VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK HOTELS & LODGES| CONGO ACCOMMODATION |DR CONGO TOURS & SAFARIS| VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK ACCOMMODATION| CONGO HOTELS & LODGES| DR CONGO TOURS AND SAFARIS| CONGO SAFARIS LODGES: Where to stay in DR Congo
What is the determinant of the price of the Congo safari tour is subjective to the safari lodge, hotels that your planning to stay in, Accommodation is safari lodges in Congo.
If you’re planning a trip/holiday to Congo and need clean, comfortable accommodation that won’t break the bank, make sure to check out the recommendations listed below. The hotels detailed here are safe, charismatic, and often eco-friendly in addition to being kind to your wallet.
The rates are always subject to change – so please check for up-to-date prices before deciding on where you’d like to stay.
If you find that you have difficulty-booking hotels independently from overseas, consider using the services we offer.
There are relatively opportunities for camping where visitors have to hustle with the camping gears most especially if you have to visit many remote national reserves and parks, click here to see a detailed Virunga National Park tour
Accommodations in Congo tend to be a mediocre quality and at pocket-friendly prices and most travelers will find it proportional, The few chains or stand-alone hotels that genuinely conform to four to five star standards and are all confined in the capital city of Kinshasa as others are isolated in other towns like Lubumbashi. Enquire with us from here...
Below are the hotels in Virunga national park;
1. Kibumba Camp (Mid-Range)
Kibumba is a great choice for those wanting to stay within the park’s borders, offering an authentic camping experience amidst Virunga’s flora and fauna with the added benefit of not having to drive long distances to begin your trek.
Two permanent lodges provide a warm and welcoming space for guests to gather and share stories of their time in this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Mikeno Lodge(Luxury)
Mikeno Lodge offers twelve unique bungalows, fashioned with lava stone, mahogany and thatch are nestled amidst the thick forest greenery and reaching trees. Comprised of a comfortable lounging area and fireplace to ward off the crisp evening air, the spacious bungalows enjoy en-suite bathrooms with stone carved baths and curved stone showers.
The decor merges Congolese ethnicity and classic simplicity with patterned rugs, soft tones, and sleek wooden furniture; whilst the private deck allows guests to enjoy the performance of the Blue and Colobus monkeys in the forest. Enjoyed beneath the thatched Boma at the main lodge, dining is delicious and flavorsome.
3. Bukimia Tented Camp (Semi-Luxury)
Just outside the Virunga National Park boundary lays the Bukima tented camp, which is one of the main starting points Virunga mountain gorilla treks. The camp was originally built for researchers but is now used primarily by trekkers. As the name suggests, overnight guests at Bukima sleep in platform tents, but by camping standards, they are quite plush. Each tent is equipped with a nicely appointed bed and dresser for clothes. The views from the tent sites – or anywhere in camp for that matter – are spectacular. To the south, the view is dominated by Mt. Mikeno, whose 4437m (14,560’) summit towers over the gorilla sector. Across the valley is Nyiragongo volcano, whose lava lake colors the night sky with a red glow. Every few years, the Nymulagira volcano erupts and steals the nighttime show by spewing hot lava hundreds of feet into the air. Occasionally, the mountain gorillas themselves wander into the Bukima tented camp. Although this is highly frowned upon by park staff, it never ceases to impress the guests.
4. Mikeno Lodge
Located in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mikeno Lodge is a luxury facility designed to offer the perfect balance of adventure and serenity.
Always singled-out for its comfort and the friendliness of its staff, it is ideally located for gorilla treks, alongside acting as a thriving epicenter for the area’s diverse birdlife and resident monkey population.
Overview:
Beautiful views of the rift valley and Nyiragongo, and Mikeno volcanoes provide the stunning backdrop to the Mikeno Lodge, which is an opportune 90-minute drive from the eastern city of Goma.
There are twelve bungalows available at the Lodge, each unique yet sharing a general approach and aesthetic: all are situated in the surrounding forest, and all are constructed from a mixture of local lava stone, mahogany, and thatch.
As well as being home to a variety of the Congo’s 1,185 known species of birds; baboons, Colobus monkeys, and chimpanzees are also habitual visitors to the Mikeno region.
Food and Services:
There is an excellent restaurant that offers indoor or outdoor dining, with a selection of fresh cuisine – breakfast is included but additional meals are not – and charming touches including an array of local drinks, hospitable service, and generous portions.
Accommodation:
As in the main areas, the decor is luxurious and modern, yet colored with throws, furnishings, and textures that mirror the Lodge’s exotic surroundings. All the bungalows are private, featuring en-suite facilities that include stone-carved baths, a fireplace (atmospherically lit whilst dinner is being served), double or twin beds, and decking with idyllic views of the forest and the mountainous landscape.
The communal areas at Mikeno center are the Lodge’s large and comfortable lounges, which begin inside and stretch out onto a deck with a large fireplace and bar. Here it’s possible to stay warm and snug in the occasional chilly evenings while enjoying a drink and socializing with other guests. The ambiance throughout combines comfortable, high-quality, contemporary furnishings (and Wi-Fi accessibility) with traditional touches, such as bare-stone floors covered with rugs and carpets, local art on the walls, and thatched roofs.
Activities:
Mikeno is the perfect location for safari activities, including a chimpanzee trek, which takes place within the forest adjacent to the Lodge, and as a base for those wishing to explore the nearby Nyiragongo Volcano.
For obvious reasons the region’s most distinctive feature is its mountain gorillas, and the local gorilla orphanage – an essential part of any visit to Mikeno – is just a short walk away. Treks to glimpse gorillas in the wild are also frequent, and unsurprisingly very popular with guests.
Ethics and Conservation:
50% of permit fees go to ICCN (Institute Congolese pour la Conservation de la Nature).
ICCN is the Congolese wildlife authority and uses these funds for the management and conservation efforts in Congolese National Parks.
Operations carried out include: The management and conservation of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s biodiversity in protected areas, promotion of scientific research, development of ecotourism within the framework of conservation, and development of populations living around protected areas.
Moreover, a further 20% of permit fees go towards the operational costs of Virunga National Park. Operational costs can range from salaries of rangers who play an invaluable role in the survival of the park to investment in infrastructure in and around the park, which also benefits local communities.
Community:
30% of permit fees are invested by Virunga National Park into community projects.
These projects include activities such as building schools, health centers, and improving water supplies to local communities.
5. Lulimbi Tented Camp
Lulimbi tented camp consists of ten comfortable canvas tents set on the shoreline of the Ishasha River, on Virunga National Park’s savannah plains.
Lulimbi Tented Camp is in the heart of Virunga and home to many of the park’s elephants and hippos.
The location offers good access to savannah wildlife, experienced rangers, and an opportunity to participate in the area’s conservation from this quieter, offbeat location.
The camp itself consists of a shared mess tent and eight en-suite sleeping tents.
Food and services:
Lulimbi Tented Camp has a dining tent with a restaurant and bar, and a separate lounge tent with a well-stocked bar.
Prices for the camp include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but alcoholic drinks are charged additionally.
Accommodation:
Lulimbi Tented Camp consists of 10 private tents: four with two twin beds, four with double beds, and two with three twin beds.
Each tent has an en suite bathroom with a solar shower and a flushing toilet. The tents all face the Ishasha River, with private verandas positioned to watch passing hippos.
Activities:
While at Lulimbi Tented Camp, guests can take part in elephant monitoring with rangers, chimpanzee habituation walks, birding, game drives, Lake Edward boat excursions, tilapia fishing, visits to the Nyakakoma fishing village.
Ethics and conservation:
Virunga National Park has been severely threatened by armed conflict in the past but – with financial support and the dedication of park rangers – the park and Lulimbi Tented Camp have survived and the biodiversity of the park has been protected. Enquire from here
