Congo Gorilla Safaris
Congo Gorilla safari activities are among the top attractions that draw tourists from around the world to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is home to various endangered mountain gorilla species; these species are a major reason for the increase in tourist numbers and the subsequent development of the tourism industry in the country.
The Democratic Republic of Congo shares borders with countries like Uganda and Rwanda, which are also known to be harboring many endangered mountain gorilla species and therefore this gives freedom to the species to move freely from one country to another; however, each of these countries fully controls their own portion.
Where are the best places to go for Gorilla trekking activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
Mountain gorilla species in the Democratic Republic of Congo can be easily found in places like Virunga National Park, which is home exclusively to mountain gorillas, and Kahuzi-Biega National Park, which is home to Eastern lowland gorillas.
Virunga National Park.
Virunga National Park is known as one of the best destinations for individuals who have a strong interest in trekking mountain gorillas.
This national park is dominated by a montane tropical forest, which covers a total surface area of about 7800 square kilometers and stands at an elevation of 5000meters high above sea level, which is favorable for the mountain gorilla species due to the fact that they prefer staying within high-altitude areas as their natural habitats.
Virunga national park is home to over 300 endangered mountain gorilla species, which makes it a high-end destination for many tourists who are on their safari within the country.
Virunga National Park also has eight habituated mountain gorilla groups, including Humba, Munyanga, Kabirizi, Mapuwa, Bageni, Rugendo, Lulengo, and Nyakamwe, which tourists can visit while trekking through the tropical rainforests to track these gorillas.
Gorilla trekking activities within Virunga national park always begin early in the morning at 7:00am; however, tourists are advised to arrive at least an hour before at the park headquarters, where they are always briefed by the park rangers about the dos and don’ts that they are supposed to follow while trekking the endangered mountain gorilla species within their natural habitats, such as that individuals are not supposed to eat or drink while in the presence of mountain gorillas and they are advised to keep a distance of at least 7 meters between them and the mountain gorilla species in order to avoid any harm.
After the briefing, tourists are organized into different groups, each consisting of a maximum of eight people, based on the habituated gorilla groups they will track. Each group is assigned a park guide whose role is to lead and assist tourists during the gorilla trekking experience.
Gorilla trekking activities in Virunga national park are worth someone’s visit because tourists also get chances to look at other animal species as they tour and explore more through the national park, such as the grey-cheeked mangabey, white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black colobus monkeys, and bird species, among others. Moreover, tourists within this national park can combine gorilla trekking activities with other interesting activities like bird watching, wildlife game viewing, guided nature walks, game drives and many others.
Kahuzi Beiga national park.
Kahuzi Beiga national park is known as the largest national park found in the Democratic Republic of Congo and it is famous and commonly visited because of its Eastern Lowland mountain gorillas, which are large and bigger in size compared to the Mountain gorillas that are easily spotted within Virunga national park. Kahuzi Beiga national park shares borders with Rwanda.
Kahuzi Beiga national park is home to over 3800 Eastern lowland gorillas, which are declared to be endangered by the international union for conservation of Nature.
This national park also has 12 families and 5 habituated gorilla groups that tourists can also check out and are always available at any time and these gorilla groups include Nganwa, chimanuka, Mpungwe, Bonnani, and mugaruka. Gorilla trekking activities in Kahuzi Beiga national park always go for about 2-6 hours depending on where the gorilla species are located and after they are found, tourists are always given one hour to interact with the gorilla species and they get chances to observe and learn about their behaviors and characters, such as how they eat and feed their young ones.
Gorilla trekking activities in this national park begin in the morning, during which tourists receive a briefing on the rules and regulations they must follow while trekking. They are also assigned a park guide who leads them throughout the trek and provides opportunities to ask questions about any aspects they wish to understand better.
What is the cost of a Gorilla trekking permit in Congo?
Congo is one of the best destinations that one could opt to travel to for Gorilla trekking activities because its gorilla trekking permits are cheap and affordable compared to other countries like Uganda, where it costs 800 USD per person and Rwanda, at 1500 USD per person.
A Gorilla trekking permit in the Democratic Republic of Congo is charged at a fee of 400 USD per person, hence making it known as the only destination in Africa that has a discounted budget for the gorilla trekking permits, which gives a chance to travelers to enjoy and explore all through the true African Jungle as they acquire new and good experiences.
Where should one stay during a Gorilla trekking safari in Congo?
The Democratic republic of Congo has various accommodation facilities that are always available for the guests who travel to the country for gorilla trekking activities.
These accommodation facilities are found within and outside Virunga national park and Kahuzi Beiga national park. However, these Accommodation facilities are categorized into different classes, including budget, mid-range, and luxury options, such as Bukima Tented Lodge, Coco Lodge Bukavu, Lakeside Hotel, Kibumba Camp, Exodus Hotel, Begonias Hotel, Orchids Safari Club, Volcano Summit Shelter, Mount Kahuzi Hotel, and many others.
Best time to go for Gorilla trekking in Congo.
Tourists planning to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo for gorilla trekking activities can always choose to travel at any time of the year; however, the dry season is considered the best time for tourists to opt to go trekking because during this season, there is less rain or no rain, which prevents any destruction, and the grass vegetation is always short, which enables tourists to capture stunning classic views of the endangered mountain gorilla species within their natural habitats.
Moreover, the dry season is also considered the peak season when most tourists travel to Africa to enjoy their African Safaris. Tourists should note that this dry season is between the months of June and August to September and from December to February.
For more information and inquiries about gorilla trekking in Congo, please contact our trusted tour operators. You can book with our travel companies, such as Achieve Global Safaris or Explore Tours Rwanda, which offer the best tour packages for your gorilla trekking safaris to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
