Chances of seeing gorillas in Congo
Chances of seeing gorillas in Congo
The chances of seeing gorillas in Congo are high at more than 80%, are you planning to visit Congo and do you want to first confirm whether you will be able to see the mountain gorillas during your trek in Virunga National Park? In this article, we explain how gorilla trekking is and the chances you have to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
When it comes to gorilla trekking, is one of the most organized tourist activities in Congo, and on no occasion, for the last 2 decades, trekkers have reported not getting the chance to see the mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park starts very early in the morning when advance trackers go into the forest to locate where the gorillas last nested and spent the last night, they then start following them as they feed, interact, and relax in the forest.
These advanced trackers communicate with the guides with tourists during their trekking to find the gorillas, you will follow routes guided by the advanced trackers in the forest this saves time and the hustle to look for the gorillas hence giving you great chances of seeing the gorillas in Congo. Gorilla trekking to find the gorillas in their natural habitat in Congo takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours to walk to find them and once you find them you will spend one hour with them encounter them, take photographs, and learn more about them.
Where to trek gorillas in Congo?
For tourists interested in visiting gorillas in DR Congo, you will be able to do the normal gorilla trekking activity in either 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 Congo, among other activities done here include the Nyiragongo volcano hike, bird watching, Nature walks, Chimpanzee tracking, and Habituation. It should be noted that three countries 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.
About Kahuzi Beiga National Park
Kahuzi Beiga National Park was created in 1970 and the first Lowland Gorilla trekking was done in 1973, when it comes to Lowland gorilla trekking it ranks high, it was gazetted to conserve the Grauer’s gorilla species the world’s largest gorilla species. The Eastern Lowland gorilla also known as Grauer’s gorilla is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies, trekking Eastern Lowland gorillas is done in Kahuzi Biega National Park located in Congo 30kms from Bukavu town they can be accessed by road and air.
The park was gazetted in 1970 and the first lowland gorilla trekking was done in 1973, this type of trekking is only done here and this makes the park rank high when it comes to the lowland gorilla trekking. The Park has 12 gorilla families and out of these only 2 gorilla families are habituated and they are open for visitors to trek. The families are called Chimanuka and Mugaruka both named after a dominant silverback, Chimanuka is famous for many visitors given it consists of one of the largest gorilla families in the world with over 36 gorilla individuals.
How to organize and book Gorilla Trekking in Congo
Chances of seeing gorillas in Congo. When it comes to organizing and booking Gorilla Trekking in Congo, look nowhere as Safari Vacations and Travel Services is your number one destination management outfit for you when it comes to booking gorilla trekking. Safari Vacations and Travel Services has its offices in Uganda that take care of checking the availability of all services ranging from Kahuzi Beiga National Park and Virunga National Park gorilla permits, accommodations as well as transport to and from either in Kigali or Uganda.
Safari Vacations and Travel Services has a fleet of vehicle stations in Kigali and Uganda that will drive you to Virunga National Park and 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 Safari Vacations and Travel Services.
How much does it cost to see Lowland gorillas in Congo?
You need a gorilla permit to trek the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Safari Vacations and Travel Services provides relevant gorilla permit booking information for Congo to enable you to plan your gorilla safari well. You don’t 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 before your visit given there 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 to acquire it for you.
Lowland Gorilla trekking permit prices in Congo Kahuzi Biega National Park are as follows;
Non-Residents-USD400
East African Residents-USD200
National Citizens of Congo-USD20
How much does it cost to see Mountain Gorillas in Congo?
Chances of seeing gorillas in Congo. Gorilla trekking is a daily activity done in Virunga National Park in Congo, the trek normally starts with a briefing at 7:45 am, then you are you will be allocated a gorilla for your trek that day and you will start the walk into the Virunga forest to find the gorillas once you find them you will spend one hour encounter with them, like other national parks for mountain gorilla trekking you will have a chance to take photographs, see other attractions like birds and primates depending on your luck, learn more about the mountain gorilla habitat and how they survive in Virunga National Park.
At Safari Vacations and Travel Services, we provide all-inclusive gorilla tour packages for all 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. A 2-day Trip from Kigali costs USD1100 per person in a group of two inclusive of Gorilla permits and as a budget option, transportation, accommodation, Meals, and guide services are included as well.
How to purchase Gorilla Trekking Permits in Congo?
Once you contact us and confirm your trip with us by making Payment for the permits, we shall secure your permits to Virunga National Park Congo headquarters and send you a 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 Things to see and do in Congo.
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 order not to miss out at least 3 months in advance.
Nature walks through the Virunga Forest
Virunga National Park is one of the oldest tropical rain forests in Africa with super dense vegetation, a nature walk through this forest on your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali will give you a chance to discover and see the 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.
Nyirangongo 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 forests in the tropics it has various habitats and landscapes ranging from Forests, and swamps to grasslands, these have thus attracted a vast number of bird species making the birding expedition one of the must-do activities 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.
Lowland Gorilla Trekking
Lowland Gorilla trekking is done in Kahuzi Beiga National Park and this activity 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 months in advance.
What is the best time to visit Congo for Gorilla Trekking?
Chances of seeing gorillas in Congo. Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Beiga National Parks are both located in the tropics and are majorly covered with tropical rainforest vegetation, with they are prone to receiving uncertain rains any time of the day or week, however, given They are tropical rainforests there are still good months to visit these parks that is dry season which occurs in 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. In other months that are a bit 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 slippery making the trekking much harder.
Where to stay on a DR Congo mountain gorilla safari
Accommodations in Virunga National Park. This ranges from budget to mid-range to luxury. Budget options include Bukima 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.
Accommodation in Kahuzi Beiga National Park. This ranges from budget to mid-range to luxury. Budget options include Hotel Begonias Bukavu, Exodus Bukavu, and 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 and then connect to Gisenyi town; from Gisenyi town, you will cross the Rwanda-Congo border 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.
Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. Moreover, Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a business for a Ugandan native, we specialize in life-changing experiences and sustainable tours and holidays to all East African countries. We are members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and with registration from the Uganda Tourism Board. We have a good and long working relationship with Uganda Wildlife Authority making it easy to book your gorilla permits and gorilla trekking safari. Safari Vacations and Travel Services is also high in Trip Advisor reviews.
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