Gorilla trekking in Congo
Gorilla trekking in Congo is done in two national parks, namely Virunga National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and harbors the endangered mountain gorillas.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the destinations in Africa that offers a gorilla trekking experience where visitors will have an opportunity to track both the mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas in their natural habitat.
Gorilla trekking in Congo is also done in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, which harbors the eastern lowland gorillas and is located near Lake Kivu and the border of Rwanda and Congo.
Gorilla trekking is also done in other destinations like Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Gorilla trekking experience in Congo
Gorilla trekking in both Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek with, an experienced park guide, and park rangers.
Trekking for gorillas in Congo takes about 2 to 6 hours depending on where they are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food.
During trekking, you will be able to view other primates, bird species, plant and tree species, among others, and once the gorillas are located, you will get an opportunity to spend one hour with them, learn about their habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, and take photos and record videos.
What’s the best time to go for a gorilla trekking safari in Congo
Gorilla trekking in Congo can be done all year round, though the best time is during the dry season, also known as the peak season, in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February because during the dry season, the national parks receive less rainfall, which makes gorilla trekking easy as the trekking trails will be dry and passable.
The wet/rainy season in the months of March, April, May, October, and November is characterized by heavy rainfall, which makes the gorilla trekking trails muddy and slippery; however, during the rainy season, there are few visitors, which makes it easy to purchase a gorilla trekking permit, and some luxury accommodations offer discounts.
Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Congo
Both Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park have a number of accommodations where travelers can stay during their gorilla trekking safari.
The accommodation facilities range from luxury to budget, including Lac Kivu Lodge, Mikeno Lodge, Kibumba Tented Camp and Lodge, Tchegera Tented Camp, Exodus Bukavu, Ngila Lodge Virunga, Lakeside Hotel Bukavu, Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Orchids Safari Club, Lodge Coco, Hotel Begonias, Bukima Tented Camp, Lulimbi Tented Camp, among others.
What to pack for your gorilla trekking experience
When planning a gorilla trekking safari in Congo, there are a number of essential items that you should pack or carry, including garden gloves, a warm sweater, hiking shoes, a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, insect repellent, sunscreen, a waterproof rain jacket/poncho, gaiters, a waterproof backpack, a hat and sunglasses, energy-giving snacks, a packed lunch and bottled drinking water, a camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, and a walking stick, among others.
Travelers interested in a gorilla trekking safari in Congo can access the national parks by road transport means, where you will fly to Kigali International Airport and drive to the Goma/Gisenyi border to cross into Congo.
Do not hesitate to reach out to us at Achieve Global Safari for gorilla trekking safari packages and combined safaris to Congo.
