DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali

The best way to arrange a mountain gorilla safari from Kigali to DR Cong

Look no further than Katland Safaris if you are planning a mountain gorilla trekking excursion from Kigali to the DR Cong. They are the best destination management outfit in the business. The Ugandan offices of Katland Safaris ensure that all services, including gorilla permits, lodging in Virunga National Park, and transportation to and from Kigali, are available.

You may take a shuttle from Kigali International Airport to Virunga National Park to experience gorilla trekking with Katland Safaris. Then, you can catch your international flight home. The safari driver guides who operate our Kigali-based vehicles are highly skilled professionals with extensive knowledge of the Congo and Rwanda. All of our vehicles are 4×4 vans or Jeeps. 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 going rate for a Congolese mountain gorilla safari?

Gorilla trekking in Congo’s Virunga National Park is a daily activity. The trek begins at 7:45 in the morning with a briefing, and then you’ll be assigned a gorilla to accompany you on your trek. After you find the gorillas, you’ll spend an hour interacting with them. Similar to other national parks where mountain gorilla trekking is popular, you’ll have opportunities to take photographs, encounter other wildlife (such as primates and birds, depending on your luck), and learn about the mountain gorillas’ habitat and how they survive in Virunga National Park.

All of our gorilla tour packages at Katland Safaris are all inclusive, so there are no surprises for our 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. On a budget, a two-day trip from Kigali may be had for $1100 per person, including gorilla permits, transportation, lodging, meals, and guide services.

How much do Congolese mountain gorilla viewing permits cost?

To visit mountain gorillas in DR Congo Virunga National Park, you must have a gorilla permit. Going on a gorilla trekking adventure in the Congo is a lot more budget-friendly than visiting Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga National Park in Rwanda, two other popular destinations for gorilla trekking. Trekking mountain gorillas in Congo is possible with either a standard or subsidized gorilla permit from Virunga National Park.

Going on a trek with the park’s gorillas costs 400 USD per person during the peak season (December–February, January–February, June–July–August, September–and early October). This is because the park sees a large influx of visitors during this time due to the holiday season and the fact that the trails in the Virunga forest are dry, making the treks easier for the gorillas.

To avoid missing out on gorilla permits, we recommend booking your journey at least three months in advance if you want to visit the Congo for gorilla trekking during these months. Then, if you’re interested in trekking with gorillas in Congo Virunga National Park, you can do it during the off-season months of March–May, October–November, and December for $300 USD per person per trek. The offer runs from March–May to October–December, and the same applies to both the regular and discounted permits; however, we recommend that you book your spot at least three months before your trekking date.

After you get in touch and pay for the permits, we will get them from the Virunga National Park headquarters in the Congo and provide you a copy of the receipt so you can confirm your journey for the date you’ve chosen. You may pay the remaining amount for all of your services when we verify your permissions, after which you can book your overseas flights.

From Kigali, what to see and do on a mountain gorilla safari in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

As one of the main attractions in Virunga National Park, mountain gorilla trekking is an experience you shouldn’t miss on your Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali. Despite the park’s vast habitat, there aren’t many mountain gorillas; in fact, just six families allow visitors to come close to their primates.

These families are Kabirizi, Humba, Rugendo, Mapuwa, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, and Bageni. As the biggest group with more than 300 gorilla individuals, Kabirizi is a popular destination for visitors and gorilla trekkers. 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 on a DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali is chimpanzee tracking or habituation. On a chimpanzee habituation trek, you’ll spend the entire day with the apes, while on a chimpanzee tracking trek you’ll spend an hour with them. Both treks start in the morning when you’ll be accompanied by researchers and trackers as you make your way through the forest in search of chimpanzees.

You’ll have the opportunity to observe and learn about their habits, feeding habits, and natural behavior. On a chimpanzee habituation trek, you’ll spend the day with the apes until they make their nests. You still need to reserve your permit at least three months in advance for the chimpanzee tracking and habituation sessions, just as you do for gorilla trekking permits. Otherwise, you risk missing out.

While on a DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali, take a nature walk through the Virunga Forest. This park is one of the oldest tropical rain forests in Africa and is home to extremely dense vegetation. During your walk, you will have the opportunity to learn about the different kinds of trees, birds, and, if you’re lucky, mammals and reptiles. You will also get to witness the stunning beauty of the Virunga Landscape.

An unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience awaits you on a mountain gorilla safari in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from Kigali: a hike up the Nyirangongo Volcano, one of the world’s most active volcanoes at 3,470 meters (11,380 feet) in height There is little information available on the duration of the volcano’s eruptions, but, it has erupted at least 34 times since 1882, with the most recent eruption being in 3002.

While visiting Virunga National Park from Kigali on a DR Congo mountain gorilla safari, be sure to include a birding expedition as one of your must-do activities. The forest is home to a wide variety of bird species due to its diverse habitats and landscapes, which include forests, swamps, and grasslands. On a birding expedition, you get an opportunity to witness over 706 different kinds of birds. Send an email to us and we’ll take care of planning your safari.

During what times of year may one go mountain gorilla trekking in the Congo?

Located in the tropics, Virunga National Park is mostly covered in tropical rain forest vegetation. Because of this, the park can receive unpredictable rain at any time of day or week. Fortunately, there are good months to visit the park: the dry season, which is December through September. During this time, the trails are always drier than during the wet months, and the vegetation is not fully grown, so seeing gorillas is easier and more clear.

Since the foliage is fully developed and the routes are considerably more slippery making walking more harder, most tourists avoid seeing gorillas during these other somewhat rainy months of March, April, May, October, and November. Having said that, during the rainy months, Virunga National Park offers a special deal on gorilla permits. For just USD300, tourists can trek the gorillas, which is a great way for budget travelers to experience the park without breaking the bank.

Accommodation options for a Kigali–to–DR Congo mountain gorilla safari
You may find affordable, mid-range, and luxury accommodations in Virunga National Park. Bukima Tented Camp and Kibumba Tented Camp are two inexpensive alternatives with nightly rates ranging from $90 to $100. Tchegera Island Camp and Lulimbi Tented Camp are two mid-range options with nightly rates ranging from $100 to $300. Nightly rates at the luxurious Mikeno Lodge start around $300–$400. Just tell us which one works best for you, and we’ll check availability and make the reservation for you.

Virunga National Park in the eastern part of the Congo is the only place in the whole country where mountain gorilla trekking is possible, and it is accessible from Kigali. If you’re flying into Kigali International Airport, your next stop should be Gisenyi town. From there, it’s about a two-hour drive to Goma town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where you’ll cross the Rwanda–Congo border. From there, you’ll drive towards Bukima. Finally, you’ll arrive at the park headquarters of Virunga National Park, where your gorilla trek will begin.

Best time to visit the DRC for a mountain gorilla safari departing from Kigali
Congo offers both regular and discounted gorilla trekking permits for mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park every year. When you plan your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali, it will depend on your budget. However, because permits for cheaper gorilla trekking sell out fast, it is recommended to book your trek at least three months in advance. So, to ensure that we can get gorilla permits in Virunga National Park for you, it is necessary to contact Katland Safaris in advance to verify their availability, make a reservation, 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. Ever then, Katland Safaris has risen to prominence as a premier travel operator in Rwanda and Uganda. 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.