Congo Gorilla Trekking is a life-changing experience. The Mountain gorillas, the highly intelligent, good-natured, and fascinating great apes are found in three countries; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

What To Expect On A Gorilla Trip To Congo?

Every adventurer should head out on their Congo Safari knowing what they hope to discover. The long and uncomfortable journey on the plane, in the 4x4s, and the pirogues make this a worthwhile experience not easily forgotten. Congo is an ever-stabilizing state in the world and it is likely to become more and more accessible and popular to the tourists who seek true African authenticity. Thus the time to visit is now.

Where To Find Gorillas At Congo?

In DRC, the mountain gorillas are only found and tracked in Virunga National Park (Park National des Virunga). The Virunga National Park is part of the wider Virunga Mastiff shared between Volcanoes National Park in DRC and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda. The Virunga National park is located within the great Volcano region of the Congo basin. The gorilla trekking usually starts from the Bukima patrol post. The location, however, may change depending on where the gorillas spent the night. Just like in Uganda Safaris and Rwanda, you will be guided by an experienced guide and trackers provided by, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN (the authority in charge of wildlife in DRC).

Gorilla Trekking DRC is unique in that visitors are required to wear surgical masks (provided) when in the presence of gorillas. This is to safeguard the health of Virunga’s gorillas.

Congo Mountain Gorilla Groups

There are 8 mountain gorilla groups habituated in Virunga National Park. These are:

1. Kabirizi group,
2. Humba group,
3. Rugendo group,
4. Mapuwa group,
5. Lulengo group,
6. Munyaga group,
7. Nyakamwe group and
8. Bageni

The largest group is currently the Bageni group with 26 gorillas. In total, there are 115 habituated individual Mountain gorillas in DRC.

Congo Gorilla Trekking Regulations

• Gorilla Safari Group Size: It’s only a maximum of eight individuals per day are allowed to trek, this helps to reduce the spreading of diseases from humans to the mountain gorillas.
• Restrictions on Age: It’s only 15 years and over individuals are allowed to trek
• Hours of Visiting: gorilla trekking takes place during the day time and it’s between 8:00qm to 7:00 pm
• Time limit with gorillas: It’s strictly 1 hour allowed to spend with the mountain gorillas.

Cost Of Congo Gorilla Permits

Congo Gorilla Safari, those planning to track mountain gorillas in Virunga national park, you are advised to book with one of the best local tour operators and the Congo Gorilla Permits Costs ($400) per person.

The Gorilla Trekking In Congo is lower; currently $ 400 for internationals and $150 for Congolese nationals. Trekking to and from the gorillas usually takes 1-2 hours of hiking, depending on where the mountain gorillas spent the previous night and the difficulty of the terrain.

The mountain gorillas in Virunga national park can be visited anytime during the year, however, some paths are hard to navigate during the wet seasons (May/April and November & October), in this season, Congo Gorilla Trekking Permits are reduced to ($350) per person. Other months are okay for gorilla trekking since it’s a dry season.

Ready For Mountain Gorilla Trekking In DRC?

More often overshadowed by the iconic Uganda & Rwanda, Congo stays a little less focused. But we would recommend not underestimating this small country which has a lot to offer. Start Congo Gorilla Trekking to watch these playful gorillas and witnessing their human-like behavior can be a memory to cheer throughout life. Being a front liner gorilla trekking company Saso Uganda Safaris offers the finest itineraries for the Democratic Republic of Congo too. Come visit us to plan a great trip.