CONGO GORILLA TREKKING.   

The democratic republic of Congo offers an incredible gorilla trekking   safari experience with and not only do the tourists get encounter the mountain gorillas, they also get an opportunity to delight in the breathtaking panoramas   most specifically the mesmerizing Virunga mountains that are situated within the Virunga national park, a wildlife sanctuary that is located in the eastern area of the country and the other option is the Odzala-Kokoua   national park.

Why chose the Democratic Republic of Congo for the gorilla trekking safari experience?              

• Unlike other countries, Congo has fewer crowd of tourists who come into the country for the gorilla trekking safaris hence visitors get a more personalized experience with the mountain gorillas compared to when they are in the other gorilla trekking safari destinations.

 

• The costs of the gorilla trekking permits are more affordable which makes then easily attainable for the tourists.

 

 

• The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the countries in Africa that has a vast richness in biodiversity hence tourists are graced with Mother nature’s beauty and graciousness such as the ever green tropical forests  and the tranquility of the Virunga mountains

 

• Unlike in the other countries, in Congo travelers get to see two species of the gorillas; the lowland gorillas and the mountain gorillas.

 

When is the best time for gorilla trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

From December to early February and then from June to early September is the best period for the gorilla trekking safari ventures in Congo since the weather is dry it makes scenic observing easy and ideal and the people that track the gorillas in the park also get to easily spot the gorilla family without too much difficulty because the tropical rainforests are less dense during this period of time.

When is the worst time for gorilla trekking safaris in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

The rainy periods from early March to May and from October to late November makes the gorilla trekking safaris in the Democratic Republic of Congo more challenging and physically demanding because the terrain in the safari destinations such as the Virunga national park is very steep and rugged and during days of heavy downpours, it becomes more slippery and the trail pathways become inaccessible.

Safety guidelines for gorilla trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo.                           

• Before the gorilla trekking adventures in Congo people are usually briefed by their safari guide it’s advisable that one should take not to what they are being told and also adhere to the instructions for an enjoyable experience.

 

• Capturing videos or images using the flashlights is not allowed as the light from camera might pose as threat to the mountain gorillas and this could result into disruption of their social behavior.

 

 

• During the gorilla trekking ventures, tourist’s ae meant to follow the designated pathways and not go off the marked hiking trails in any of the parks of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

• Touching, feeding and  either eating or drinking while in  the company of the mountain gorillas is prohibited for safety reasons, for  safety reasons  and  to desist from any inconveniences.

 

• No littering in the park’s premises, travelers are to help mitigate environmental degrading and conserve the environment.

 

Additional tips for a gorilla trekking safari in Congo.

                          

• Travelers should book the safari at least 4 months before the gorilla trekking safari in Congo.
• Booking should be with a legit tour operator so as not to land into fraudsters and also to get an ultimate safari experience in Congo.
• A yellow fever vaccination card is necessary for some authorities in the Republic of Congo might ask for it.
• Insect repellents    for insect disease prevention so that one is risk-free from diseases such as malaria.
• Since most gorilla trekking safaris in Congo are done during the dry season when there’s a lot of sunshine, travelers ought to carry sunscreen to reduce the effect of sunburns that is cause by the heat effect from the sunrays.
• Gloves are also necessary for the protection of the hands from the blisters that could be caused by thorny vegetation.
• A safari backpack is also needed for carriage of some of the necessities needed during the gorilla trekking safari.
• Hiking boots are required to easily traverse the rugged terrain in the mountain gorilla sanctuaries of Congo.

 

Some of the FAQs about gorilla trekking in Congo?

 

How many people go for the gorilla trekking in Congo?                                    

It’s only a maximum of 8 people that are groped and with the lead of a   safari guide and protection services delivered with at least two armed rangers.

                                      

How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Congo?

The permit has different prices for different kinds of people in Congo and it goes as follows;

• Foreigners that are not residents of Congo; 400$
• Residents from any of the East African countries; 200$
• Citizens of the Democratic Republic Of Congo;20$

What is the minimum age that is legitimately acceptable for gorilla trekking safari in Congo?

People from 15 years and above are the only ones that are allowed to undertake the gorilla trekking safari in Congo.

How to get a gorilla trekking permit in Congo?

A gorilla trekking permit can be given to the tourists through payment to the legitimate tour operator or it can either be accessed from either authorities of Kahuzi-Biega national park or the management at the Virunga national park.

Is a visa necessary for a gorilla trekking safari in Congo?

Yes, a visa is one of the top requirements needed in preparation for a gorilla trekking safari in Congo and without it there’s hardly no possibility for this expedition. The visa can be obtained either online or by contacting the Congolese embassy.

How safe is gorilla trekking in Congo.

The parks in Congo that offer the tourists gorilla trekking safaris have highly specialized security from the entrance to and from the gorillas trekking expeditions.

 

Where to go for gorilla trekking in Congo.

Virunga national park.

This is the most popular gorilla trekking safari destination in Congo that is known for its overwhelming scenic views of the Virunga Mountains and it is located in the eastern region of the country. The park is also historically known to be the first wildlife conservatory site that was set up in Africa and this makes it unique from the other gorilla trekking safari destinations.

The country has over an estimate of over 350 mountain gorillas and it also has the lowland gorilla species. The gorillas ae not the only wild animals found in Virunga national park as other animals such as the  African   bush elephants, the African buffaloes,  the bushbucks, the lions and here are the list of some of the birds in the Virunga national park;

• Rwenzori batis.
• Regal sunbird.
• Red-chested cuckoo.
• Yellow-rumped tinker bird.
• Colared sunbird and many more.

 

The Virunga national park has over 10 habituated gorilla families with each group having its unique history  and traits . they are listed as below and  each family name signifies the name of the head of the group.

 

• The Baraka family .(20 individuals)
• The Rugendo family.(6 individuals)
• The Munyaga family( 7 individuals)
• The Mapuwa family.(15 individuals)
• The Lulengo family.( 6 individuals)
• The Kabirizi family(34 individuals)
• The Bageni family.(20 individuals)
• The Nyakamwe family.(15 individuals)
• The Humba family.(16 individuals)

 

Other optional experiences that one can enjoy at Virunga national park besides gorilla trekking.

                                    

• Hiking /climbing the Virunga mountains to explore and unveil natural hidden gems.
• Hiking through the trails of the rainforests of Virunga.
• Boat rides at the Lake Kivu that is in proximity to the Virunga national park.
• Birdwatching ventures and scenic photography.
• Game viewing safaris at the Virunga national park.
• Visit the indigenous community of the Batwa people (pygmies) and explore their culture.

 

Where to stay while on a visit for gorilla trekking in Virunga national park.

 

• Lulimbi tented camp.
• Tchengera island camp.
• Bukima tented camp.
• Mount Nyiragongo Summit Shelter.
• Kibumba tented camp

 

Odzala-Kokoua national park.

 

This is a mother park in the Democratic Republic of Congo where people from within and outside the country can get to see gorillas however unlike the Virunga national park, this park has more of the lowland gorillas and the African bush elephants.

The unique thing about this park is its natural endowments as it is in proximity with the Congo basin and it has one on f the biggest rainforests in the world. This park has a variety of the endangered species such as the hyenas, Nile crocodiles in the rivers, repties such as snakes, amphibians such as frogs and different bird species such as the ring-necked dove, African green pigeon, the black-casqued wattled hornbill and many more.

 

Some of the accommodations one can stay at near the Odzala-Kokoua national park.

 

• Imbalanga camp.
• Ngaga lodge.
• Kamba African Rainforest Experiences Lodges,
• Mboko Lodge.
• Lango Lodge.

 

Other experiences that can be enjoyed in this park other than gorilla trekking.

 

• Guided nature walks through the trail pathways of the Odzala-Kokoua national park.
• Game viewing in the odzala –Kokoua national park, people can get to sight different wild species such as the African elephants and many more.
• Birdwatching safaris at the Odzala –Kokoua Park, people can get to observe beautiful bird species such as the African piculet, long tailed hawk, white crested hornbill and many more.
• Camping in the tropical rainforests of the Odzala-Kokoua national park.

 

Comparison of gorilla trekking in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

         

Comparing accessibility for gorilla trekking experience in the three countries.

 

The parks for gorilla trekking safaris in Congo have more  think forests that   demand more physically  making them hardly penetrable and the steep terrain of the  trail pathways in Congo make the  gorilla trekking experience more difficult compared to Uganda and Rwanda.

 

Comparing safety of gorilla trekking in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

 

Compared to Rwanda and Uganda, the democratic republic of Congo has more of insecurities because of the various rebel attacks that sometimes end p also taking the lives of some of the mountain gorillas, however the country has tried to mitigate these threats by    tightening the security.

 

Comparing the prices of the gorilla trekking permits in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

 

The Democratic Republic of Congo  offers more affordable permits compared to Uganda and Rwanda for instance  in Congo foreigners get the permits at a cost of  400$ on the other hand foreigners in Rwanda pay  a cost of 1,500$ while in Uganda foreigners pay a cost of 700$ for the gorilla  trekking permits.

             

 Comparing the gorilla trekking experience in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda,

 

The Democratic Republic of Congo offers more of the natural biodiversity richness such as the boundless tropical rainforests and scenic beauty such as the breathtaking views of the Virunga mountains, in Rwanda a wide  range of experiences come with the gorilla trekking such as visiting the Dian Fossey tomb, Caving adventures  , Visiting the Iby’iwacu  village and on  the other hand , Uganda has a larger population of the mountain gorillas  hence offering  the best gorilla habituation and trekking safaris to a variety of tourists compared to other tourists.

 

Comparing the population of the mountain gorilla’s inn Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

 

Uganda has the largest population of the mountain gorillas compared to Congo and Rwanda however the Democratic Republic of Congo has both the low land and the mountain gorillas that the other countries don’t have  and  Rwanda   has the least of these individuals,

 

Comparing the number of people per trek in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

                                                          

In both Uganda and Rwanda the maximum people allowed per trek are 8 people while in Congo the maximum people that are to go for the gorilla trekking safari are 6.

 

Comparing where to stay during gorilla trekking in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

 

Rwanda has more of the luxurious accommodations that come at a bigger cost and on the other hand Uganda and Congo has more of the affordable accommodation facilities.

 In conclusion, each of the tree countries in east Africa has its own special attributes that   makes it good for gorilla trekking.