Does Congo have Gorilla habituation experience safaris?
The habituation experience with gorillas entails researchers visiting a specific group of wild gorillas on a daily basis until the animals get used to their presence. Tourists that partake in this event join participate on the process of naming and sex-coding each gorilla as it develops over time. The gorillas will undergo a six- to eight-month period of practice visits before researchers feel comfortable bringing people to see them.
The habituated family will be available for tourists after this is done. Because all of the gorilla families in Virunga National Park are habituated, gorilla habituation experience safaris are not accessible in the Congo. The only place in Uganda where such a safari is possible is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Congo: Where can one go on a gorilla trek?
Visitors to the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are interested in seeing gorillas may perform the typical trekking in one of two parks: Virunga National Park for mountain gorillas or Kahuzi Beiga National Park for lowland gorillas.
Referring to Virunga National Park
Trekking mountain gorillas in Congo is one of the most well-known activities in Virunga National Park, one of the oldest and most diversified tropical rain forests in Africa. Other popular activities include hiking up the Nyiragongo volcano, birdwatching, nature walks, tracking chimpanzees, and habitatuation. In the whole globe, mountain gorillas are found in only three nations. Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda are all part of this group.
Virunga National Park in the Congo is home to mountain gorillas, whilst Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is where you may find these primates. In Uganda, you can see gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The national parks are located in close proximity to one another inside the Virunga mountain range.
Concerning the Kahuzi Beiga National Park
The Kahuzi Beiga gorilla family
The first Lowland Gorilla trekking took place in 1973 in Kahuzi Beiga National Park, which was gazetted in 1970 with the goal of conserving the Grauer’s gorilla species, the biggest gorilla species in the world. Trekking with Eastern Lowland gorillas, also called Grauer’s gorillas, is possible in the Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park, which is 30 kilometers from Bukavu town and can be reached by road or plane.
These gorillas are the biggest of the four subspecies. This park ranks highly for lowland gorilla trekking because it was gazetted in 1970 and the first lowland gorilla trekking was conducted here in 1973. There are fifteen gorilla groups in the park, but only two of them have acclimated to humans and are available for treks. Chimanuka is home to more than 36 gorillas, making it one of the biggest gorilla families in the world. Mugaruka is the name of another dominating gorilla family. Both families are named after powerful silverbacks.
If you’re interested in a more opulent Congo vacation, Katland Safaris offers both affordable and luxurious safaris to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including a mountain gorilla safari. You will be chauffeured in our luxurious land cruisers, accommodated in the most opulent lodges, and treated like a VIP the whole time. Feel free to contact us via email if you can’t locate the exact trip that you’re seeking on our website; we’ll do our best to tailor an itinerary to your specific interests, needs, and availability.
Methods for planning and executing a gorilla safari in the DRC
Katland Safaris is the best destination management firm for planning and booking gorilla trekking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Ugandan offices of Katland Safaris ensure that all services, including transportation to and from Kigali or Uganda, hotels, and gorilla permits for Kahuzi Beiga and Virunga National Parks, are available. Once you’ve had your fill of gorilla trekking in Virunga and Kahuzi Beiga National Parks, your safari with Katland Safaris may take you back to Kigali or Uganda to catch your international flight home.
Skilled safari driver guides, located in Kigali or Uganda, operate all of our 4×4 vans or Jeeps and are well-versed in the areas of Rwanda and the Congo. Book a DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali with Katland Safaris, and you will feel secure and comfortable since they know all the corners and routes.
What is the price of a Congolese Lowland gorilla safari?
at order to go on a gorilla trek at Kahuzi Biega National Park, you must first get a gorilla permit. To help you organize a gorilla safari in the Congo, Katland Safaris offers up-to-date information on how to book gorilla permits. By selecting one of our Congo gorilla trips, you will save the trouble of arranging for your gorilla permit. On your behalf, we will verify availability and schedule all services, including permits for gorillas.
Obtaining a gorilla permit often requires planning ahead, typically many months. Due to the limited number of groups that may go on treks in Kahuzi Biega National Park, we strongly suggest planning your visit at least five months in advance. Paying the gorilla permit money in advance allows us to collect it on your behalf when you schedule a gorilla trip.
The following are the prices for lowland gorilla trekking permits in the Congo Kahuzi Biega National Park:
Outside of the country-$400
Residents of East Africa—$300
Congolese nationals – $20
What is the going rate for a Congolese mountain gorilla safari?
In Congo’s Virunga National Park, visitors can go gorilla trekking every day. The adventure begins at 7:45 in the morning with a briefing, and after that, you’ll be paired with a gorilla for the day. Then, you’ll head out into the forest to find the gorillas, and once you do, you’ll spend an hour getting up close and personal with them. Just like in other national parks where mountain gorilla trekking is popular, visitors to Virunga National Park can expect to see primates and birds, and, with any luck, mountain gorillas.
Here at Katland Safaris, we provide transparent, all-inclusive gorilla trip packages to our valued guests. The gorilla permit fee is the first and foremost expense you’ll pay in order to guarantee your journey in Virunga National Park. We provide a wide variety of safari packages to suit any budget, and we can also personalize your trip to fit your interests. From Kigali, you may go on a mountain gorilla safari in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of one of our gorilla travel packages. As an affordable alternative, you may spend $1100 for a two-day trip from Kigali that includes transportation, lodging, food, and guide services. This price also covers gorilla permits.
Methods for Obtaining Congolese Gorilla Trekking Permits
We will confirm your trek for the day you have picked in Virunga National Park after you contact us and pay for the permits. Then, we will obtain the permits at the park headquarters in Congo and email you a copy of the receipt. You may pay the remaining amount for all of your services when we verify your permissions, after which you can book your overseas flights.
What to Expect From a Gorilla Safari in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
One of the most popular things to do in Virunga National Park is mountain gorilla trekking. Even though the park has a lot of space for these primates, there are only six families that allow visitors to come and see them up close: the Kabirizi, Humba, Rugendo, Mapuwa, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, and Bageni groups.
With more than 300 gorillas, Kabirizi is the biggest of these groups and a popular destination for travelers interested in gorilla trekking. To ensure that you do not miss out on trekking this particular troop of gorillas, you must reserve your gorilla permit at least three months in advance.
The second most popular activity in Virunga National Park is chimpanzee tracking and habituation. On chimpanzee habituation treks, you spend the entire day with the apes, while on chimpanzee tracking you get an hour-long encounter. Both treks start in the morning when you’ll be joined by researchers and trackers as you walk through the forest in search of chimpanzees.
You’ll have the opportunity to observe and learn about their feeding habits, natural behavior, and habits. On the other hand, chimpanzee tracking treks last all day, while on chimpanzee habituation treks last all day. You still need to reserve your permit at least three months in advance to avoid missing out on the gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and habituation activities.
As part of your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali, you’ll have the opportunity to go on nature walks through the Virunga Forest. This forest is one of the oldest tropical rain forests in Africa and is incredibly densely vegetated. As you stroll through the forest, you’ll learn about the different kinds of trees, birds, and, if you’re lucky, you might even see some mammals and reptiles.
Hiking the Nyiragongo Volcano is an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. While in Virunga National Park on a DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali, you can also hike the world’s most active volcano, which stands at 3,470 m (11,380 ft). The exact length of time the volcano has been erupting is unknown, but it has occurred at least 34 times since 1882, with the most recent eruption occurring in 3002.
Among the many things to do on a DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali is to go bird watching in Virunga Forest, one of the most biologically diverse tropical forests. The park’s many different ecosystems, including swamps, grasslands, and forests, are home to a wide variety of bird species. On a birding expedition, you get an opportunity to witness over 706 different kinds of birds. Get in touch with us at and we’ll take care of organizing this safari for you.
In Kahuzi Beiga National Park, you can go lowland gorilla trekking. However, you’ll need to get a permit in advance to do this, as the park only allows two families to be visited at a time, making the gorilla permits extremely sought-after and limited, especially during the busy months of June, July, August, September, December, and February. It is suggested that any traveler book their gorilla permits three to four months in advance, since they sometimes sell out four months in advance.
When is the ideal season to go gorilla trekking in the Congo?
Tropical rain forests cover most of Virunga and Kahuzi Beiga National Parks, so rain can fall at any time of day or night. Fortunately, there is a dry season that runs from December to September, when the parks are less humid and the trails are easier to walk on. During this time, you can also see more gorillas because the vegetation isn’t fully grown. Most tourists stay away from gorilla viewing in the somewhat rainier months of March, April, May, October, and November due to the fully grown foliage and the resulting treacherous pathways.
Accommodation options for a Kigali–to–DR Congo mountain gorilla safari
Virunga National Park rooms. From affordable to high-end, this covers it all. Bukima Tented Camp and Kibumba Tented Camp are two examples of budget options with prices ranging from $90 to $100 per night per person. Tchegera Island Camp and Lulimbi Tented Camp are two examples of mid-range options with prices ranging from $100 to $300 per night per person. Mikeno Lodge is one example of a luxury option with prices ranging from $300 to $400 per night per person. Just tell us which one works best for you, and we’ll check availability and make the reservation for you.
Kahuzi Beiga National Park lodgings. From affordable to high-end, this covers it all. From the most affordable (90-100 USD per person per night) to the most luxurious (300-400 USD per person per night), there is a wide range of options to suit any budget in Bukavu. Some examples of budget hotels are Hotel Begonias, Exodus, and Lake Side Hotel. Coco Lodge Bukavu is one mid-range option. Just tell us which one works best for you, and we’ll check availability and make the reservation for you.
Which routes go into the Congo to see the gorillas?
Two parks in the eastern part of the Congo—Kahuzi Beiga and Virunga—are the best places to undertake gorilla trekking in the country. After taking a flight to Kigali International Airport, you’ll transfer to Gisenyi town. From there, you’ll cross the Rwanda-Congo border to Goma town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From there, it’s about a two-hour drive to the park headquarters of Kahuzi Beiga National Park and Virunga National Park, where your gorilla trek will begin.
When is the best time to schedule a gorilla safari in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
The best time to book a mountain gorilla safari from Kigali to the Democratic Republic of the Congo depends on your budget, but because permits for mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park sell out fast, it’s recommended to do so at least three months in advance.
It’s wonderful that Congo offers both regular and discounted gorilla trekking permits every year. Consequently, you should get in touch with Katland Safaris well in advance of your planned visit to ensure that we can verify the availability of gorilla permits in Virunga National Park, get them for you, and pay for them.
Consider these reasons to book a gorilla safari in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Katland Safaris:
Launched in 2011, Katland Safaris aspires to provide unparalleled and expert tour and travel services in Rwanda, Congo, Tanzania, and Uganda. Afterwards, Katland Safaris became a frontrunner among Rwanda and Uganda trip providers. The office and field staff at Katland are well trained and ready to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
We collaborate closely with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are proud members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (POTO). Both SafariBookings and TripAdvisor had nothing but praise for us. From Kigali, you can access the finest and most up-to-date information on our website, making it a credible starting point for your preparations for your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari. Owned and operated by Ugandans, the staff at Katland Safaris are experts in their field and would gladly share their knowledge with you.
