How is Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park DR Congo

Are you interested in a trip to DR Congo and you want to know is How is Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park DR Congo, Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), offers a unique and thrilling experience for visitors and you a chance to see the Mountain Gorillas.

For now, the Virunga National Park where Mountain Gorilla Trekking is done and Hiking the Nyirangongo Volcano is still closed due to in security caused by the war with the M23 rebels and tribal conflicts inside and around the park areas. But other National Parks and areas and some areas of Congo are very safe that is Kahuzi Beiga National Park is open for tourists to visit and you have a chance to trek and see the Eastern Lowland Gorillas. So if you are interested in visiting Congo we can arrange for you a 3 day tour to visit the Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect and How is Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park DR Congo:

1. Permit Acquisition: Before embarking on a gorilla trekking adventure, visitors need to obtain a permit. These permits are typically obtained through tour operators or directly from the park authorities. It’s essential to book well in advance as permits can be limited and in high demand.
2. Guided Trekking: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is guided by experienced park rangers who are familiar with the terrain and the gorilla families. They will lead you through the dense forests in search of the gorillas. The trek can vary in duration and difficulty depending on the location of the gorilla families on that particular day.
3. Encountering Gorillas: Once the gorilla family is located, visitors are allowed to spend a strictly regulated amount of time (usually around one hour) observing the gorillas in their natural habitat. This provides an incredible opportunity to observe their behavior, interactions, and social dynamics up close.
4. Conservation and Protection: Virunga National Park is home to a significant portion of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. Gorilla trekking fees contribute to the conservation efforts of the park, including anti-poaching patrols, habitat protection, and community development projects aimed at supporting local communities living near the park.
5. Safety Measures: Safety is a top priority during gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park. Visitors are briefed on specific guidelines to ensure minimal disturbance to the gorillas and their habitat. This includes maintaining a safe distance, avoiding direct eye contact, and refraining from eating or drinking in the presence of the gorillas to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
6. Unique Experience: Gorilla trekking in Virunga offers a truly unique and unforgettable experience, allowing visitors to connect with these magnificent creatures in their natural environment. It’s an opportunity to witness the beauty of the Congolese rainforest and gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of conservation efforts in protecting endangered species.

Overall, gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that combines adventure, conservation, and awe-inspiring encounters with one of the world’s most iconic and endangered species.

How much is Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park DR Congo

Gorilla trekking is a daily activity done in Virunga National Park in Congo, a gorilla permit costs USD400 per person per trek for the high season months of Mid-December to mid-march then June to October and then USD200 for the low season months of mid-march to mid-May and then mid-October to mid-December every year. As Eco Adventure Safaris we do provide all-inclusive gorilla tour packages for all the visitors with no hidden costs. The most essential and priority cost is the gorilla permit price that you will incur to secure your trek in Virunga National Park. All our tour packages range from budget safaris to Luxury safaris and you can opt to do any as we tailor your trip together according to your interest. We do have Gorilla tour packages that start in Kigali for the DR Congo Mountain gorilla safari from Kigali. Gorillas in DR Congo can be seen in Virunga National Park for mountain gorilla trekking or Kahuzi Beiga National Park for Low Land Gorilla trekking.

About Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park is one of the most diverse tropical rain forests and the oldest national parks in Africa mostly famous for mountain gorilla trekking in DR Congo, among other activities done here include Nyirangongo volcano hike, bird watching, Nature walks, Chimpanzee tracking and Habituation. It should be noted that there three countries that have mountain gorillas in the whole world. These countries include Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Rwanda mountain gorillas are found in Volcanoes National Park, Uganda gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park while Congo Mountain gorillas are located in Virunga National Park. All these national parks are close to each other in what is termed as the Virunga massif.

What is the best time to go gorilla trekking in DR Congo?

Congo is located in the tropics and with this it experiences tropical climate and weather throughout the year, Virunga National Parks experiences uncertain rains any time of the day or week, good months to visit Congo for gorilla trekking are dry season months which occurs in the months of December, January, February, June, July, August and September during these months it always easy to walk through the trails which are drier compared to the wet months then as well the vegetations is not fully grown and this makes sighting of gorillas easy and more clear. Other months which are slightly wet that is March, April, May, October and November most travelers avoid visiting gorillas during these months because the vegetation is fully grown and trails are much slippery making the trekking much harder.

The Best time to book DR Congo Gorilla permits, For tourists interested in visiting Congo for gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park have a special gorilla trekking offer during the wet season that is low season, during this time the gorilla permit costs USD200 per person per trek during the months from Mid-March to May and Mid-October to Mid-December (15^th March to 15^th May and 15^th October to 15^th December every year).

Where to stay in near Virunga National Park.

This ranges from budget, mid-range to luxury. Budget options include Bukima Tented Camp and Kibumba Tented Camp among others fares range from 90-100 dollars a night per person, mid-range options include Tchegera Island Camp and Lulimbi Tented Camp among others fares range from 100-200 dollars a night per person and then Luxury options include Mikeno Lodge fares range from 200-400 dollars a night per person. You let us know the best option that works for you and we will for availability and book you according.

How to get to Virunga National Park?

To get to Virunga National Park You will fly to Kigali International Airport then connect to Gisenyi town; from Gisenyi town you will cross the Rwanda-Congo boarder to Goma town in DR Congo then drive towards the park headquarters of Virunga National Park from where you will do start the gorilla trek from, it is approximately a 2 hours drive from Gisenyi town to reach the park headquarters.

Why book gorilla trekking in Congo through Eco Adventure Safaris

Eco Adventure Safaris is experienced in organizing amazing gorilla safari experiences to Uganda and Rwanda. We are also highly rated and reviewed on trip Advisor. We combine gorilla trekking safaris with eco-friendly and unforgettable high-end adventure and wildlife safaris that help preserve biodiversity, conserve wildlife and uplift local communities, these include chimpanzee trekking, Big 5 safaris and game viewing, Mountain Hiking, Boat cruises excursions and Cultural encounters to give you a memorable and best African Safari experience including popular and great African safari destinations Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana and Namibia. Feel free to contact us about How is Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park DR Congo.