
Virunga National Park, Congo
March 18, 2022
Trekking Gorillas in Congo
March 18, 2022Kahuzi Beiga National Park is best known for the Eastern Lowland Gorillas, the world’s largest gorilla species. The park was created in 1970 to conserve the Grauer’s gorilla species. For those interested in filming the Eastern Lowland Gorillas Kahuzi Beiga National Park is the best place. The Eastern Lowland gorillas are also known as Grauer’s gorillas which are the largest of the four gorilla subspecies.
Lowland Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Beiga National Park is guaranteed when you acquire a permit, but kindly note given the park has 2 families open for trekking this makes the gorilla permits very competitive and scarce most especially during peak seasons of June, July, August, September, December and February. Sometimes gorilla tracking permits get sold out four months in advance so any traveler is recommended to book their gorilla permits 3-4 month in advance.
Kahuzi Beiga National Park has 12 gorilla families and out of these only 2 gorilla families are habituated and they are open for filming. The families are called Chimanuka and Mugaruka both named after a dominant silver back, Chimanuka is famous for many visitors given it consist of one of the largest gorilla family in the world with over 36 gorilla individuals.
How to organize and book a Safari Trip to Kahuzi Beiga National Park, Congo
When it comes to organizing and booking Safari Trip to Congo, look nowhere as Eco Adventure Safaris is your number one destination management outfit for you when it comes to booking gorilla trekking. Eco Adventure Safaris has its offices in Uganda that takes care of checking the availability of all services for Kahuzi Beiga National Park gorilla permits, accommodations as well as the transport to and from either in Kigali or Uganda. Eco Adventure Safaris has a fleet of vehicles stations in Kigali and Uganda that will drive you to Kahuzi Beiga National Park for gorilla trekking and then back for your international flight back home. All our Uganda and Kigali based vehicles are 4×4 Vans or Jeeps driven by well trained safari driver guides knowledgeable in as far as Congo and Rwanda are concerned. They know all corners and routes to and from Kigali and you will feel safe and comfortable when you book a Safari Trip to Congo from Kigali with Eco Adventure Safaris.
How much does it cost to see Lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Beiga National Park, Congo?
You need a gorilla permit for to trek the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Eco Adventure Safaris provides relevant gorilla permit booking information for Congo to enable you plan your gorilla safari well. You dont have to hassle booking your gorilla permit if you choose from our Congo gorilla tours. We check availability and book all services on your behalf including gorilla permits. Usually you have to obtain a gorilla permit several months in advance. We always advise at least 5 months in advance or prior to your visit given they are only 2 groups available for trek in Kahuzi Biega National park. While booking a gorilla tour, always pay your gorilla permit fee in advance to enable us acquire it for you.
Lowland Gorilla trekking permit price in Congo Kahuzi Biega National park are as follows;
Non Residents-USD400
East African Residents-USD200
National Citizens of Congo-USD20
How to Get Gorilla Trekking Permits for Kahuzi Beiga National Park, Congo
Once you contact us and confirm your trip with us by making Payment for the permits, we shall secure your permits Kahuzi Beiga National Park, Congo headquarters and send you scan of the receipt to confirm your trek for your specified date in Virunga National Park. Once we confirm your permits, you will book your international flights, and then you can pay the balance for all your services.
Other safari activities to do in Congo.
Mountain gorilla trekking, this is one of the major activity done in the Virunga National park, you shouldn’t miss out of this experience, there are not so many mountain gorilla individuals in Virunga despite the availability of the large habitat and it is only 6 families open for gorilla trekking activity, these include Kabirizi gorilla group, Humba gorilla group, Rugendo gorilla group, Mapuwa gorilla group, Lulengo gorilla group, Munyaga gorilla group, Nyakamwe gorilla group and Bageni gorilla group. Among these groups, it is Kabirizi that is popular for gorilla trekking and loved by many tourists because it is the largest group with over 3 dozens of gorilla individuals. If you are interested in trekking this specific gorilla group, you will be required to book early enough your gorilla permit atleast 3 months in advance so that you don’t miss out on the trek.
Chimpanzee tracking and Habituation, Chimpanzee tracking and Chimpanzee habituation are the second most popular activities to do in Virunga National Park, chimpanzee tracking gives you a one hour encounter with the chimpanzees while chimpanzee habituation gives an entire day encounter with the chimpanzees, both treks begin in the morning hours where you will be joined by trackers and researchers to walk through the Virunga forest and search for chimpanzees you will have a chance to observe and discover their habits, feeding and natural behavior for those on the chimpanzee habituation treks will spend the day with them until they nest for the night. Same with the gorilla trekking permits for the chimpanzee tracking and habituation experiences you will still need to book your permit in advance in oder not to miss out atleast 3 months in advance.
Nature walks through the Virunga Forest, Virunga National Park is one of the oldest tropical rain forest in Africa with super dense vegetation, a nature walk through this forest on your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali will give a chance to discover and see breathtaking beauty of the unique Virunga Landscape as well as learn about the various tree species, spot birds and if keen enough you will see some mammals and reptiles.
Nyiragongo Volcano Hike, Hiking the Nyiragongo Volcano is one of the once in a lifetime adventure one should do and this can as well be done in Virunga National Park on your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali, the Nyiragongo Volcano one of the most active volcanoes in the world with an elevation of 3,470 m (11,380 ft), Not much is known about how long the volcano has been erupting, but since 1882, it has erupted at least 34 times and the most recent eruption happened in 2002.
Bird watching, Virunga Forest being one of the most diverse forest in the tropics it has various habitats and landscapes ranging from Forests, swamps to grasslands, these have thus attracted a vast number of bird species making the birding expedition one of the must do activity on your visit to Virunga national park on your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali. There are more than 706 recorded bird species that one on a birding safari will have a chance to spot and see. Contact us here and we will organize for you this safari accordingly.
What is the best time to visit Kahuzi Beiga National Park, Congo?
Kahuzi Beiga National Parks is located in the tropics and are majorly covered with tropical rain forest vegetation, with this they are prone to receiving uncertain rains any time of the day or week, however given They are tropical rain forests there are still good months to visit these parks that is dry season 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 abit 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.
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Where to stay in Kahuzi Beiga National Park, Congo
Accommodation in Kahuzi Beiga National Park. This ranges from budget, mid-range to luxury. Budget options include Hotel Begonias Bukavu, Exodus bukavu, Lake Side Hotel Bukavu among others fares range from 90-100 dollars a night per person, mid-range options include Coco Lodge Bukavu among others fares range from 100-200 dollars a night per person and then Luxury options include L’Orchids Safari Club 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 access Congo for gorilla trekking?
Gorilla trekking in Congo is done in Kahuzi Beiga National Park and Virunga National Park which are both located in the Eastern Part of Congo. 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 Kahuzi Beiga National Park and 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.
When to book a DR Congo gorilla safari
It is great that Congo offers normal and discounted gorilla trekking permits annually for mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, so it will depend on your budget to choose when to book a DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali, however given gorilla trekking in Cheaper the permits do sell out quickly in advance so it is better to book your trek 3 months in advance. There is therefore need to contact Eco Adventure Safaris early enough so that we check availability of gorilla permits in Virunga National Park, reserve them, pay for them so that we secure them for and on your behalf.
Why book with Eco Adventure Safaris your trip to Kahuzi Beiga National Park, Congo
Eco Adventure Safaris provides unrivalled and professional tour and travel services in Uganda, Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda. Since then, Eco Adventure Safaris as established herself as one of the leading tour operator for Congo gorilla tours. Eco Adventure Safaris boosts of a professional office and field team that takes care of all your requests and inquiries. We are full members of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators) and work closely with Uganda Wildlife Authority. We are highly recommended on trip advisor as well as Safari bookings. Our website is one of the best and reliable point to help you start preparing for your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali as we have the best and update information that you can rely on. Eco Adventure Safaris is owned and run by Ugandans and as such, you will be dealing with a team that sells what they know.