Swedish Television SVT and National Geographic have made a documentary about his life. He was voted Explorer Hero by the National Geographic 2002. He's an Honorary Ambassador of his native district Älvdalen. He's also an Honorary Ambassador for Cappadocia, Turkey. He was awarded The Determination in the Face of Adversity Medal by the Explorers Club 2005. The King of Sweden and The Travellers Club of Sweden awarded him the prestigious Silver Medal in 2006. Travellers Club in Finland awarded Mikael the prestigious Mannerheim Medal.

In the event of serious illness, all travellers are covered by Flying Doctors Insurance. This covers the cost of emergency air evacuation service needed to fly back to Nairobi for treatment. This insurance does not cover the cost of medical treatment.

You will receive a private airport transfer to/from the airport.

The Nairobi Serena Hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, excelling in quality, service, and comfort beyond expectations. Its vibrant tropical gardens and skyline offer a range of views from its 184 rooms and suites, each decked with pan-African themed influences. Two stylish restaurants, offer both a la carte and/or buffet, and serve an international selection of fine cuisine amidst mesmerizing settings. Take advantage of the local attractions and, following a demanding full day, relax in the hands of an expert masseuse at the Maisha Serena Health Club. Gym, spa & pool at the hotel.

Overnight at Serena.

Day 2 Gisenyi

Gisenyi is a city in Rubavu district in the West Province of Rwanda. Gisenyi is contiguous with Goma, the city across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city features a resort on the shores of Lake Kivu, with several hotels and three sandy beaches. The area is also known for water sports. The northern shore of the lake on which Goma and Gisenyi lie is a flat plain featuring lava formations from the eruptions of nearby Mount Nyiragongo. Gisenyi but not Goma escaped the lava flows of the 2002 eruption which destroyed between 15 and 40% of the latter. The centre of Gisenyi lies at the foot of hills in the north-east corner of the lake.

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

You will receive a private airport transfer to/from the airport.

Take your flight from Nairobi to Kigali today. The flight duration is approximately 1hr 30mins.

Your guide will take you on a tour of the new and vibrant capital city of Kigali. The new prosperity features a number of thriving markets and features the mountain terrain famous in Rwanda. A sober contrast to its recent history. For survivors and others whose families were murdered in Rwanda´s genocide 1994, the Memorial sites and centres are places of dignified remembrance for loved ones lost. It is also a place of reflection and learning for the wider community, both in Rwanda and internationally.

Lake Kivu Serena Hotel is located in the Rwandan resort town of Gisenyi, on the shores of Lake Kivu, the sixth largest lake in Africa. The hotel is ideally situated on a sandy beach, with the nearby Virunga Volcanoes providing a spectacular backdrop on one side and a panoramic view of the lake on the other. Accommodation comprises of 66 air-conditioned rooms, including 6 luxury suites, 23 family rooms and one room especially equipped for disabled guests. The restaurant offers a stunning view of the lake as you have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Lake Kivu Serena Hotel offers business facilities including a boardroom and three conference rooms available for business meetings, cocktails and banquets. The hotel also has a gym, outdoor swimming pool and two tennis courts.

Overnight at Lake Kivu Serena.

Day 3 Gisenyi

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

Wake up early, eat breakfast and prepare for this incredible experience. Depart hotel at 6am for the one hour drive to the Virunga National Park headquarters. Covering 7,800 square kilometres (3,000 sq mi) Virunga National Park was established in 1925 as Africa's first national park. It was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. In later years it has become known for its mountain gorillas. It borders Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. The park guides will brief you and at 8am the group will set off into the forest in search of mountain Gorillas. The time you will take searching these mystical apes is unpredictable but expect between 2-5 hours depending on their movements. Nothing beats the feeling of coming face to face with a gorilla family! Transfer back to Goma.

Overnight at Lake Kivu Serena.

Day 4 Mount Nyiragongo

Mount Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Great Rift Valley. It is located inside Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 20 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just west of the border with Rwanda. The main crater is about two km wide and usually contains a lava lake. The crater presently has two distinct cooled lava benches within the crater walls - one at about 3175m (10,400 ft) and a lower one at about 2975 m (9800 ft). Nyiragongo and nearby Nyamuragira are together responsible for 40% of Africa's historical volcanic eruptions.

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

The day starts early. Have breakfast and check out prior to 8am. Cross the border into Congo (you should purchase your DRC visa prior to arrival), and drive through Goma town to the super market to purchase food for the climb. Depart 9am for Kibati Village, the gate of the mountain, where the climb starts.

Meet your porters and cook. Climb starts around 10-11am. The climb up to the Nyiragongo summit is strenuous and takes about 4-5 hours in often hot conditions. The lower section is overgrown forest and bushes and a shell and gaiters will keep your clothes from becoming soaked. The middle section up the flank of the mountain is through low growth and is well marked on smooth lava flows. The final ascent is steep but well defined. There is no climbing or slipper scree, but a high degree of fitness is required. Arrive at the top late in the afternoon at around 4-5pm. The views into the lava lake are spectacular, especially in the evening.

(Equipment required: Walking boots, day-pack, lightweight clothing for the hike, fleece/pants for evening on the crater rim, hat, sun glasses, bottled water/snacks. Optional; sleeping bag/mat. Included in price; park entrance fees, porters, tent, used sleeping bag, meals and drinks, skilled guide)

Rough camp with tents and sleeping bags in a safe location near the crater rim of Mount Nyiragongo, with spectacular views of the red glowing molten lava pool deep below.

Overnight at Crater Rim Camp.

Day 5 Gisenyi

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

After breakfast at 7am, there is an opportunity for pictures and a further exploration of the crater rim. Return back down the mountain (3-4 hours) to Kibati village.

Lake Kivu Serena Hotel is located in the Rwandan resort town of Gisenyi, on the shores of Lake Kivu, the sixth largest lake in Africa. The hotel is ideally situated on a sandy beach, with the nearby Virunga Volcanoes providing a spectacular backdrop on one side and a panoramic view of the lake on the other. Accommodation comprises of 66 air-conditioned rooms, including 6 luxury suites, 23 family rooms and one room especially equipped for disabled guests. The restaurant offers a stunning view of the lake as you have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Lake Kivu Serena Hotel offers business facilities including a boardroom and three conference rooms available for business meetings, cocktails and banquets. The hotel also has a gym, outdoor swimming pool and two tennis courts.

Overnight at Lake Kivu Serena.

Day 6 Okapi Wildlife Reserve

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is a World Heritage Site in the Ituri Forest in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the borders with Sudan and Uganda. At approximately 14,000 km², it covers a massive territory. Nomadic Mbuti pygmies and indigenous Bantu farmers live within the reserve. The reserve is home to 4000-6000 okapis, out of a global population of around 10,000–20,000. It is also the location of the Epulu Conservation and Research Center, on the Epulu River. This facility dates back to 1928 when the camp was founded by American anthropologist Patrick Putnam. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is also home to other interesting or endangered animals, such as the forest elephant, and at least 13 species of anthropoid primates.

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

Transfer to Goma (DRC) with your private vehicle and driver.

Take your flight from Goma to Kinshasa today. The flight duration is approximately 2.5 hours.

Drive to Epulu Station in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (~5 hours) on dirt road. Will pass through Nia-Nia with opportunity to buy snacks and do local shopping.

Overnight at the guesthouse of ICCN (Institute Congolese for the Conservation of Nature) located in the town of Epulu. This preserved farmhouse has one room with double beds and three rooms with a single bed all including mosquito netting. The bathroom facilities are Spartan, but soap and towels are provided. There is electricity from a generator which shuts off at 10pm. All rooms have a kerosene lamp. Hearty meals are provided with local ingredients in Congolese style. Excellent views from the balcony of the nearby Epulu River.

Overnight at Epulu ICCN Guesthouse.

Day 7 Okapi Wildlife Reserve

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

Found only in the Congo, the okapi is a shy and reclusive forest dweller and is the only living relative of the giraffe. Almost impossible to see in the wild, the Epulu Research Programme is a rare opportunity to see okapi up close. Dedicated staff look after a dozen captive okapi. 45 pygmy trackers bring in 35 different types of forest leaves each day, which are combined into 20kg bundles for each animal. The health, feeding and care of each okapi is carefully monitored. This station is the only source of okapi for the world's zoos. It is a unique view into a program run by incredibly dedicated staff.

The Bambuti pygmies are primarily hunter-gatherers, foraging for food in the forest. They have a vast knowledge of the forest and the foods it yields. The Bambuti use large nets, traps, and bows and arrows to hunt game. Women and children sometimes help out by trying to drive the animals into the nets. Both sexes gather and forage. Each band has its own hunting ground, although boundaries are hard to maintain. We will be permitted to follow such a group into the forest and where, possible, take our tents and overnight in their hunting camp.

Overnight in tents at a pygmy village. The Bambuti pygmies live in villages that are categorized as bands. Each hut houses a family unit. At the start of the dry season, they leave the village to enter the forest and set up a series of camps. This allows the Bambuti to utilize more land area for maximum foraging. These villages are solitary and separated from other groups of people. Their houses are small, circular, and very temporary. The walls of the structures are poles that are placed in the ground. At the top of the poles a vine is woven to keep them together. Large leaves are also used in the construction of the huts.

Overnight at Pygmy Village.

Day 8 Okapi Wildlife Reserve

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

Set off with your expert guide, park ranger, and porters, to track through the tropical forest. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is a World Heritage Site, and part of the great Ituri Forest. The reserve takes its name from the Okapi, found only in the Congo. Although the okapi bears striped markings reminiscent of the zebra, it is most closely related to the giraffe. The wildlife reserve is also home to the forest elephant, and at least 13 species of anthropoid primates. Unfortunately, the animals are very skilled at hiding so wild game sightings are rare. However, the vegetation in this primary growth rain forest is amazing. Comfortable hiking boots, long sleeve clothes, hat, and mosquito repellent are all necessities. A day pack is handy for bottled water, snacks, and your camera.

Overnight at the guesthouse of ICCN (Institute Congolese for the Conservation of Nature) located in the town of Epulu. This preserved farmhouse has one room with double beds and three rooms with a single bed all including mosquito netting. The bathroom facilities are Spartan, but soap and towels are provided. There is electricity from a generator which shuts off at 10pm. All rooms have a kerosene lamp. Hearty meals are provided with local ingredients in Congolese style. Excellent views from the balcony of the nearby Epulu River.

Overnight at Epulu ICCN Guesthouse.

Day 9 Kisangani

Kisangani is a city lying at the central heart of Africa’s great rainforests. It’s the 3rd largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the provincial capital of Tshopo. Some 1,300 miles from the mouth of the Congo River, the city of Kisangani is the farthest navigable point upstream. Kisangani is the nation’s major inland port after Kinshasa, an important commercial hub point for river and land transportation and a major marketing and distribution centre for the north-eastern part of the country. It has been the commercial capital of the northern Congo since the late 1800s.

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

Drive to Kisangani (~7 hours) on dirt road.

Overnight at Palm Beach Hotel.

Day 10 Kisangani

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

Set off for a cruise down the Congo River in a motorized wooden canoe. This is the traditional form of transport to move people and goods down the length of the Congo River from Kisangani to Kinshasa - 1200 km down river. Wind past pockets of lush green secondary forest, semi-deciduous secondary rainforest, climax forests with Brachystegia laurentii flora and marshland forest, inhabited by colourful birdlife and animals. You’ll also have the chance to explore the "Rive Gauche", the left bank of the Kisangani river with its crumbling port and railway station.

Kisangani was founded by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in January 1877. Memorable sites include the Tshopo River Falls and the Wagenia Fisheries, set up in the midst of the river rapids. Fishing is carried out by means of a complex structure set among the rocks: lianas attached to cross poles act as stretchers for the nets submerged in the foaming water. The fishermen use pirogues (traditional dugout canoes), twisting between rapids and rocks. Their agility and daredevil attitudes are a constant source of amazement.

Overnight at Palm Beach Hotel.

Day 11 Nairobi

Enjoy the insights and anecdotes of your world famous Explorer-in-Residence.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Flight from Kisangani to Nairobi.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Includes opportunity to visit local handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs.

Before leaving that night, stop by the Kensington office for free use of Internet, lounge, showers and drinks. If you like, we can make reservations for dinner at a local restaurant as well. Please let us know in advance and if you are vegetarian.

You will receive a private airport transfer to/from the airport.

Depart from Nairobi international airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.

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