Congo Gorilla Trekking Safaris & Tours in Virunga National Park 2025.

Trekking with gorillas in the Congo (Virunga National Park)

An overview of gorilla trekking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including information on permits, when to go, tour companies, lodging, and reservations.

Virunga National Park, a UNESCO Heritage site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is home to mountain gorillas. This park borders Rwanda and Uganda and is situated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are more than 200 gorillas in the 7800 km2 park, most of whom are located in the southern section.

Rules for gorilla hiking in the Virunga National Park

Trackers on their congo gorilla safari adventures are expected to adhere to stringent guidelines and laws regarding gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park. These consist of group size, the number of groups to monitor each day, and the allotted amount of time spent with the mountain gorillas.

Additionally, this is done to protect these endangered creatures. This is because of the intimate relationship between people and mountain gorillas, which makes the gorillas vulnerable to numerous human illnesses.

Gorilla Safari Group Size: In order to prevent the spread of human diseases to the mountain gorillas, a maximum of eight people are permitted to walk each day.

Age Restrictions: Trekking is only permitted for those who are at least 15 years old.

Hours of Visitation: Gorilla trekking is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Gorilla time limit: You are only permitted to spend one hour with the mountain gorillas.

Gorillas in the Congo

Virunga National Park’s Congo Gorillas: Guidelines (the dos and don’ts)
The first guideline is to protect the mountain gorillas, which implies that a tracker should not be permitted to interact with the gorillas if they are unwell or infected.

To assist prevent the spread of bacteria to the mountain gorillas, it is advised to constantly turn your face away while coughing or sneezing and to cover both your mouth and nose.
Refrain from staying with the gorillas for longer than is advised; often, one hour is all that is permitted.
Keeping your distance from the primates: Because mountain gorillas are wild creatures that are susceptible to human-transmitted illnesses, it is usually advised to avoid them within 5 to 7 meters.

Behaving well when trekking: When snapping pictures of the mountain gorillas, the rangers usually tell the trekkers to avoid using flashlights or pointing, and to make as little noise as possible.
Being ready: Keep in mind to always bring warm, waterproof clothing for the chilly mountain weather, since the forest can get wet at times. Comfortable walking shoes are also a huge plus.

No snacking and no smoking: During gorilla trekking, visitors are not permitted to consume food or beverages or smoke.
Cleaning is advised: Before going gorilla trekking, always wash your hands.
Never touch the mountain gorillas; instead, keep your hands to yourself to prevent direct contact.

Keep the rubbish to yourself and refrain from leaving it in the wild.
Always maintain your composure. If the gorilla rushes, avoid making direct eye contact and wait for it to walk away.

Bathroom etiquette: A ranger will dig a hole for you and then make sure it’s well covered.
The price of licenses for Congo Gorillas
Booking with one of the top local tour companies is recommended for those who intend to follow mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. Congo gorilla licenses cost $400 per person.

Although it is possible to see the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park at any time of year, certain pathways are difficult to follow during the rainy seasons of May and April as well as November and October.

During these times, Congo gorilla trekking permits are discounted to $350 per person. Since it’s a dry season, other months are suitable for gorilla trekking. In Uganda, where a gorilla permit costs $800 during peak season and $800 during off-peak, mountain gorillas may also be discovered. Both the high-season and low-season gorilla permits for Rwanda cost $1500.

Four Pointers to Help You Arrange Your Gorilla Tour Trip to the Congo.

In all three of the nations that allow gorilla tracking, it is customary to obtain a permission in advance. It is preferable to book your gorilla tracking permit directly with Virunga National Park because Uganda and Rwanda have more tour firms than the DRC, which has less. The cost of a permit is $400 USD, which is less than the fees in the other two nations.

Although certain pathways become difficult to follow during the rainy seasons of May through October, mountain gorillas may be viewed at any time of year.

You must have had a yellow fever vaccine since you will not be permitted entry into the country without proof of immunization. Injections for rabies, typhoid, meningitis, and hepatitis A are also advised, along with anti-malarial medication.
It should have been done beforehand to apply for the visa needed to enter the DRC. The price is $100 USD.

It is necessary to arrange the precise equipment required in the wild. Strong trekking shoes, wool or moisture-impermeable socks, comfortable climbing clothing, rainfall gear, a primary support kit, and a lightweight backpack with enough space for food and drink are all necessary for the potentially taxing journey.

Additionally, a waterproof camera is highly recommended because nothing damages a top-notch camera more than a tropical forest’s intense downpour.

Expectations for a Congo Gorilla Trip

Every sight-seeer should know what they want to find before embarking on their safari in Congo. This is an encounter that is worth remembering because of the lengthy and difficult flight, the 4x4s, and the pirates. As the world’s most stable state, Congo is expected to grow in popularity and accessibility among travelers looking for real African experiences. So, now is the time to go.

Please be aware that the Republic of Congo, which is included on our itineraries, is not to be mistaken with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mountain Gorilla Tracking: The Reasons to Visit Virunga National Park.

Gorillas in Congo The Virunga National Park is located on the southern beaches of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Because it is a portion of the Virunga Massif, which is shared by Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park, it is home to mountain gorillas.

All gorilla tracking trips are conducted in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is situated in the southwestern region of Uganda and is home to half of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas, or in the Virunga Massif National Park.

The Democratic Republic is a new tourist site that no other tourists have looked into. Virunga National Park has been the top destination for gorilla tracking since 2015, when the park reopened, and monitoring Congolese gorillas there involves obtaining a valid gorilla tracking permit.

Tracking mountain gorillas and the Congo’s climate.

There are two wet seasons in the DRC. While the long seasons run from mid-March to the end of May, the shorter ones begin in October and terminate in November. The tropical rain forests are the source of this rain.

Since June through September and February are the best times of year to visit the DRC, many travelers opt to go during these times when there is less rain and more sunlight in most places. Since gorilla and Nyiragongo climbing permits are granted on an early bird, catches the worm basis, it is wise to reserve them in advance to avoid disappointment since December is also one of the busiest months of the year in Virunga National Park.

Congo weather Although people’s plans may be impacted by the country’s rainy season, this does not always mean that travel is prohibited altogether. Safari activities may restart without any disruptions because the sun still rises after a shower, even during the rainy season.

In an effort to entice tourists to make reservations, the lodges lower their rates, especially during the slow months of March through May and October through November. This turns into an extra benefit, particularly when you can get gorilla permits for half of the $200 US price. This encourages more travelers to visit the Congo.

Congo’s chilly climate can also be explained by its elevated terrain. However, if you are thinking about going on a gorilla tracking safari, it is best to keep in mind that, aside from the lower prices during the off-peak months, the two waterless seasons of January to February and June to September are the best times to go gorilla tracking. This is because the gorillas feed in the lowlands, which makes it much easier.

Because gorillas are found in Virunga National Park, tracking them is a unique experience that should not be missed. These apes are intelligent, lovable, and charming. They are separated into relational groups and have distinct characteristics, such as the silverbacks, who serve as the leaders, the mature female gorillas, who are the caregivers, and the young, who are just mischievous and always in the trees.

Depending on where they were placed the day before, following these endangered gorillas is believed to take one to two hours. These apes are legally protected in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park. The other population is located in Uganda’s 331 km² South Western Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which shares a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

About 200 gorillas call Virunga National Park home; they are primarily found on the southern part of the park. The National Park is administered by the Congolese National Park Authorities in collaboration with the Institute Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and its affiliate, the Africa Virunga National Park Conservation Fund.

The gorilla occupants have recovered to some extent after their numbers declined as a result of vicious attacks that killed at least ten apes about seven years ago. Due in great part to the bravery of the rangers who put their lives in danger in the park, the population is now more stable.

Keep your eyes open during the many activities you will undertake in and around the park. You will also get the opportunity to see a variety of monkeys and other feathery friends that have made Virunga National Park their home. Additionally, we advise you to rent a car in order to fully enjoy your Congo safari vacation, since we do not advise self-drive because to the country’s rising unanticipated insurgencies and wars.

The Actual Congo Gorilla Tracking Day Experience

After a little preamble, the park guide will lead you into the forest for the anticipated hike. He will discuss the gorilla family you will be witnessing, including its location, history, and some interesting facts. Additionally, the tour leader will give you advice on how to behave in the presence of the gorillas in the jungle.

As previously stated, masks have to be worn in order to prevent these gorillas from contracting any human diseases. The gorillas’ location dictates how long this walk will take. Because they are constantly moving in search of food, it can take 20 to 40 minutes on some days to travel all the way into the jungle, and more than an hour on others to reach the mountain gorillas.

After it determines that you pose no threat, be sure to greet the enormous chap with the silver back. After being approved, enjoy an exhilarating experience—watching gorillas is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Do not forget that you have an hour to spend in the forest with these mountain gorillas.

 

Expectations for a Gorilla Tracking Adventure.

To name a few, the amount of time spent monitoring gorillas varies and is dependent on the assembly being tracked, the gorilla family’s typical location, the geography, and the weather. It may take an hour to track, or it may take up to five hours. It is advised that you follow your tour guide’s guidance for the whole journey into the forest.

Holding onto branches, plant roots, shrubs, and many other objects, you will have to haul yourself up the jagged routes as you climb into the rainforest and into the steep slopes of the volcanoes. Additionally useful is an on-foot stick. Make sure you drink enough water because you are prone to become dehydrated. Although the journey into the jungle might be taxing, the opportunity to interact with these monkeys makes the effort worthwhile.

The Encounter with the Gorilla

The Institute of Congolais pour la conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and the Congolese National Park Authority jointly oversee the park; the Africa Conservation Fund is another partner. The gorilla population has simultaneously recovered and improved as a result of the recent tragedy that claimed the lives of over ten mountain gorillas.

The guides will clear the bush to give you a clean view of these magnificent primates and to enable you to take excellent pictures of this endangered animals. Many gratitude are due to the rangers who have risked their lives to conserve the last mountain gorillas. Another vital point to keep in mind is that if you look a gorilla in the eye and he starts to swoop at you, do not flee; instead, stand still and bend your head in respect and acquiescence. Additionally, avoid beating your chest when among mountain gorillas.

Reaching Congo’s Virunga National Park and How to Get There
The path of the international airline.

The majority of visitors visiting Virunga National Park fly to Kigali International Landing Field and then drive for four hours to the border crossing at Goma/Gisenyi. It is common for intercontinental planes to arrive late in the afternoon or evening. Since the border is not open around-the-clock, we advise these newcomers to spend the night in Kigali. The next morning, you can leave for Goma. The vast majority of visitors to the park are from Uganda or Rwanda.

Although there are other ways to reach the park according on the visitor’s interests, the most popular way is by road, which requires a 4WD vehicle to enable you to enjoy the gorilla tracking experience.

Visitors flying into the Virunga National Park might land at Goma International Airport. Even though Goma has been the primary airport in the Eastern Congo for more than a decade, some travelers would still prefer to land at the less congested Kigali airport in the country of a thousand hills. Numerous international flights are also available from the Goma Airport.

Brussels, Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, and Istanbul are the destinations of a significant number of flights from Europe to the state. Cheap flights are often available between February and April. The following are the main airlines that operate flights to and from the state:

Ethiopian Airline.
Swiss Airline
France Air
Turkish Airlines
Airlines in Brussels
Kenyan Airlines
By Road

The North Kivu region’s capital, Goma, located 32 kilometers west of Virunga National Park. With the National Park at Virunga, transportation from Goma into the park may be easily booked in advance. Traveling with one of the Congo tour companies that now provide Mount Gorilla Safaris in Congo is the most convenient option. The following routes provide access to the park:

Driving from Kigali city to Gisenyi town, starting from the Rwandan side, takes around four hours. After crossing both borders, it is the next town to Goma; the drive to the Park’s Headquarters takes around one and a half hours.

Linking to Virunga National Park from Uganda can be a little exhausting for visitors, who may choose to spend the entire night in Kisoro before crossing into the DRC via the Bunagana border in the early morning. From there, they can drive for 30 minutes to Bukima, where they can go on a trek with all the gorilla families.

Then another from Bukavu in Congo near the Virunga National Park: there is a path that connects to Kivu town, but it takes more than five hours to drive there, and it is quite dangerous, therefore we do not advise our guests to use that route. You will have an amazing view because of the breathtaking surroundings and the lake.
Transport by Water.

Ferries depart from Bukavu and go to Goma, passing past Idjwi Island on Lake Kivu, for those who have already visited Bukavu on a safari and wish to extend their journey to include the Virunga National Park. This voyage takes around three hours in a speedboat and four to five hours on a public boat. You will thereafter drive a 4WD Safari vehicle to enter the park after arriving in Goma. Boats for unique hire are available along the lakeshores, but for security reasons, it is preferable to use the shared transport vessels unless a reputable tour operator has made arrangements.

The cost of a public boat can range from $300 to $400, whereas slow boats cost $50. Particular tickets and swift boats are also available, however we suggest making reservations in advance to avoid disappointments. Don’t let a lack of knowledge about transportation prevent you from visiting Virunga National Park.

Notes on entering the Congo’s border.

The border crossing is straightforward, and Goma is just a ten-minute walk away. Nonetheless, we advise tourists and travelers to be aware of the following:

To delight customs and immigration officials, make sure your paperwork is completed and in order.
Vaccines against yellow fever are valid.
Before embarking on a journey to Congo with a previously applied-for visa, always consult the state’s travel advice and helpful tour information.

Overland travel on these trails can be rough, thus a 4WD vehicle is advised. Taking these roads at night is not a good idea.
The Institute of Congolais pour la conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and the Congolese National Park Authority jointly oversee the park; the Africa Conservation Fund is another partner. The gorilla population has simultaneously recovered and improved as a result of the recent tragedy that claimed the lives of over ten mountain gorillas. We are grateful to the rangers who have put their lives in danger to safeguard the mountain gorillas that are still alive.