Congo Gorilla Trekking
Congo Gorilla Trekking
Congo gorilla trekking is one of the most sought after Congo safari activities that sees a number of travellers visiting the country just to encounter the primates in their natural habitat. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country that is surely gifted by nature, with so much to offer to tourists to even explore given much of the country is barely exploited, especially the jungles of the Virungas which shall give you a traveller a true jungle experience.
The Congo is one of the few African countries with gorillas, which travellers can see and encounter on gorilla trekking safaris. The Congo is one of the only three countries to inhabit the endangered mountain gorillas, in addition to Uganda and Rwanda. The mountain gorillas in Congo can be found in Virunga National Park which is part of the Virunga massifs encompassing Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda. The other place to find mountain gorillas is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which inhabits over half the total world population of mountain gorillas.
The Congo is one of the countries to inhabit more than taxa of gorillas, including mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas. Mountain gorillas in the Congo can be found in Virunga National Park, while the eastern lowland gorillas can be found especially in Kahuzi Biega National Park. In both gorilla destinations of the Congo, Congo gorilla trekking activities can be done by those tourists that do wish to encounter these near human wild animals.
Gorilla trekking is an activity that involves trekkers hiking through the jungles of the rainforests in search of the gorillas in their natural habitat. Congo gorilla trekking takes trekkers through the little-exploited Virunga National Park jungles as well as Kahuzi Biega National Park, to encounter the gorillas in their natural habitats. Both Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Parks are located in the eastern part of the Congo, thereby easily accessed even from Rwanda.
Gorillas in Virunga National Park are about 200 in number, with about 8 habituated gorilla families that travellers can visit on Congo gorilla trekking safaris. While gorillas are wild animals, it is only the fully habituated gorilla families that travellers get to encounter on Congo gorilla trekking safari adventures in both Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park. given that gorillas are endangered, there are a number of rules and regulations to be followed, these include among others the group size to track gorillas in a day, time allowed to spend with the gorillas, minimum distance from the gorillas and the minimum age to rack the gorillas. All these rules are in place for the protection and conservation of the gorillas.
A maximum of 8 persons per day are allowed to trek a single gorilla family per day. This helps to prevent the gorillas from getting stressed out due to crowds as well as reduce disease transmission to the gorillas given they are very susceptible to human illnesses like cough and flue.
Only persons that are 15 years and above re allowed to take part in Congo gorilla trekking. The hours for Congo gorilla trekking start from 8am, with a time limit of only 1 hour which travellers do spend with the gorillas.
Travellers are also expected to keep a minimum of 7meters from the gorillas, so as to prevent the gorillas from catching illnesses.
To be able to enjoy Congo gorilla trekking, travellers are required to purchase Congo gorilla permits which cost $400 per person per trek, the cheapest in the region with Rwanda charging $1500 per person per trek and Uganda charging $700 per person per trek. Congo gorilla permits can be purchased from the governing body online or through a reputable tour operator.
Typical Congo gorilla trekking experience
Congo gorilla trekking has travellers waking early for breakfast and then be transferred to the park headquarters for briefing by park officials about what to expect on your gorilla trekking experience. Once in the jungles searching for gorillas, look out for other wildlife. Trekking of Gorillas can take anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours or more depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain and once you do encounter them, you are allowed only one hour with them as you watch their characters and behaviours which are a kin to humans. You shall be amazed by the sight of a silverback steadily watching over his family, keeping an eye out for you.
The Congo gorilla destinations can be reached by both road and air. By air, travellers do fly into Goma International Airport and then transfer to Virunga National park for their Congo gorilla trekking safari, while by road travellers can choose to fly into Kigali International Airport of Rwanda and then be transferred to the Congo through the Grand Barrier.
Congo gorilla trekking can be done all throughout the year, with the dry season being the best time to do so given the paths are easily passable and the vegetation not so over grown to obstruct gorilla viewing and photography. For budget travellers, the wet season which is the low season of travel is a great time to visit for Congo gorilla trekking because the permits are usually discounted then and the accommodation too may have discounted rates to encourage travellers to visit.
Gorilla trekking are a great Congo safari tours to take on to see the gorillas in their natural habitat. Travellers can however include other attractions and destinations in the Congo like hiking the Nyiragongo, bird watching, hiking the volcanoes and so much more. Get in touch with a reputable tour operator to help you put together an amazing trekking safari and more.
