11-Day Bonobo Bonanza

Overview

For many years, the chance to see the bonobo, arguably the most charismatic primate in Africa, has been limited to those with unlimited time and money. With their habitat deep in the recesses of the Congolese interior, you have historically had to journey to Lomako or Salonga to have a chance of a sighting. Now, though, the primates can be seen just hours from Kinshasa, making this the most accessible itinerary for bonobo-sightings yet.

Tour Features

Budget tour

Uses guest houses & Tented camps

Shared tour

On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 6 people per group.

Minimum age

18 years old

Activities & Transport

Activities:

Game drives, walking safaris (with an armed guide) & nature hikes/walks

Transport:

Normal 4x4 vehicle & Boat

A transfer from and back to the airport is included

Accommodation & Meals

Day	Accommodation	Meals
1	Pullman Kinshasa	Meals at Own Expense
2-4	Bombo Lumene Tented Camp	All Meals Included
5	Pullman Kinshasa	Breakfast Included
6	Nkala Guest House	Breakfast & Dinner Included
7-9	Nkala Guesthouse	All Meals Included
10	Pullman Kinshasa	Breakfast included
11	Pullman Kinshasa	Breakfast included

Note: Note; The rooms will be shared if travellers are 2+ Traveller 1 2 3 4 5 Room(s) 1 1 2 2 3

Included

Park fees(For non-residents)
All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks(As specified in the day-by-day section)

Excluded

International flights(From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Itineraries

Day 1

Kinshasa

On arrival in Kinshasa you will be met by your Pictus Safaris tour leader and transferred to your comfortable local hotel. There will be a pre-tour briefing in the hotel this evening before dinner, with the remainder of the day at leisure for you to catch up on rest after a long inbound flight.

Destination
Kinshasa (City)

Accommodation

Pullman Kinshasa

Luxury hotel located in or near Kinshasa
If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

Meals

-Meals at own expense

-Drinks not included
Day 2

Bombo Lumene

This morning, after breakfast in Kinshasa, we are met by closed 4x4 vehicles for the two-and-a-half hour transfer to the small reserve of Bombo Lumene. Not widely known outside of the expatriate community in Kinshasa, Bombo Lumene is one of the last vestiges of protected forest and savanna within driving distance of Kinshasa, and work done by a local NGO is ongoing to establish Bombo Lumene as an ecotourism destination. Arriving at our basic tented camp, there will be time to settle in before we head out to explore the reserve this afternoon in closed vehicles. Charcoal burning and poaching means that much of the wildlife here has been extirpated but, remarkably, forest buffalo, black-fronted duiker and even red river hog still persist here and, with luck, we may glimpse them this afternoon. After returning to camp for a local dinner, we will head out with spotlight for a night drive, where we will focus on forest duikers, as well as brush-tailed porcupine, genet and civet.

Destination
Bombo Lumene

Accommodation

Bombo Lumene Tented Camp

Budget tented camp located inside the park
If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

Meals

-All meals included

-Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 3-4

Bombo Lumene

The next two days are spent exploring Bombo Lumene at a sedate pace. Morning, afternoon and night drives will focus on the rare, charismatic species that persist here, most notably forest buffalo and red river hog. When not on drive, walks into the savanna and forest offer superb birding, and this is one of the only reliable places in the world to spot the elusive white-headed robin-chat. Popular activities also include 'floats' down the river, swimming the in the safe, clear waters of the nearby river, and nature walks. Camp is comfortable, if basic, and is great place to relax as we acclimatise to the Congo.

Destination
Bombo Lumene

Accommodation

Bombo Lumene Tented Camp

Budget tented camp located inside the park
If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

Meals

-All meals included

-Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 5

Kinshasa

After a final morning in Bombo Lumene, we transfer back to Kinshasa and the modern-conveniences of our lovely hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure ahead of a busy few days to come. An afternoon city tour can be arranged at extra cost on request.

Destination
Kinshasa (City)

Accommodation

Pullman Kinshasa

Luxury hotel located in or near Kinshasa
If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

Meals

-Meals at own expense

-Drinks not included
Day 6

Tshumbiri

After breakfast in Kinshasa, we transfer to the city port on the mighty Congo river. This port is exceedingly chaotic, and it will take us plenty of time to safely embark our speedboat for the five-hour journey upstream to Tshumbiri. Eventually, though, our journey will be underway, and we aim to arrive at Tshumbiri beach by mid-afternoon. From here, it is a car journey on narrow trails before we emerge at Nkala Village. This village has been the site of an admirable effort by a local NGO to bring the benefits of bonobo tourism to the local community, and we are sure of an exceedingly warm welcome. We overnight in basic local guesthouses tonight, in preparation for adventurous days to come.

Destination
Nkala

Accommodation

Nkala Guest House

Budget guest house bordering the park without fences
If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

Meals

-Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)

-Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 7-9

Nkala

The next three days are sure to be both memorable and exhausting. Each morning, we arise before dawn, usually at 4am. We meet up with the local bonobo trackers and head into the nearby forest, aiming to intercept a family of bonobos as they descend to the forest floor from their nocturnal roosts. The chances of a sighting are very high, although we should expect to have to battle through thick forest, wade streams and endure insect bites to do so. Eventually, though, we should emerge with the opportunity to spend time with and photograph these incredibly rare animals. Unlike chimpanzees and gorillas in East Africa, these are not habituated animals and they may sometimes be shy, so three days of trekking is needed to offer a good chance of an excellent sighting. Afternoons are spent in the village resting, and we overnight each night here too. Unfortunately, due to poaching, the chances of spotting any species other than bonobos is low.

Destination
Nkala

Accommodation

Nkala Guest House

Budget guest house bordering the park without fences
If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

Meals

-All meals included

-Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 10

Kinshasa

After breakfast, we return to the river today for our four-hour transfer back down the Congo to Kinshasa. On arrival at the port, we transfer once more to our comfortable hotel where we overnight and recover from a busy and taxing few days tracking bonobos.

Destination
Kinshasa

Accommodation

Pullman Kinshasa

Luxury hotel located in or near Kinshasa
If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

Meals

-Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)

-Drinks not included
Day 11

Tour End

Today, guests transfer back to the airport for their homeward flights.

Destination
Kinshasa Airport (Kinshasa)

Accommodation

Not Specified

Meals

-Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)

-Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

11-Day Bonobo Bonanza