Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park Congo is the highlight of most Congo safari tours. This prominent beautiful park in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is home to around 10 habituated gorilla groups open for Congo gorilla safaris.

Virunga National Park Africa is one of the few national parks in East Africa where you can track Mountain gorillas. The other parks are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park all in Uganda as well as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Trekking Virunga National Park gorillas is a rewarding wildlife safari experience incomparable to any game viewing adventure! During this expedition, in a close encounter, you’ll watch these mighty and fascinating great apes in their natural habitat feeding and grooming their young ones just like humans do. The Mountain gorillas share over 98% of human DNA therefore, they’re close relatives to humans.

Congo gorilla safaris in Virunga park start from Bukima Patrol Post with a briefing early in the morning around 8 am and only eight visitors can track a gorilla family.

We usually advise travelers coming for Virunga National Park safaris to add Mt Nyiragongo hiking adventures on their vacation for a rewarding gorilla trip in Congo.

Don’t hesitate to contact our experienced team for a gorilla safari in Congo Virunga Park!

Virunga National Park Gorilla Trekking Experience

Gorilla trekking is one of the most thrilling tourist activities in Virunga National Park Congo. During this memorable wildlife adventure, tourists in the company of armed park rangers and trackers enter the lush tropical rainforest to search for the endangered Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Mountain gorillas are almost comparable to humans! These beautiful great apes share around 98% of the human DNA and exploring their wonderful humanlike behaviors in the jungle is a remarkable experience for tourists on Congo safari tours.

Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park Congo starts at around 8 am with the mountain gorilla trekking briefing from the park headquarters. The ranger will take you through the guidelines and rules that you should follow while on the Congo gorilla trek, for example, maintaining silence! You’ll then be allocated a Mountain gorilla group to visit- it’s based on personal preference & even your physical fitness level!

The 10 Gorilla Families in Virunga Park

Travelers undertaking Congo gorilla safari tours in Virunga park can choose to track any of the habituated gorilla families below;

1. Kabirizi Gorilla Group
2. Humba Gorilla Group
3. Munyaga family
4. Mapuwa Gorilla Group
5. Nakamwe group
6. Baraka Gorilla Family
7. Rugendo group
8. Lulengo Gorilla Family
9. Bageni
10. Wilungula Family

Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park takes about 2-8 hours depending on the movement of these great apes- Mountain gorillas. Sometimes, gorillas go deep in the forest in search of food. On spotting Virunga gorillas, tourists are allowed only one hour in the presence of these mighty great apes.

Visitors on gorilla trekking in Virunga park should be expectant to learn about gorilla behaviors, take photos, and take videos as they carry out their fascinating daily activities. It’s an unforgettable lifetime experience visiting Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Don’t wait to book a gorilla tour in Congo with us!

Gorilla Trekking Rules in Congo Virunga Park

All visitors on Congo gorilla safaris in Virunga park have to follow some guidelines during their gorilla trekking safari adventure in the jungle. Congo gorilla trekking rules were brought up to protect the lives of the Mountain gorillas & even travelers undertaking gorilla tracking experiences.

THE CONGO GORILLA TREKKING RULES IN VIRUNGA PARK TO FOLLOW

• Persons having contagious diseases like cough & flue are not allowed to track Mountain gorillas in this country
• Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is only open for persons above 15 years of age. Children are prone to childhood killer diseases including measles and mumps even, they might be unfit for the gorilla trek
• Per day, only a group of 8 visitors can visit a gorilla family
• Tourists undertaking this rare opportunity are limited to one hour with these endangered species
• Visitors should always maintain a 7m distance from gorillas on spotting a Mountain gorilla family. In case a young gorilla approaches you, stay quiet and don’t run!
• On a gorilla trek, follow the instructions of the park ranger
• Visitors tracking gorillas should never use flash cameras while taking photos. This stresses these great apes.
• Always stay in the group while in the presence of the endangered Mountain gorillas. This makes the Silverback not feel threatened!
• Don’t make noise while on the gorilla trek. Doing this way, you’ll see more including birds, and primates like Black and white colobus monkeys, Golden monkey, Red tailed monkeys, and Blue monkeys, etc.
• In case a gorilla- Silverback for example charges at you, remain calm, don’t look directly in its eyes, and never run! Follow the ranger’s instructions!
• Never drink, smoke, or eat in the presence of gorillas. Do it at least 200m away from these great apes.
• It’s illegal for travelers to smoke in the park!
• Don’t litter the park. Get out with anything you came in with or dispose of it in the dust bins.

Cost for Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park

Wondering how much does it cost to see gorillas in Congo- one of the three countries holding Mountain gorillas! The cost for gorilla trekking in Virunga park is 400 USD. The Congo gorilla permit is the cheapest among all the gorilla trekking safari destinations in East Africa. For example, a Uganda gorilla trekking permit is 800 USD and a Rwanda gorilla tracking permit in Volcanoes National Park is 1500 USD.

Therefore, Congo gorilla safaris can be the best option for budget gorilla tours in Africa.

Visitors can book gorilla tracking permits for Virunga Park Africa directly from the park headquarters or book them through a tour company. Reserve your Virunga gorilla tracking permit in advance (about 3-6 months) before the scheduled tracking date to avoid disappointments since they are limited.

When is the Best Time to Visit Gorillas in Virunga National Park?

If you are wondering about the best time for gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park Congo, we suggest you visit in the dry months- (June- August & December-February. Democratic Republic of Congo is mostly covered by tropical rainforests, the country receives heavy rainfall, especially in the rainy season which runs from March-May and even September-November.

Little rainfall is received in Virunga park within dry months and normally, around these months the treks are dry and friendly for the gorilla trekking experience. This is also the best time for Mount Nyiragongo hike.

Congo Mountain gorilla trekking best time cuts across also in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park and even in the other parks in Uganda including the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It’s possible to undertake Rwanda Congo tours or Uganda Congo gorilla tours, inquire for more information!

Gorilla Trekking Packing List in Congo Virunga National Park

For a successful gorilla trekking experience in Congo, guests coming to visit Virunga park Mountain gorillas have to pack appropriately.

THE PACKING LIST FOR GORILLA TREKKING DURING CONGO GORILLA SAFARI TRIPS

1. Waterproof walking shoes
2. A camera
3. A warm sweater is of help in the dense jungles- the thick montane forests
4. Insect repellents
5. Energy giving snacks
6. Rain jacket or a rain poncho
7. A backpack
8. A tracking permit
9. Long-sleeved shirts & pants
10. Garden gloves
11. A pair of gaiters
12. Hiking gloves- ideal in the cold high altitude as you hike Nyiragongo to explore one of the largest lava crater lakes in the world on its summit
13. Surgical masks

Congo Gorilla Trekking What to Wear in Virunga Park

Guests intending to undertake Congo gorilla safaris in Virunga park should mind their dress code!

• During a gorilla trek in Virunga NP, travelers should put on light jungle boots. These shoes should be waterproof as the walks sometimes can take you through water-logged areas therefore, your feet will be safe from injuries
• The long-sleeved shirts and even trousers protect your body from the cuts in the tropical rainforest during the gorilla trek. Also, they keep your body secured from stinging nettles & insect bites
• During wet months, a rain poncho is helpful in case rain finds you while still in the mountain gorilla habitat
• Long stockings where you tack in your pants while tracking Mountain gorillas. The hiking trail is prone to Red safari ants

Other Amazing Things to Do Besides Mountain Gorilla Trekking in  Virunga National Park Congo

Besides gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, there are other memorable things for tourists to do and among these include:

1. Hiking Mt Nyiragongo Volcano and even Mount Nyamuragira- the two active volcanoes in Virunga park
2. Undertaking nature walks to explore the great natural beauty of Virunga park
3. Bird watching- expect to see numerous Albertine Rift endemic birds
4. Visiting Senkwenkwe Gorilla Orphanage Center
5. Hiking Nyiragongo active volcano- Congo’s Mt Nyiragongo volcano is among the most active volcanoes in Africa
6. Track lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Congo Kahuzi Biega National Park is the only area to track lowland gorillas in East Africa
7. Bird watching in Kahuzi Biega National Park- the habitat for Lowland gorillas
8. Undertake a boat cruise on Lake Kivu- one of the popular water bodies in DRC. Several travelers explore Lake Kivu after the gorilla trek or hiking Nyiragongo active volcano

How to Get to Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo?

Getting to Virunga park in eastern DR Congo can be done either from Rwanda or Uganda and below are the routes;

Rwanda to Congo Route

This is the most common route while traveling to Virunga park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Travelers will first arrive at Kigali International Airport and then meet their tour guide who will drive them to Gisenyi- (Rwanda Congo border) and then connect to Goma town, then to the park. The drive can take around 4-6 hours.

In case you land in Rwanda late, you can spend a night in Kigali. It’s possible to do a Kigali city tour before embarking on the drive to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Uganda Congo Route

This a longer route and we normally use it for travelers already in southwestern Uganda in districts like Kabale or Kisoro. In case you choose to land at Uganda Entebbe International Airport, you will have to endure for almost a full day drive. You’ll enter DR Congo through the Bunagana border and this process of border crossing is similar to that in Gisenyi.

Note, the border crossing requirements to Congo include; a valid passport, and a yellow fever vaccination card.

Accommodation to Use During Congo Gorilla Tours in Virunga Park

Visitors on the Congo gorilla tour shouldn’t be worried about where to stay during their gorilla safari in Virunga park. Congo Virunga National Park accommodation caters for all classes of travelers including budget and even those undertaking luxury gorilla safaris in Congo.

Here are some of the best lodges in Virunga park;

• Mikeno Lodge
• Tchegera Island Camp
• Lulimbi Tented Camp- a popular mid range facility!
• Bukima Tented Camp
• Kibumba Tented Camp &
• Mount Nyiragongo Summit Shelters

FAQs About Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park

1.     Is It Safe to Visit Virunga National Park Gorillas? : Is It Safe to Go Gorilla Trekking in Congo?

Tourists on Congo gorilla tours in Virunga park are guaranteed safety during the gorilla trek. During this adventure, travelers will go into the forest in the company of armed rangers and other military personnel who ensure that the activity ends well. Furthermore, all the treks take place on fully habituated gorilla families so, don’t think of any attack from the gorillas, they’re used to human presence.

Please note that DR Congo is a large country, some areas hold rebel groups however peace talks are going on and there’s hope for peace very soon!

2.     How Many Gorillas Are Left in Virunga National Park?

About 350 Mountain gorillas out of the estimated 1063 wild Mountain gorillas on earth live in the Virunga Mountains which is part of the Virunga park. These great apes are threatened by habitat exploitation and even human-wildlife conflicts.

About 1/3 of the earth’s population of Mountain gorillas live in Virunga park.

3.     How Much Does It Cost to Visit Virunga National Park?

The cost of visiting Virunga park gorillas in DR Congo is $400 and you should book it in time. Congo gorilla permits are the cheapest in East Africa.

4.     How Many Days Do You Need for Gorilla Trekking in Congo?

You need at least 3 days for a gorilla safari in Congo Virunga park. We shall use the first day to travel, then track gorillas the second day and the third day drive back.

5.     What Is the Cheapest Way to Go Gorilla Trekking in Congo?

Booking your trip with a local travel agent is the best way to have a budget Congo gorilla safari in Virunga park. This agent will suggest to you the ideal affordable lodges to use and even the means of transport to use, unlike an international travel agent who holds limited knowledge about this country.

6.     How Difficult Is a Gorilla Trek in Virunga Park?

The gorilla trekking difficulty varies with the physical fitness of each person. Virunga park is a mountainous area, most of its area is hill in nature. The treks will take you through hillsides, deep into the forest, and also in slippery water-logged points sometimes. So, you should come for the gorilla trek having sturdy hiking shoes.

If you feel you are unfit, you can request a Mountain gorilla family that feeds near the park station. 99% of the adventure travelers finish their gorilla treks in Congo.

Unquestionably, it’s usually hard for travelers on Congo tours to miss gorilla treks in Virunga park- the cheapest place to watch Mountain gorillas in Africa. For a great adventure on your vacation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, you should supplement Mount Nyiragongo hiking safaris for a wonderful holiday in Africa.

Only book with experts in arranging holiday safaris in Congo. 24/7 our lovely team can respond to your inquiries.