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Congo Gorilla Tours

Welcome to Congo Gorilla Tours , a comprehensive tour operator specializing in organizing gorilla trekking and adventure safaris in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Book mountain gorilla tours to the Virunga, Nyiragongo Hikes, Lowland gorilla tracking in the Kahuzi Biega National Park, Rwenzori Trekking & More!

Our tours are carefully crafted to include the best attractions and adventure activities the region has to offer. We also organise memorable safaris that extend to Rwanda & Uganda. We will give you some of your the greatest life-time experiences including gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, hiking tours, nature and inter-cultural learning, village stays, educational visits, interactive expeditions and more.

Our safaris are for the adventure seekers and we cater for all budget levels. We also provide an efficient and knowledgeable tailor-made service for both individual and group travelers interested in personalized itineraries. Plan with us your trip and enjoy the authentic safari experiences in our Region.

Trip Availability

Our tours are available all year round. All our gorilla trips depart from Goma in DR Congo, Gisenyi or Kigali in Rwanda.

2 Days DR Congo Gorilla Trek

Plan a 2 Day Tour to the gorillas in Virunga National Park. This trip starts from Gisenyi in Rwanda. Read More

3 Days Virunga Gorilla Trek

Track the endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park and visit  the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage. Read More

4 Days Congo Gorillas & Chimps

A Primate Special for adventure travelers. Meet the endangered mountain gorillas and chimps on this trip. Read More

3 Days Eastern Lowland Gorillas

Go for gorilla tracking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, the only place to see the Grauer’s Gorilla. Read More

5 Days Kahuzi Biega Gorillas

Travel to Bukavu in Eastern Congo and track the grauer’s gorilla in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Read More

8 Days Congo Gorillas

See two of the four species of gorillas. Track the mountain gorillas in Virunga and Grauer’s Gorilla in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Read More

Explore Congo – Be amongst the first to arrive

The forests of the Congo Basin comprise the world’s largest rainforests after those of the Amazon Basin. They are the most beautiful and accessible forests of their kind in Africa.

Where the Central African countries of Congo-Brazzaville (also called the Republic of Congo), the Central African Republic and Cameroon meet in their northern, eastern and western sectors, they form a triangle of these precious forests which is protected by the national parks of Nouabale-Ndoki, Dzanga-Ndoki and Lobeke.

While wildlife research in these parks is an important focus, they also provide Africas newest and most adventurous safari for intrepid travelers – access to the worlds only habituated western lowland gorilla silverbacks and their harems; Central Africas highest concentrations of forest elephants; and the BaAka, the Central African indigenous people who serve as gorilla trackers and who are the cornerstones of the gorilla habituation programs.

To spend time in the Congo Basin national parks is to accept that you are paying for the privilege to experience unique wildlife and culture and not for the five-star luxuries your per diem can provide you elsewhere on the African continent.

Start Planning Your Gorilla Trek

Go Gorilla Trekking offers the ultimate all year round nature experience offering visitors exciting close encounters with the mountain gorillas. Our gorilla watching tours are extremely popular and advanced bookings are essential.

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• Ssemakula Road , Kikajjo Kampala, Uganda
• Last minute Gorilla tours
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• 5 Days Congo gorilla trekking & Nyiragongo Tour.
• 5 Days Gorilla Trek Congo & Nyiragongo Hike
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• upemba national park
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• Maiko National Park
• Mgahinga national Park
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• Salonga national park
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Congo Gorilla Safaris: Gorilla Trekking & Nyiragongo Tour

Interested in going on a gorilla trekking safari in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Go on a gorilla safari for gorilla trekking with Congo gorilla safaris and explore the treasures of this less known country. Our Gorilla Safaris extend to Uganda & Rwanda for Primate Watching like the visit to the mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park, hike to the top of the active Nyiragongo Mountains or meet the gigantic lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park along side other primate safari destinations . You can also extent your gorilla tour to Rwanda and Uganda with us.

Congo gorilla safaris is an independent tours & adventure safari sit managed by Primate Safari Experiences limited that offering premier gorilla trekking tours to Congo, Rwanda & Uganda. Our tours are conducted in our own vehicles based in Goma & Bukavu. We offer tailor made gorilla tours to different countries in Africa at the most discounted prices. Our focus is on good service, client satisfaction and value for money.

We strive to ensure that all our guests get the personal attention they deserve when on Congo Safari Trip with experienced tour guide of Primate Safari Experiences.

CONGO GORILLA HABITUATION TRIP

10 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking -Gorilla Habituation Trip in Congo

Plan 3 Days Congo gorilla safari to enjoy western lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park for memorable Congo safari tour in the wilderness of Congo.

Congo Gorilla Tours- Gorilla Trekking Safaris  2023-2024.

Congo Gorilla Safaris is a specialist in organizing gorilla trekking safaris to Democratic republic of Congo. Our Congo Safaris take you for the very best trips to see mountain gorillas, Eastern Lowland Gorillas, Nyiragongo expedition. We also offer tailor-made Cultural tours and wildlife safaris in Africa.

2 Days Congo Gorilla Tour

Explore 2 Days Congo gorilla trekking tour to see the mountain gorillas in the great Virunga National Park for true gorilla watching experience booked with Congo Gorilla Safaris.

3 Days Eastern Lowland Gorillas

Book 3 Days Congo Safari to see the Eastern Lowlands in Kahuzi Biega. Go gorilla trekking in the wilderness of Kahuzi Biega National Park & viewing the Lake Kivu with overnight stay in Bukavu.

3 Days Congo Gorilla  Safari Tour

Visit the mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park? Book 3 Days mountain gorilla trek in Congo’s oldest national park. Book this trip at the most discounted gorilla permit.

7 Days Congo Gorilla Tour

7 Days Mountain gorilla and lowland gorilla tour to DR Congo to enjoy gorilla trekking, Nyiragongo climbing and Chimpanzee trekking among others.

6 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking

This ultimate trip from Kigali leads you to explore the Mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park & Eastern Lowland gorillas in the famous Kahuzi Biega.

10 Days Congo gorilla Tour

Book this safari to visit the Mountain gorillas and Eastern Lowland gorillas. Climb Nyiragongo active Volcano with our destination experts.

8 Days Gorilla Trek & Okapi Safari

Plan an exploratory Congo gorillas and wildlife safari to visit the mountain gorillas in virunga, climbing nyiragongo & the okapi Wildlife Reserve.

4 Days  Gorilla & Nyiragongo Hike

4 Days mountain gorilla & mount nyiragongo volcano hike to virunga national park will encompass gorilla trekking in Congo.

5 Days Gorillas & Nyiragongo Hike

5 Days Congo gorilla trek & nyiragongo hike tour to track the Endangered Mountain Gorillas & Climb Mt. Nyiragongo Volcano in Congo.

Multi Country Trips- Congo, Rwanda & Uganda

Congo Gorilla Safaris runs  multi country safaris are full of magical Safari Experiences of what Africa has to offer with blend of adventure, excitement, romance, natural beauty and the Primate Safari Experiences. READ MORE

Uganda is the one of the top Safari destinations which can be visited by travelers planning a gorilla trek in Africa. Abundant wildlife, culture etc

A Gorilla Safari in Rwanda presents a rare opportunity to all travelers either Luxury, budget or Mid range to see mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes.

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Rwanda safaris – gorilla trekking tours.

Congo Gorilla Safaris offers unique Rwanda Safaris to enjoy gorilla trek in the wilderness of Volcanoes National park and other primates on special rates!

Book 1 Day gorilla tour Rwanda to go gorilla trekking at discounted price in Volcanoes national park with experienced tour guide.

2 Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour

Visit Rwanda gorillas on 2 Day gorilla trekking safari in volcanoes national park with kigali city tour to visit genocide memorials,gorilla watching.

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Book this gorilla safari with double gorilla trek & golden monkey in volcanoes national park. Enjoy gorilla tour Rwanda to go gorilla trekking.

Why Choose Us

Primate Safari Experiences is an adventure safari company offering the most awe-inspiring selection of affordable small-group gorilla tours, wildlife safaris and expeditions to democratic Republic of Congo , Uganda & Rwanda . Our award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation and local transport in 4×4 safari jeeps to Kahuzi biega national Park , Virunga National Park & Bwindi Forest national park.

• We focus on personalized tailor made safaris.
•  We custom design safaris to match your travel style and dreams.
•  We have a great relationship with all camps and lodges throughout Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic republic of Congo.
•  We know our product well and can independently offer objective advice on a range of accommodations for your African trip.
•  We are an established company and registered Tour operator.
• Authenticity ,Our aim is to help you really get to know the places you visit during your visit to africa either in virunga national park or kahuzi biega national park in democratic republic of Congo or volcanoes national park with relaxation at lake kivu water shores.

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• Rwanda Safaris
• Congo Safaris
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Welcome to Congo Gorilla trek adventure holidays the most reliable Safari company offering Gorilla tours to Democratic republic of congo mainly focusing on Eastern Gorillas ( Eastern Lowland Gorillas & Mountain Gorillas ) at the most discounted price.

Congo Gorilla Trek takes you to Democratic republic of congo to visit the mountain gorillas, Nyiragongo Volcanic Hike, Eastern Lowland Gorillas and lots of wildlife in congo National Parks. Mountain Gorilla trekking in Virunga Mountains, game viewing of wild animals like elephants, antelopes,lions, buffaloes and more in virunga National Park.

Democratic republic of congo is emerging as one of the top safari destinations to visit in Africa after Rwanda increased the cost of the Gorilla permit from USD 750 to 1500, this gave a chance to Congo and Uganda to Boost their Tourism industry. Its fame in having the mountain gorillas, Easter lowland gorillas together with other 10 parks and reserves providing wildlife experience makes it a competitive holiday destination in Africa.

Congo Safari Trips, Our Pick For 2017 & 2018

Gorilla trek africa.

Dont miss the chance to visit the Primates of Congo while on an adventure holiday to Africa.

• Rwanda Safaris
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• Gorilla Trekking
• Gorilla Habituation Experience
• Chimpanzee Trekking
• Chimpanzee Habituation
• What to Pack for Rwanda or Uganda Holiday
• When to go Gorilla trekking| Choose the best time
• What are my chances of seeing the Mountain Gorillas?
• Is Gorilla Trekking Difficult or Easy?
• Gorilla Habituation| Bwindi’s unique gorilla experience
• What is a gorilla permit?
• How to get a gorilla permit?
• Watching Gorillas in Bwindi Forest
• Gorilla Trekking outstanding lodges in 2023
• Rwanda Gorilla naming ceremony- Kwita Izina 2023
• Gorilla Families in Rwanda
• Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda & Uganda
• Gorillas| Africa’s best wildlife encounter.
• Wildlife to see in Uganda.
• Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Uganda
• Gorilla Trekking sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable national park

Congo, also known as DR Congo , the DRC, DROC, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo, is a country located in Central Africa. It was formerly called Zaire. It is, by area, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, the second-largest in all of Africa, and the 11th-largest in the world.

As a result of its equatorial location, the DRC experiences high precipitation and has the highest frequency of thunderstorms in the world.

The annual rainfall can total upwards of 2,000 millimeters (80 in) in some places, and the area sustains the Congo rainforest, the second-largest rain forest in the world after the Amazon rainforest.

This massive expanse of lush jungle covers most of the vast, low-lying central basin of the river, which slopes toward the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

This area is surrounded by plateaus merging into savannas in the south and southwest, by mountainous terraces in the west, and dense grasslands extending beyond the Congo River in the north. The glaciated Rwenzori Mountains are found in the extreme eastern region.

The rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo contain great biodiversity, including many rare and endemic species, such as the common chimpanzee and the bonobo, the African forest elephant, the mountain gorilla, the okapi and the white rhinoceros.

Five of the country’s national parks are listed as World Heritage Sites: the Garumba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga and  Virunga National Parks , and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of 17 Megadiverse countries and is the most biodiverse African country

The Congo is inhabited by several great ape species: the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), the bonobo (Pan paniscus), the eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei), and possibly the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). It is the only country in the world in which bonobos are found in the wild.

Much concern has been raised about great ape extinction. Because of hunting and habitat destruction, the chimpanzee, the bonobo and the gorilla, each of whose populations once numbered in the millions, have now dwindled down to only about 200,000 gorillas, 100,000 chimpanzees and possibly only about 10,000 bonobos. The gorillas, chimpanzee, bonobo, and okapi are all classified as endangered by the World Conservation Union.

DRC’s magnificent calling card is Virunga, Africa’s oldest national park and home to mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and the incredible, active Nyiragongo volcano (climbed on a thrilling two-day expedition).

Carpeted by huge swaths of rainforest and punctuated by gushing rivers and smoking volcanoes, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a destination to consider as you plan for your African holiday.

This trip takes you to Virunga National Parks of DR Congo for mountain Gorilla tracking as well as Nyiragongo Active Volcano Hiking.

Places to be covered on this trip include Gisenyi, Nyiragongo Hike, Bukima, Musanze, Twin Lakes, Rugezi Marsh, Dian Fossey and Karisimbi.

Visit Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest, Bwindi Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale Forest and Murchison falls National Park etc.

Home » Congo Gorilla Trekking Tours

Congo Gorilla Trekking Tours

Congo gorilla trekking tours take you to Virunga National Park, the oldest national park in Africa and Kahuzi-Biega National Park, the best place to see lowland gorillas in Congo. Congo gorilla tours to Virunga National Park reward you with the best mountain gorilla sightings in most beautiful scenery amongst all the gorilla parks in Africa. Trekking with gorillas in Congo is one way of giving back to the conservation of these giant apes. For each gorilla permit you purchase, over 80% of the price is channeled towards gorilla conservation and supporting the local communities on the outskirts of the parks. See some of our most recommended Congo gorilla safaris below.

Top Congo Gorilla Tours

7 Days Congo Lowland Gorillas & Serengeti Wildlife Safari

5 Days Virunga Gorilla Safari & Mount Karisimbi Hiking Tour

4 Days Lowland Gorilla Trekking & Mountain Hiking Tour in Congo

4 Days Lowland Double Gorilla Trekking Safari in Kahuzi-Biega

4 Days Congo Lowland Gorillas & Lake Kivu Boat Safari

4 Days Congo Lowland Gorillas & Community Tour in Bukavu

4 Days Virunga Gorillas & Mount Nyiragongo Hiking Safari

4 Days Congo Lowland Gorillas & Rwanda Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

4 Days Congo Lowland Gorilla Trekking & Lwiro Chimpanzee Visit

3 Days Virunga Gorillas Trekking Adventure Tour in DR Congo

3 Days Lowland Gorillas & Snake’s Park Tour Visit in Bukavu

3 Days Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park

2 Days Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Congo

Congo gorilla tours & safaris - ultimate guide for gorilla trekking in congo.

Congo Gorilla Trekking Experience takes you on a trek to see not only mountain gorillas but also the Eastern Lowland gorillas in their natural habitat.

Trekking to see these world's Great Apes is undoubtedly a lifetime experience.

The Congo Gorilla Trekking adventures are offered to holidaymakers only in Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park.

About Mountain Gorillas

Mountain gorillas are an endangered species of primates endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda.

They live in the tropical rain-forests of the Virunga region and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Mountain gorillas are our closest relatives, sharing 98% of their DNA with humans.

They have low birthrates, with females having only 1-2 fertile days in a month.

Once a female gorilla conceives, it goes through a gestation period of 8 and a half months.

Female mountain gorillas wean their infants from birth, as they are just as vulnerable as human babies, surviving on breast milk.

The mothers carry their children on their backs and protect them with their lives.

Baby mountain gorillas sleep in the same nest as their mothers until about 4 years old when they can sleep in their own nests but still close to their mothers.

Gorillas are very social and gentle animals, living in groups dominated by Silverbacks.

They are usually calm but can become very dangerous when they feel threatened.

Even then, they first send a warning to their opponent by throwing vegetation, making loud hoots, screaming, beating their chests, and many other expressions.

If their warning doesn't deter the opponent, then a gorilla will charge, which can be very dangerous.

Mountain gorillas spend most of their day foraging for vegetation, with females eating up to around 18 kilograms of vegetation while males can eat up to 34 kilograms of vegetation in a day.

They start foraging early in the morning until midday when they rest while grooming and then resume foraging until evening when they build their nests.

Mountain gorillas build new nests daily on the ground, except on some occasions when it's extremely wet, then they can sleep in the same nests as the previous day.

Young mountain gorillas below the age of four years sleep in the same nests as their mothers until they reach four years when they make their own nests but sleep close to their mothers' nests.

Mountain gorillas are also very intelligent, as observed by their use of logs to cross streams, checking the depth of a river, using sticks to pick termites from holes, using stones to crush nuts, and more.

They also use different sounds and body language for communication.

For unknown reasons, mountain gorillas are afraid of chameleons and caterpillars.

Infant gorillas, who are always fond of following any creeping thing, avoid caterpillars and chameleons when they come across them on their way.

Congo Gorilla Trekking Experience in Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park is a splendid UNESCO Heritage Site protecting an estimated number of about 300 mountain gorillas.

It is an expansive park covering an area of 7,800 sq.km in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Virunga National Park in Congo presently consists of 8 habituated gorilla group families.

The mountain gorillas in this park are concentrated in the southern part, and the groups to expect to track here include Humba gorilla family, Mapuwa family, Kabirizi, Nyakamwe group, Munyaga gorilla family, Lulengo, Rugendo, and Bageni.

Virunga National Park is one of Africa's oldest parks, created in 1925 with the primary purpose of protecting the endangered mountain gorillas.

It is also part of the Virunga Conservation Area that encompasses Uganda's Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park.

Congo Gorilla Trekking Adventure in Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is a spectacular destination mainly visited for Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking adventures.

A close encounter with the Eastern Lowland gorillas in the wild is truly a mesmerizing experience of a lifetime.

These are a sub-species of Eastern gorillas and they range not only in Kahuzi-Biega National Park but also in Maiko National Park, Itombwe Massifs, Usala Forest Reserve, and Tayna Gorilla Reserve.

Unlike mountain gorillas, Eastern Lowland gorillas are a bit larger, comprising larger hands, a short muzzle, teeth, and they can stand tall at about 4-5 ft.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is also one of the designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites within the DR Congo.

It is named after the two dormant volcanoes within it; Mount Kahuzi and Biega.

It stretches up to 6,000 sq.kms of land area and protects an estimated number of about 250 Eastern Lowland gorillas in its jungles.

Holidaymakers on Congo gorilla safari in Kahuzi-Biega can trek any of the park's 5 habituated gorilla families, with the most famous ones including Chimanuka and Mugaruka gorilla group families.

Congo Gorilla Permits

The Congo gorilla trekking permits for Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park are within visitors' budget range.

Each of the gorilla permits can be obtained for US Dollars 400 per person on a Congo gorilla safari.

These permits can be booked with a reliable, registered local tour company/operator in the DRC or directly with park authorities.

Congo Gorilla Families

Mountain gorillas live in groups of 5 to several individuals, dominated by an adult silverback.

These groups have been habituated so that tourists can have the chance to trek mountain gorillas peacefully.

Gorilla groups in Congo can be seen below:

Kabirizi Mountain Gorilla Family

Kabirizi mountain gorilla family was initially called Ndugutse mountain gorilla family, though the name was later changed to Kabirizi in loving memory of ICCN director called Kabirizi who died in a traffic accident in the 1990s.

At the time of habituation, the group was dominated by Silverback Ndugutse, who later died in crossfire between the Rwandese rebels and the Congo army within the park in 1997.

Kabirizi is currently facing challenges from another silverback known as Masibo.

Humba Mountain Gorilla Family

Humba mountain gorilla family was formed when silverback Humba left Rugendo mountain gorilla family with six members to start up his own in 1998.

Humba expanded his family, and they reached 16 members until 2014 when his brother Nyakamwe left with 10 members to make his own family.

Nyakamwe Mountain Gorilla Family

Nyakamwe mountain gorilla family is one of the newly habituated gorilla groups in Virunga national park.

The group was formed when silverback Nyakamwe split from Humba gorilla family to start his own family.

This group can be trekked from Bukima areas of the park.

Bageni Mountain Gorilla Family

Bageni mountain gorilla family is one of the interesting gorilla groups to visit while at Virunga because they are many in number.

The group was formed when silverback Bageni split off from Kabirizi mountain gorilla family to start his own.

Munyaga Mountain Gorilla Family

Munyaga mountain gorilla family was also one of the lucky groups to have twins in the park although the twins died before barely reaching their first birthday.

The group is dominated by Silverback Gasore, and another interesting factor about this group is the bald-headed silverback known as Kadogo.

Rugendo Mountain Gorilla Family

Rugendo mountain gorilla family is one of the early habituated gorilla groups at Virunga national park in 1989.

The group derives its name from silverback Rugendo that dominated the group at the time of habituation.

The group is now dominated by Bukima the silverback, and the former dominating silverback Rugendo is known to have fathered a lot of silverbacks now leading gorilla groups in Virunga.

Lulengo Mountain Gorilla Family

Lulengo mountain gorilla family was first known as Masekura gorilla family, but the name was later changed in loving memory of the park technical director who died on a land mine.

Lulengo the dominating silverback of the group stepped in to dominate after the death of his father Rugabo who was killed by poachers.

Lulengo mountain gorilla family can be trekked around Jomba area near the Uganda-Congo border.

Mapuwa Mountain Gorilla Family

Mapuwa mountain gorilla family was part of Rugendo gorilla family until silverback Mapuwa decided to take two females with him to start up his own family.

Mapuwa is known for being ambitious, fighting other gorilla groups to grab members to add up to his family.

He one time engaged in a fight with silverback Pilipili and took away all his members, leaving him a lone silverback.

Congo Gorilla Trekking Regulations

Trekking gorillas in the DR Congo comes with some strict restrictions that all trekkers on a Congo gorilla safari must observe.

They include:

• Gorilla tour group size: A maximum of 8 people are allowed to trek one habituated gorilla group each day.
• Only persons above 15 years have the opportunity to trek a gorilla group.
• Upon finding a gorilla group, you will be given only 1 hour to have a close encounter with Congo gorillas.
• Anyone on a gorilla trekking safari who is sick or ill won't be allowed to go trek gorillas.
• Noise is highly prohibited, and it is advisable to keep your voices low.
• Never use a flashlight camera for photographing mountain gorillas or Eastern lowland gorillas.
• Maintain a distance of 7-10 meters at all times away from mountain gorillas or Lowland gorillas in their natural habitat.
• Eating, smoking, or drinking before mountain gorillas or Lowland gorillas is highly prohibited.
• To go track the Congo gorillas, all holidaymakers must have a valid gorilla permit.
• Always ensure the Congo gorilla habitat is kept clean.

Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking vs. Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Both mountain gorilla and Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking are memorable primate encounters.

However, they are slightly distinct from each other.

Mountain gorilla trekking entirely takes holidaymakers on a trek to see the endangered mountain gorillas.

Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking takes you on a trek to view the Eastern Lowland gorillas in their natural habitat.

Trekking to see mountain gorillas is only possible in Africa, strictly in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In the world, there exist only 4 parks where you can see mountain gorillas, namely Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in the Northwestern side of Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Eastern DRC.

In addition to mountain gorilla trekking, the DRC is one exceptional country that also offers the best of Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking adventures.

Best Time to visit Congo Gorillas

When it comes to Congo gorilla trekking safaris, the gorilla safari parks in the DRC welcome all holidaymakers at any time of the year.

But each year, 2 seasons must be observed when planning for Congo gorilla safari or gorilla safari tour to Uganda or Rwanda.

These are the dry and wet seasons.

Of the 2 seasons, the dry season is the most favorable, and you can plan your gorilla trip during the longest dry spell.

This season starts from May, June, July, August to September, and the shortest dry season is recorded starting in January to February.

It is during the 2 phases of the dry season when Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks experience relatively low/no rainfall, making it easier for holidaymakers on Congo gorilla trekking to enjoy a smooth trek to see gorillas.

Unlike the dry seasons, the wet season is when Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Virunga National Park record the heaviest amount of rainfall.

It is during the wet months of the year when Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga become muddy, slippery, and have dense vegetation cover.

There are also 2 phases of wet/rainy seasons: the first that commences from March to early May and October to November.

Essentials to Carry for Your Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari

Proper packing is key when it comes to a gorilla trekking safari holiday.

The essentials every holidaymaker must have on a Congo gorilla tour or Uganda gorilla trip include:

• A waterproof day-pack to help you keep your essential documents safe.
• A good camera that does not have a flashlight for you to take pictures.
• A rain jacket in case of rains.
• Waterproof hiking boots.
• A first aid kit.
• Bottled drinking water.
• Toiletries.
• A pair of socks.
• Gardening gloves.
• Long-sleeved shirts.
• Sunglasses.
• Insect repellents.
• A yellow fever certificate.

These are essential whether you plan to travel for a Congo gorilla trekking experience during the dry or wet season.

Accommodation - Where to Stay

Travelers on a Congo gorilla tour can choose from budget, mid-range to luxury accommodation choices in and around Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

For a Virunga gorilla tour, the lodges to consider include Bukima Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Kibumba Tented Camp, and Tchegera Island Tented Camp.

For Kahuzi-Biega gorilla safaris, the lodges to book include L'Orchids Safari Club, Exodus Bukavu Hotel, and Coco Lodge.

Getting to Congo

Access to Congo for gorilla trekking is possible using 3 options: by road, by water, and by air.

Virunga National Park is reachable for mountain gorilla trekking, located about 32kms West of Goma Town, which also serves as the capital of North Kivu.

While in Goma, you can get to Virunga with the park authorities or use a reliable, trusted local tour operator.

From Kigali in Rwanda, holidaymakers can drive for about 4 hours through Gisenyi Town on the shores of Lake Kivu to reach Goma. From there, it's a 1.5-hour drive to the offices of Virunga National Park.

If you plan to go on a Congo gorilla safari from Uganda, the best option is to drive up to Kisoro in Southwestern Uganda and cross via the Bunagana border, which takes about 30 minutes to get to Bukima.

There is also an option of driving up to Bukavu to have access to Virunga National Park for a gorilla safari.

Holidaymakers on a Congo gorilla trekking safari can take advantage of available flight services from Europe, landing at Goma International Airport in the DR Congo.

Notable airlines/agencies to fly to Goma airport include Kenya Airways, Air France, Turkish Airlines, and Swiss Airlines.

Using water transportation, Virunga National Park in Congo is reachable via ferries, starting from Bukavu to Goma through Idjwi Island on the beautiful Lake Kivu.

For speed boats, you may spend 3 hours, and public boats take 4-5 hours. Once you arrive in Goma, you will be picked up by an experienced driver guide.

Use a 4WD Land Cruiser for a smooth road trip to Virunga National Park.

To reach Kahuzi-Biega National Park, holidaymakers should be prepared to spend about an hour and a half driving from Bukavu Town, which is 40kms away.

By air, flight services are available to Kavumu airport, Miti airport, or Kamembe airport in Rwanda.

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Primate Safaris in Congo: Gorilla Trekking – Bonobo watching

Looking for primate Safaris in Congo on Stand alone or Combined Safari?  We do offer primate safaris including gorilla trekking for both Mountain gorillas & Eastern Lowland gorillas, Bonobo trekking and watching the rare Okapi’s.

When it comes to hiking adventures in Congo ,Primate Safari Experiences tailors gorillas & Nyiragongo volcano trek the explore the most active Volcanoes like Nyiragongo & nyamuragira Volcano in Virunga National Park.

The Local team of Primate Safari Experiences have explored central africa and understand the destinations that are recommended to travelers who select to adventure with us on Congo Safari holidays.

Things to Do : Safaris in Congo.

Democratic republic of congo is a top destination for primate safaris in Africa as it hosts the rarest primates in the entire world including the bonobos and the rare mountain gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas.

• Mountain Gorillas in Congo : Primate Safari experiences tailors mountain gorilla tours to Virunga national park located in Eastern congo bordered by Mgahinga National Park & Volcanoes national park Rwanda.
• Eastern Lowland gorillas are found in kahuzi Biega and maiko national parks, these apes are among the rarest primates since they can trek in congo on the primate safari experience.
• Bonobo watching: it’s only in Congo where bonobo trekking can be done in the entire world, primate safaris tailors 1-day bonobo trekking starting from Kinshasa the capital city of congo
• Wildlife Watching  in Upemba National Park, Salonga National park, kundelungu national park, Lomami National Park with Primate Safari Experiences.

Book tailor-made Primate Safaris to congo with extra activities like Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee feeding and tracking at the most affordable prices with primate Safari Experiences.

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Home » Congo Gorilla Tours

Congo Gorilla Tours

Congo Gorilla Tours are the travel programs/safaris that engage one in traversing the designated national parks if the Democratic Republic of Congo that protects the endangered mountain Gorillas. Most travelers interested in visiting the endangered mountain gorilla species in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo are torn between choosing which of the 3 to visit. Other travelers who have a bigger budget opt to visit 2 or all the 3 destinations however costly it may be but for those who have visited all the 3 countries for gorilla trekking have testified to it being a once in a lifetime experience. Also, you can schedule visits to the 3 countries at different intervals in different years so as to limit the financial strain. Every gorilla trek destination has unique and outstanding points and it would be easier for one to choose after reading and researching about each. You could read online, ask friends who have visited any or even online review platforms like trip advisor and safari bookings can help. Getting in touch with a great tour operator can also put your mind at ease as you make a decision until the point of booking the tour .

Opting to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo on your Congo gorilla tours is a great choice for so many factors. Gorillas in the DRCongo can be found in 2 parks that are the Virunga National Park where you can book a permit to visit the mountain gorillas and then Kahuzi Biega National Park where you can opt to visit the lowland gorillas. DRCongo is blessed to be the only country in the world with both gorilla types which is one pull factor for choosing Congo among the 3 countries. Trekking in Congo/Congo Gorilla Tours that is trekking mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park is a more authentic experience and less touristy as compared to the other parks so for one looking for such an experience, DRCongo should be number one destination. Virunga national park, home to Congo’s mountain gorillas is the oldest national park in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Virunga as a park has a great community plan for the people living around the park and have several projects that benefit the community like schools for the children of the fallen rangers who have been killed while on duty and you can get a chance to take part of the activities done here whether physically or financially. You can also get to visit the world’s only gorilla orphanage in DRCongo that is Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage center  while on your Congo Gorilla Tours where you will get up-close with the young gorillas that are being taken care of after being rescued from the forest when hurt or after the loss of their parents to poachers or civil wars in the region. Virunga National Park provides for about 27,000 people in the form of job opportunities so by choosing Virunga for your Congo gorilla tours, you are indirectly employing people and creating a better living for them. 

Congo has a big insecurity threat which usually makes trekkers think twice about coming to this destination but this is also an experience on its own and the security team of Virunga National park for visitors is great thus there isn’t need to worry as much when on tour to Virunga to visit the mountain gorillas. After reopening of this park earlier in February 2019, came very effective security measures with a good team of rangers and security personnel that protect you from your point of entry into the country until you leave so what more safe place to visit. 

Congo Gorilla Tours are also different as the trek does not last as long as in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda . The gorillas both in Virunga and Kahuzi Biega are easier to locate as the trekkers usually trek for about one and a half to 2 hours before encountering these gentle giants. The standard time spent with the gorillas is 1 hour in all parks and that is when you get to study the animals, take photos and enjoy their presence.

There is so much to top up your gorilla tour in Virunga like a visit to the world’s largest lava lake; Mount Nyiragongo , you can also take a boat trip to Tchegera Island , the island with black Sand or even take a boat transfer to Bukavu where Kahuzi Biega national park is and visit the lowland gorillas . 

You can access DRCongo via Rwanda or even fly directly into Goma airport but if you opt to land at Kigali International Airport , you can pass Gisenyi – Goma border to visit Virunga or pass Rusizi border to visit Kahuzi Biega and ensure to apply for your visa to Congo at least 2 weeks in advance as it cannot be issued to you on arrival so avoid disappointments and disorganization, please take note. Also note that your Rwanda visa will expire once you cross into Congo so of you are returning to Rwanda, please apply for one at the border when entering the country so as to find it when returning after your Congo gorilla tours.

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4 Days Congo Gorillas Tour

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Safari overview.

Join us on a thrilling 4 Days Congo Gorillas Tour through the heart of Africa. You’ll encounter gorillas both lowland and mountain, conquer an active volcano, and immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This adventure promises unforgettable memories and awe-inspiring moments – a Congo Gorilla Tour like no other!

Safari Summary

• Day 1: Arrival and Transfer Virunga National

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking

Day 3: eastern lowland gorilla trek, day 4: volcanic adventure and departure, safari itinerary, day 1: arrival and transfer virunga national park.

Your 4 days Congo Gorillas Tour kicks off as you land at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted by your experienced tour guide, who will accompany you on this adventure. You’ll embark on a scenic drive from the airport to Goma, a city bordering Rwanda and Congo.

Crossing into Congo signifies the start of your journey. Your guide will manage border formalities smoothly. Continuing, you’ll reach Virunga National Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its biodiversity and mountain gorillas. Check-in your accommodation within the park and relax.

Your second day starts with a hearty breakfast before you meet your guide and head to the park headquarters. Here, you’ll receive a briefing on gorilla trekking, including important conservation information and guidelines.

With your guide’s expertise, you’ll begin your gorilla trekking adventure, venturing into the dense forests of Virunga National Park. Your goal is to locate a gorilla family and spend up to an hour observing them in their natural habitat, capturing photos and memories. After this incredible encounter, return to your accommodation for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, join a nature walk to explore the park’s diverse flora and fauna, guided by your expert. As the day concludes, return to your lodge for dinner and a restful overnight stay.

Leaving Virunga behind, you’ll drive to Bukavu, a journey offering diverse landscapes. In Bukavu, you’ll explore Kahuzi-Biega National Park, home to eastern lowland gorillas. This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a crucial sanctuary for the critically endangered eastern lowland gorilla species. After a briefing, your expert guides will lead you on a trek to encounter these remarkable creatures in their natural habitat, allowing up to an hour for observation and photography. This is a unique opportunity to observe their behaviors, social dynamics, and natural habitat.

Having experienced this unique gorilla encounter, you’ll return to your Bukavu accommodation for dinner and a restful night.

After breakfast in Bukavu, prepare for an unforgettable adventure. You’ll hike to the summit of Mount Nyiragongo , an active volcano within Virunga National Park. The trek offers stunning transitions from lush forests to the otherworldly landscapes of the volcano’s peak. At the summit, you’ll witness the mesmerizing lava lake within the crater, a unique and captivating sight. Spend the night in Nyiragongo’s summit shelters, enjoying the breathtaking views of the lava lake’s fiery glow.

The next morning, descend to the base camp and begin your journey back to Kigali. Reflect on your incredible experiences as you travel. Upon your return to Kigali, you’ll be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your departure.

Important Notes:

– Congo Gorilla trekking permits cost USD 400 per person per trek. You will need to obtain the permits in advance, which can be purchased through Laba Africa.

– The best time to visit Congo for gorilla trekking is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. During this time, the trails are less muddy making it easier to trek through the forest to find the gorillas.

– It’s essential to be fairly physically fit and have suitable trekking gear for the expedition. Pack essentials like water, snacks, hiking shoes, and a rain jacket. A small fee can be paid to porters to help you carry luggage during the trek hence reducing the burden.

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Congo (DRC) Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

The name Congo evokes images of a vast tropical jungle cut through by the mysterious river for which it is named. Who hasn’t dreamed of setting foot there? Unfortunately, much of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the region’s largest country, is unsafe for travel. Virunga National Park, for instance, was open for mountain gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo volcano climbs for several years prior to closing in 2020, but it is unlikely to reopen anytime soon due to security concerns. The news is better from Kahuzi-Biega National Park, where eastern lowland gorillas can be tracked in the wild with relative ease as an outing from neighboring Rwanda.

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$3,056 pp (USD)

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6 Questions About Congo (DRC) Gorilla Trekking and Safari Tours

Answered by

Ariadne van zandbergen.

What are the main tourist attractions?

“The main attraction of Eastern DRC is gorilla trekking. The region is home to two subspecies of these endangered gentle giants. This includes the eastern lowland gorilla, which is endemic to the DRC (in other words, it occurs nowhere else in the world). The eastern lowland gorilla can only be tracked in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a short distance northwest of Bukavu (a port city at the southern tip of Lake Kivu on the border with Rwanda). This activity is just as rewarding as visiting the better-known mountain gorillas. Indeed, some might say it is actually more so, as they are even larger than their mountain-dwelling cousins, and low visitor numbers at Kahuzi-Biega make for a more adventurous and less-touristy experience. Eastern DRC is also an important stronghold for mountain gorillas. These live on the bamboo-covered slopes of the Virunga Mountains, a scenic volcanic range that extends into Rwanda and Uganda. Unfortunately, although mountain gorilla trekking is offered in the other two countries, the Congolese portion of the Virungas (protected in Virunga National Park) has been closed to tourism since March 2020 and is likely to remain off-limits for the foreseeable future. When Virunga NP does reopen for gorilla trekking, other activities are likely to include climbs of volcanic Mt Nyiragongo, which contains the world’s largest lava lake, and relaxing on Lake Kivu’s beautiful Tchegera Island.”

How does gorilla trekking in DR Congo compare to other countries?

“The gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi-Biega (and when it reopens, Virunga NP) is very similar to what is offered in Rwanda and Uganda. The same one-hour time limit to spend with the gorillas applies. However, as visitor numbers are still very low, the Kahuzi-Biega experience feels more exclusive and the setting is more remote. The number of permits allocated per gorilla group is only four to six (less than the eight permits allocated per group in Uganda and Rwanda). A big difference between trekking in Kahuzi-Biega and doing the same activity in Uganda or Rwanda is that you will be visiting eastern lowland gorillas as opposed to mountain gorillas. Based on recent reports, trekking conditions are generally easier in DRC than in Rwanda or Uganda, and you are unlikely to have to walk for more than an hour to locate a gorilla group. Last but not least, a gorilla trekking permit in DRC costs US$400 per person as opposed to US$700 in Uganda or US$1,500 in Rwanda.”

Is a DR Congo safari safe?

“Visiting Kahuzi-Biega has been considered safe for a few years now. In order to attract visitors to this park, security measures have been put in place to make a day or overnight return visit from Rwanda very straightforward and secure. That said, the DRC has a long history of political turbulence and unrest, and most other parts of the country, including Virunga NP, cannot be regarded as safe at the time of writing. Even where Kahuzi-Biega is concerned, the security situation might change, so check with your tour operator before booking.”

Can I extend my East African safari with a trip to Congo (DRC)?

“Most people don’t visit DRC as a stand-alone trip. Instead it makes a perfect extension to a classic safari in Kenya or Tanzania. A short flight from either gets you to Rwanda’s capital city Kigali. From there you can fly or arrange to be driven to the Rwandan border town of Kamembe (also known as Rusizi/Cyangugu), which lies on the Lake Kivu shore near the Congolese port city of Bukavu. Some operators offer gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega as a day trip from Kamembe, while others will arrange overnight accommodations in Bukavu or closer to the park. A gorilla trek in DRC also slots well into an extended holiday in Rwanda, where you can go chimp trekking in Nyungwe National Park, which is very close to Kamembe and Bukavu. You can also enjoy a couple of nights in Akagera National Park, the country’s Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) destination. Wildlife densities in Akagera are not comparable to the most famous parks in East Africa, but this off-the-beaten-track destination is incredibly scenic and rewarding in its own right.”

How much will a DR Congo safari cost?

“Most visitors to Kahuzi-Biega opt for a 3-day gorilla trekking package out of Rwanda’s capital city Kigali. This typically costs US$1,200 to US$1,500 per person. Another possibility is a 4-day package that also includes chimp trekking in Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park, which you pass through on the way between Kigali and Kahuzi-Biega. This will add around US$600 to the price. A variety of longer tours incorporating a visit to Kahuzi-Biega are also available.”

What is the best time of the year to visit DR Congo?

“The best time to visit Eastern DRC is during the Dry season from June to September. The area has a very wet climate and it can rain at any time, but June to September is drier and the forest trails tend to be less slippery. March to April and October to November are the peaks of the short and long rains. The drier period between the long and short rains, from December to February, is a great time to travel too. It shouldn’t be too wet and there are very few visitors around at this time. Whenever you visit, make sure you bring lots of waterproof clothing, and be prepared to get wet a few times.”

2 Days Bwindi Gorilla Safari

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Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo

99% sightings guaranteed on all our gorilla trekking tours in uganda, rwanda and congo. for over 10 years, so far we have had no failure to see the gorillas on even single gorilla treks.

Welcome to Go Gorilla Trekking, a local tour operator based in Africa offering the best gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda , Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo . Experience the magic of gorilla trekking in the tropical rain forests of Bwindi and the Virunga Mountains on one of our carefully planned gorilla tours that are offered all year round. At Go Gorilla Trekking, we run gorilla watching trips differently! Guided by ecotourism guidelines and sustainable tourism practice s, we create magical trips to see the spectacular mountain gorillas in their natural habitat within various countries in Africa.

Travel with us to the remote side of Africa and enjoy gorilla tracking in different national parks; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo. All our tours are conducted in comfortable 4X4 safari vehicles and are guided by professional and experienced local safari guides . On all tours, clients stay at the best select comfortable lodges (whether you choose budget or high end) that will bring you back to nature! Get started with planning your next gorilla safari in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa or Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills.

Last Minute Gorilla Treks for 2023/ and Early Bird Offers for 2024

We offer unbeatable price offers on gorilla trekking safaris in Africa. This is due to that since we are a local company, we offer great value safaris at fair prices with no overhead costs to travelers. Here are our best last minute deals for 2023 and early bird offers for 2024 and 2025. Need a custom trip? Feel free to call +256 772 072909 or email us to start planning your safari!

Top Uganda Gorilla Treks

Uganda is the perfect destination for those looking to gorilla treks and wildlife safaris. Indeed Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has become the adventure capital for gorilla trekking in Africa. Here are some of the best gorilla tours carefully crafted to include other adventures such as game viewing, chimpanzee tracking etc.

2 Days Mgahinga Gorillas

3 Days Gorilla Habituation

• 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Safari

4 Days Double Gorilla Trek

4 Days Uganda Gorillas & Mburo

5 Days Gorillas & Chimps

7 Days Uganda Safari

10 Days Great Apes & Game

Rwanda Gorilla Treks

We run several gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. These trips start from Kigali and range from day trips to longer safaris that feature multiple gorilla visits in the gorillaland. Here are some of the top safari offers;

2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek

This trip to the Volcanoes combines gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking.

4 Days Gorillas & Golden Monkeys

5 Days Gorillas & Wildlife Safari

5 Days Gorillas & Chimps Trek

Fly-in Safaris

At Go Gorilla Trekking, we have made it possible to reach the destinations where gorilla watching is done by organizing flying safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga National Park. Save time and explore more in less time. Our trips are safe, affordable and will make your next vacation even better! See more for less on one of our flying safaris below;

4 Days Uganda Gorillas & Chimps

6 Days Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife

See the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest, chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park on this 6 Days Uganda Tour.

5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Ishasha Region

3 Days Bwindi Fly In Safari

Travel by air to the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. You will fly to either Kihihi in the north or Kisoro in Southern Bwindi. Read More

4 Days Uganda Fly In Safari

Go gorilla trekking twice on this 4 Days (3 Nights) Fly-In safari. You will track the mountain gorillas in two different sectors in Bwindi Forest. Read More

6 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari

This 6 Days Uganda Safari highlights visits to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi to see gorillas, chimpanzees and wild game. Read More

Get Started with Planning your Trip

Looking for a custom holiday in Africa? All gorilla tours featured on our website can be tailor made to suit group or individual interests. Would you like to include any other adventure activity in your trip itinerary?

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We are working on wherever we can to offer as much flexibility and support to travelers as possible. We have attained more flexible policies to make travel easier such as flexibility in changing travel dates, reduced deposits to confirm trips and flexibility on rescheduling the gorilla permits. Book your next gorilla trek in advance and secure your spot for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

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Top Gorilla Trips from Kigali

Planning to fly to Kigali of Rwanda? We have several trips departing from Kigali, the Capital of Rwanda. Here are the top sellers from Kigali going through Rwanda, Uganda or DR Congo.

• 1 Day Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
• 2 Day Mgahinga Gorilla Safari
• 2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari
• 2 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek
• 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Bunyonyi

Top Gorilla Treks from Kampala

Would you like to start your trip from Kampala or Entebbe? We have several gorilla tours that start from Kampala or Entebbe leading you through the gorilla empire of Uganda, Rwanda and Eastern DR Congo.

• 3 Day Bwindi Gorilla Trek
• 4 Day Bwindi Gorilla Trek
• 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas + Kibale Chimpanzees
• 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimpanzees
• 7 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife

We are Go Gorilla Trekking, a local safari company operating from both Uganda and Rwanda. We invite you for an amazing encounter on a gorilla trek in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We are an outdoor adventure travel company specializing in organizing gorilla safaris in Uganda , Rwanda and Congo . With over 9 years experience in organizing gorilla safaris in Africa, we create the best gorilla trekking expeditions into the tropical rain forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Virunga Region at unbeatable prices!

All our gorilla tours are planned by a team of professional and proficient staff with vast experience in creating interesting and memorable tours. Planning for a trip to see the mountain gorillas in the wild or would you like to track the lowland gorillas in Central Africa? Booking a trip with us will be an outdoor experience like no other one you have ever had! Read more about us and our ethos.

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We are now pleased to announce last minute gorilla trips and discounted gorilla safaris . Save by checking our early bird safari offers by booking with us today! Check out the available deals on Uganda safaris from Experience Africa, our sister company and request for availability of any of our tours by contacting us on +256 772 072909 or via contact form .

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Ugandans and Rwandans appreciate those who dress modestly. Uganda and Rwanda are warm in the plains but often cold in the hills and mountains

A variety of camps and lodges are available when staying in Uganda and Rwanda while in DR Congo and Central Africa accommodation choices are limited.

Best Time to See Gorillas

Whether you are planning to go gorilla tracking in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo, here is all the information you need to know about the times to see gorillas in Africa.

It is so called because the dense undergrowth, vines and other vegetation make it almost impenetrable. Its mysterious and awesome.

The Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla bengei) are the most awe-inspiring animals to be found in Africa. Unfortunately, man has not been merciful to them.

The Parc National des Volcans (PNV) is part of the Virunga Conservation Area and covers more than 125 kmsq and was Dian Fossey’s base a long time ago.

Looking for a day tour to the gorillas in Africa? We offer several day trips to the gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. At Go Gorilla Trekking, we offer different ways to experience both mountain & lowland gorilla watching in Africa. Read More Details

Lowland Gorilla Tours

Lowland gorillas are habitually very difficult to habituate compared to mountain gorillas, however, the DR Congo and the Central African Republic offer the only chance to track one of the two habituated lowland gorilla groups in the world!. Read More Details

The mountain gorillas spend most of their time in the hagenia woodlands and bamboo forests. During the rainIg season when new bamboo shoots are growing, the gorillas spend more time foraging in the bamboo forests (base altitude). Read More Details

Gorillaland

Congo famously known as Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC is a land of continuous travel adventures and fun in both year seasons. The beautiful attractions and national parks weave through the wonderful mountains and hilly backdrops giving travelers things to do as they drive around or chill at their lodge. Rain forests, mountains, Volcanoes, are made accessible to guests by road transport that’s why Congo gorilla parks are chosen as Congo most beautiful parks across the country.

The Democratic Republic of Congo protects both known species of gorillas; the Eastern Gorilla and Western Gorilla. The Democratic Republic of Congo is an amazing place to see gorillas in Africa. This Central African country hosts three of the four known gorilla species.

The DR Congo is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The country has it all from gold treasures, mountain gorillas, and low land gorillas, wildlife, chimpanzees, Volcanoes and much more. I believe you will find you’re desired destination with in this amazing nation as long as you love primates and rewarding adventures like Volcanoes hiking. As you plan your Congo safari tour, here are the stunning places to consider for a wonderful vacation.

Where to Go Gorilla Trekking in Congo

Virunga National Park

• Kahuzi Biega National Park

Though travel interests differ for different guests from year to year Virunga and Kahuzi Biega national park are still a priority for travelers on Africa primate safaris due to the great conservation effort in not only the parks but also in the surrounding local communities. Both protected areas assure the preservation of all park bio diversity in respect of history and culture of the surrounding communities.

This makes both parks suitable safe destinations for gorilla tracking tours though trying to get more fame across the globe as they take pride in the unique offerings they hold for guests daily.The natural environment in these places is outstanding giving sustainable travel to whoever chooses to visit any time of the year. You may have been to beautiful natural places in the world but Congo is one of those you should try out some day.

Planning a Gorilla Watching Tour to Congo

Gorilla tracking tours in the DR Congo take place in the Virunga National park and Kahuzi Biega National Park which is located in the Eastern side of the country.

DRC has got both mountain gorillas and the other subspecies of the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Beiga National Park. Eastern lowland gorillas have short fur on the body but more similar to mountain gorillas hence tourists can track both subspecies of gorillas once in DRC, an experience that you won’t get in Uganda or Rwanda.

Kahuzi Biega

This rich conservation area in Congo is a home of eastern low land gorillas also known as Grauer’s gorillas and is the largest of the four subspecies. The low land gorillas have large hands, stocky body shape and short muscles a thing that differentiates them from other gorillas. However, the trekking experience is same just like that of mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and in Virunga National Park.

Kahuzi Biega national park is one of the most influential places for Congo safaris and tourism .If you want  to see the fascinating  side of Democratic Republic of Congo, a trip to low land gorillas will give you definite answers. Find this gorilla park  in a 30 kilometer distance from Bukavu it takes one & half hours to get to the park by road.

This is one of the most biologically diverse protected areas on the planet packed with amazing primates-Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and other forest habitats, scenic landscape and great ambience. Just in case you don’t know Virunga National Park is one of the top mountain gorilla safari destinations in Africa and the only place to experience gorilla trekking in Congo. Get close to wild gorilla in the jungle forest with a trip to Virunga National Park and also enjoy chimpanzee habituation and viewing other park primate species on a single trek. Its the park natural beauty that keeps flow of visitors to Congo all year.

Nyiragongo Volcanoes

Imagine waking up hearing sounds of earthquakes deep below the surface. The movement knocked giant rocks off the crater walls forming a new vent on the edge. This is a true story about the recent volcanoe eruption in Congo what is known as the world most beautiful active volcanoe near Lake Kivu at the eastern boarder of Congo in Virunga National Park. The big thanks goes to all the people of Goma who accepted change and gave way to nature.

Nyiragongo Volcanoes offers visitors  wonderful hiking  experience filled with impressive views  of the blue skies, mountain Rwenzori in Uganda and the entire view of Virunga national park. Nights and morning up in the mountains are incredible and the dazzling magma appears in a unique form best for photography and observation.

Visiting DR Congo for Gorilla Tourism

A couple of decades ago, DRC used to be feared by most tourists due to civil wars that destabilized tourism. Fortunately, wars have faded away due to increased security by Virunga National Park rangers and the UN peacekeeping forces.Gorilla safaris now days take tourists into the DRC without any security threat.

Once you book a gorilla tour with a tour operator, you are guaranteed to encounter gorillas in their natural habitat. The Congolese institute for conservation of wildlife and nature together with Virunga National Park Authorities habituated 5 gorilla families which are open for tourists.

Tourists have an advantage of cheap gorilla permits in DRC at $400 per person which is issued by Virunga National Park Authorities.

Gorilla watching in comparison with Uganda and Rwanda is quite good due to fewer tourists who visit virunga national park. In addition to being less visited, only 6 people are allowed to see gorillas contrary to 8 people in Rwanda and Uganda hence you are likely to track minus crowds. Tourists wear surgical masks not to transmit respiratory infectious diseases like colds to gorillas.

Accessibility of Virunga National Park is another factor why most tourists opt for gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda. Most tourists access DRC either from Rwanda via the Gisenyi/Goma border or through southwestern Uganda via the Bunagana border which is not convenient for most travelers. In addition, roads leading to Virunga National Park are not tarmac and you must use a 4 wheel vehicle.

To conclude about the highlights of the best gorilla tracking destination, Rwanda’s volcanoes national park tops due to ease accessibility, bamboo terrain which makes watching gorillas easier. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in Uganda comes second because of its high number of gorillas; in addition there are a lot of adventure tourist activities to do such as birding, nature walks, wildlife viewing whereas DRC has two subspecies of gorillas that is the mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas.

Note, however, tourists planning for a gorilla safari in either of the gorilla national park, need to arrange their safaris in advance of 3-4 months. The climatic conditions are pleasantly tropical with warm and wet weather conditions.

Gorilla tracking is done all year round but the best time would be during the dry season between December to February and June to September while the wet season is usually between October to November and March to May.

Home » Africa » Congo Gorilla Trekking – Backpacker’s Guide to Gorilla Tours

Congo Gorilla Trekking – Backpacker’s Guide to Gorilla Tours

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Before I left on my backpacking trip to Africa , I promised my mother that I would not visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), since the Congo is known for political instability, corruption, and violence. Well – sorry mom – looks like I broke that promise. Although I gave my sweet, old mother a heart attack, I am so happy that I visited the Congo because I participated in two unique travel experience. (Seriously, it is hard for me to think of a better experience). I got to meet Silverback gorillas in their natural habitat and hike to the largest lava lake in the world! In this post, I will focus on gorilla trekking in the Congo at Virunga National Park .

Gorilla Trekking Tour – Worth the Money?

A moment I’ll never forget – after an hour of walking through luscious, green farmlands and arriving at the top of a hill, our guide points in one direction. I look over and bam – there’s a silverback gorilla! I’m amazed, yet a bit nervous at how close I am. Observing this massive animal in his daily routine – stuffing his face with leaf after leaf – enthralls me. The ranger pulls out a machete and hacks away at a bush uncovering a mother and baby gorilla. A huge smile immediately covers my face. After the baby has had enough leaves, he starts walking my direction and passes over my feet. I stand completely still and turn my head back to the Silverback. I hope he isn’t upset that I’m so close to his family, but the Silverback is just chilling, making me realize I don’t’ have to be as nervous. Instead, I need to enjoy this unique wild animal experience.

Gorilla trekking Rwanda vs. Uganda vs. the Democratic Republic of Congo 

The top item on my to-do list before I stepped foot in East Africa was to go on a gorilla tour. Is gorilla trekking cheap? No way. Is it worth it? 100% yes – and I would do it again in a heartbeat! There are only 3 countries in the world where you can go mountain gorilla trekking: Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Each of these countries caters to a different type of traveler. So where did I decide to ball out and spend all my money to meet some Silverbacks? I chose the Democratic Republic of the Congo and encourage others to visit the Congo as well. There are pros and cons to each country. Take a look below at the logistics for each to make your decision.

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Logistics

Traveler type: Time & comfort are more important than budget

Location:  Volcanoes National Park

Days Needed:  1

Permit Cost:   $1,500 USD;  Discounted Permit: $1050 if visit other Rwanda national parks (Akagera and Nyungwe) for a minimum of 3 days between Nov – May. 

1 Day Tour Cost  (includes transport, lunch, permit, & guide) :   $1780 – $2000 USD per person 

Visa Cost:  7-day transit visa: $30 USD; 3o-day tourist: $50 USD

Rwanda is perfect for a traveler who has limited vacation, and wants to add gorilla trekking as a one-off experience before jetting back home. The Volcanoes National Park is only a 2-hour drive from Kigali airport, making a one-day gorilla tour possible. (You’ll just have to wake up super early at 4 am). Rwanda caters to a more polished gorilla trekking experience, since the country is clean and organized, has good infrastructure, and relatively good roads. The terrain during the trek is easier to hike when compared to Uganda. If you have more time in Rwanda and like to get off the beaten path , then I would recommend hiking the  Congo Nile trail

Pros : Easy access, easier hike, good infrastructure

Con : The most expensive

Travel like a Backpacker |  How to save money and book a Rwanda Gorilla Trekking trip independently without a tour

Step 1 – Get Gorilla Trek Permit:  Contact the Rwanda Tourism Board to get your permits. Do this in advance – especially during high seasons (December – March, and June – September)! There are a limited amount of passes for each day. Their email is [email protected]

Step 2 – Organize Transport and Accommodation: You can either take public transport or hire a private driver to Volcanoes National Park.

Hiring a Taxi: I recommend hiring a driver in Kigali. Even though it is slightly more expensive, it saves time and guarantees less stress. You leave at 4:30 in the morning, go gorilla trekking and come back to Kigali the same day. Hiring a driver with gas included costs ~$150-$250 USD.

Local Bus Option:  Taking local transport is the cheapest option, especially if traveling solo. You’ll need to take the bus from Kigali to Ruhengeri (1700-5000 RWF/$2- 6 USD), which takes 3 hours and runs every 30 minutes. (You can purchase tickets at the bus station). From Ruhengeri connect to Kinigi, which is 20-30 minutes away. The local bus costs 300-1500 RFW/$0.30-1.70 USD, and a mototaxi costs 2000 RFW/$2.70 USD to Kinigi. It is still necessary to have a 4WD for the gorilla trek the next day. Ask your hotel to organize transport, which should cost $80-$100. Your driver will drive you to the starting point and also wait until you finish trekking to bring you back.

Accommodation: Budget  Hotels in Kinigi range from $15- $80 a night. One recommendation is La Paillote Gorilla Camp Sit Campground.  

Click here for current prices and details on La Paillote.  

If you want to stay in Ruhengeri then The Amahoro Guesthouse ($30 per night) is a good option.

Click for more details on Amahoro Guesthouse.

Uganda Gorilla Trekking Logistics

Interested in adding other safaris, has more time, and in decent physical shape

Location: Bwindi National Park

Days Needed:  3

Permit Cost:   $700 USD  

3 Day Tour costs  (includes transport, food, accommodation, permit) :  $1600 USD

Uganda is ideal for travelers who have more time flexibility, and want to go on additional safaris. It is possible to travel independently, but save yourself the burden and choose from the numerous gorilla tour operators who will organize permits, transport, and accommodation. Also, spending money on a tour helps the local economy. If you are on a budget, I recommend booking with Seith at Bwindi Backpacker Lodge . He is responsive to emails and offers a lower cost option for gorilla trekking. A bed costs $15 a night, and he can organize a taxi from Kabale for ~$100 plus fuel.

It takes a full day (9 hours) to drive from the international airport to Bwindi National Park. I’d recommend extending your holiday in Uganda, staying for one or two weeks to see everything the country has to offer. Combine the gorilla trek with other popular attractions like canoeing in Lake Bunyonyi (which inspired Wakanda in the movie Black Panther), or a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park to see the tree climbing lions.

For super gorilla fans, there is also a habituation trek , which is limited to 4 people per day and last 4 hours instead of 1 hour like the other gorilla tours. The permit cost is $1,500. A habituation trek differs because the goal is to get the wild animals used to the sight of people.

Pros : Cheaper than Rwanda, Safer than the DRC

Con : Harder trek, Park is far away

(Short on time – here’s a tip: Check the option of flying into Kigali, Rwanda instead of Entebbe, Uganda. Bwindi is only 4 hours from Kigali, so the drive to the park is shorter, but there is an additional visa cost for Rwanda.)

Interested in a Group Trip to Uganda?

Join the Follow The Fro to Gorilla Trekking tour next February 2021!

If you want to support a local Uganda tour agency and travel with Kesi and other adventurous souls, then sign up!

Democratic Republic of Congo Gorilla Trekking Logistics

Traveler Type: Budget-conscious, adventurous

Location: Virunga National Park

Days Needed:  2

Permit Cost:   $400 USD  or $200 USD during rainy season (Mar 15 – May 15)

2 Day Tour costs  (includes transport, accommodation, permit) :  $650 – $750 USD

Visa Cost:  7-day visa: $105

Pros : Cheapest option

Con : Country is unstable, the park can close if there are safety concerns

The Democratic Republic of Congo is perfect for an experienced traveler who likes to get off the beaten path and wants the cheapest gorilla trekking option. Since I did the gorilla trek in the DRC, I have the most information and will go in-depth about my experience in the section below. Visiting the gorillas in Congo is highly recommended. 

Complete Guide to Gorilla Trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Why you should visit the Congo?

Initially, two reasons convinced me to go gorilla trekking in the Congo:

1. Hello! I’m a backpacker who is always looking to save money – it’s the cheapest place!

2. I also wanted to hike the Mount Nyiragongo Volcano , so might as well kill two birds with one stone.

  After I completed the trek, there became even more reasons why the Congo is the best place to visit for a gorilla tour.

3.   Easy Booking Process: Virunga National Park is very organized, and all logistics can be booked directly with the park, without the need for a tour agency or middleman. There are options to apply for a visa and book gorilla permits, accommodation, and transport all on its website. I tend to be a last minute planner but recommend booking at least a month in advance, to ensure there is space. Also, visas can take up to 1-2 weeks to process.

4.    John Paul aka The Best Guide Ever!  The transportation and accommodation options on Virunga’s site were above my budget. I searched for a Couchsurfing host in Goma and was lucky to find John Paul. (Check out his Couchsurfing references here ). Although he couldn’t host at his home, he went above and beyond to make sure that my friend and I were taken care of during our visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Before we even met JP, he was proactively helpful. We ordered our visas and gorilla permits online on our own, and he visited Virunga’s office on our behalf to ensure everything was running smoothly. Then he insisted on meeting us at the border to help guide us through Goma. The bus from Kigali took longer than expected and JP patiently waited over an hour for us at the border, and still greeted us with a warm smile and showed zero signs of annoyance. John Paul sorted a cheap hotel after asking for our price range and specifications (aka – must have Wi-Fi), and also arranged a cheaper taxi to the gorilla trek. Not only was he organized and supportive, but also was a fascinating person. Congo has an unstable history and having a local to talk to about the political climate, daily life, and what it means to be Congolese is precisely the reason I travel – to meet new people and hear their perspectives of life.

John Paul makes his living by organizing tours in the DRC. I cannot recommend him enough! He will find you the best prices, and all the money you spend helps to support the local entrepreneurs in Goma, Congo. Check out my interview with John Paul in The Local Lingo section on my site.

The moment you decide to visit the DRC contact John Paul on Facebook , or Whatsapp: +243 990 622 714

5.   Virunga National Park needs tourist money.  The Congo gorilla tours and permit cost support Virunga National Park’s conservation efforts and makes a more significant impact in the Congo versus other gorilla trekking countries. Rangers risk their lives daily to protect the wildlife and nature from poachers and rebels. Unfortunately, ranger deaths are common (not in the same area where tourists go). There have been 170 rangers killed in the past 20 years – making this park the most dangerous conservation project. Tourism is low since people are afraid to visit the DRC. Our guide at the end of our trek told us if we felt safe and enjoyed our time then we should outreach and encourage others to visit the Congo. So here is my plea! Spend your money in the DRC! The mountain gorilla population has increased to 1,000, and to keep protecting these animals it’s important to support Virunga National Park financally.

Wait…is the Congo safe?

People are always shocked when I tell them I went to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Wait, isn’t the Congo very dangerous? Why would you go there?” Although I am well traveled, I too was a bit nervous about venturing to the Congo. I questioned if it was stupid to go to a country tormented by civil wars and distrust in the government. Yes – the Congo is a dangerous place, but Goma is generally safe for tourists, and Virunga National Park prioritizes keeping visitors protected. If there are ever any safety concerns, the park will close. When I researched the park, there had been no attacks against tourists in the past 20 years, so I was comfortable to go trekking.

Unfortunately in May 2018, right after I visited Virunga National Park, two British tourists were kidnapped for 48 hours. They were unharmed and released safely. Virunga closed the park to tourists to reevaluate and establish robust measures to ensure the safety of the animals and visitors of the park. The park reoponed in February 2019, and I still encourage to visit Virunga.  

Transportation to Virunga National Park

Start in Kigali, Rwanda: Kigali is the most accessible city to enter by either a flight or a bus. Kigali feels western, so it’s a comfortable place to spend the night. Spend at least a day in the city and visit the Genocide Memorial. This experience is somber, yet also a compelling one. The genocide is an essential time in recent history, which has also directly affected life in the DRC. BBC wrote an article about the domino effect of the genocide in the Congo .

Kigali to Gisenyi, Rwanda – Border Crossing: There is a local minibus that frequently runs from Kigali to Gisenyi that takes ~3/4 hours. There are two border crossings: the Petite Barrière and the Grand Barrière. Even though the Grand Barrière is open until 10 pm, I would recommend leaving Kigali before 3 pm to have enough time to cross the border. Remember…this is Africa, transportation & logistics always take longer than expected.

Goma: After crossing the border find a mototaxi to take you to your hotel in Goma. There are plenty of mototaxis by the border. I recommend spending the night in Goma since there is cheaper accommodation than in Virunga National Park.

Goma to Bukima (Virunga National Park Gorilla Entrance): Find a private driver to Bukima. It is necessary to have a proper 4WD car because the roads are in bad condition. John Paul organized a driver for us for $120. It’s also possible to book transport through the Virunga website; it’ll just be more expensive – $188. I can’t recommend enough contacting John-Paul to organize your gorilla tour. He has the best prices and is trustworthy.

Where to stay

The night before the gorilla trek you can stay in Goma – the cheapest option, Virunga National Park – the more luxury option, or Bukima – the closest option.

Click here to find the latest hotel prices and book a place to stay.

La Versailles – Budget Room in Goma

We told John Paul that we wanted the cheapest room, but also Wi-Fi and he recommended staying at La Versailles. A double room cost $30 per night and included breakfast. This accommodation is simple but easy to reach in Goma and good value. The price is higher on booking.com, so I’d recommend using John Paul to book. 

Rated 3 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor

Lac Kivu Lodge – Flashpacker Room in Goma

Situated on the lake in Goma, Lac Kivu is a good option for a flashpacker who wants more comfort and a beautiful view, but not spend an excessive amount of money. Prices start at $80 USD for a room.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor

Mikeno Lodge – Luxury Room in Rumangabo

An expensive, high-end lodge with amazing scenery situated between the gorilla trek and volcano hike. It is an ideal location to stay the night between the two activities.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor

Bukima Tented Camp – Glamping right next to gorilla trek entrance

Located within walking distance to the gorilla trek, this is a luxury option for individuals who like nature and want convenience. If you are lucky, maybe a gorilla will walk by during your stay.

What to pack

Remember – you are hiking in the wild, so make sure to have the proper equipment to enjoy the experience fully. Here is a list of items I would recommend. You can find all of these suggested items on Amazon.

• Hiking Boots – It is possible to trek in sneakers, but hiking boots are best especially if it rains. I was lucky, and my hike was not strenuous, but I was happy that I had hiking boots since some parts were muddy. Click here to review my favorite hiking boot.
• Long Pants  – Do not wear shorts, unless you like having weeds scratch you. Click here for travel pant suggestions.
• Walking Stick  (Optional)  – I did not think a hiking stick was needed, but my friend Jordan bought one at the gorilla trek entrance for $5, and she was happy to have it.
• Best Camera You Own  – When else will you be this close to silverback gorillas. Be prepared and invest in a high-quality camera. I only travel with my smartphone, but luckily l was my friend Jordan who had a DSLR when I backpacked in Africa.   Click here for DSLR camera suggestions.
• Poncho  – Just in case it rains, especially if you are going during the rainy season
• Selfie Stick – Who doesn’t want a gorilla selfie?! Here is the cheap selfie stick I use for my Pixel 2 phone
• Water Bottle –  I travel with the LifeStraw water bottle since it allows me to drink tap water anywhere. Click here for prices and more detail. 
• Cash for tips  – Make sure to tip your guide!

What to pack for gorilla trekking?

Click here to read an updated and comprehensive gorilla trekking packing list

The Congo gorilla trek experience – What is the day like?

6:15 AM – my alarm starts going off. I’m not usually an early riser, but today was easy to wake up because it was gorilla trekking day! At 6:30 AM John Paul arrived at our hotel and introduced us to his friend who would drive us to Bukima. Since I came to Goma late the previous night, I had no idea how it looked. I jumped in the back of the Jeep and felt a sense of adventure driving around the city. I kept thinking to myself, “Am I really in the DRC, right now?” Yes! Yes I was, and I felt completely safe. Looking out the window, I saw busy streets – boys were carrying heavy logs on human-made bikes, women dressed in bright patterns selling food in the market, and UN trucks driving around. I looked straight ahead, and we were headed towards the Mount Nyiragongo volcano, which was an unbelievable background view for a city. I had only been in the car for 5 minutes, yet was already blown away by Goma’s beauty!

Our driver turned to me and asked, “Have you ever had an ‘African Massage’?” I have already been traveling for 1.5 months in East Africa, so I knew that question meant we were headed to streets filled with potholes. For 1-2 hours we endured a long, bumpy ride or “African Massage” to the gorilla trek entrance point. I still loved the experience though, because each time I looked out the window, the locals would be smiling and waving at me, especially the kids. Sharing smiles tend to put me in a good mood.

When we arrived at Bukima around 8 am there was a diverse mix of 20ish people from Russia, Bangladesh, Australia, Canada, and the USA, all of whom were just as excited as us for the day. We checked in with our gorilla permits and sat down, waiting for the gorilla trek introduction. One of the rangers explained the logistics for the trek and described the different families in the park. We split into groups ranging from 4 to 6 tourists, 1 guide, and 2 additional rangers. My friend, Jordan, decided to buy a walking stick for $5 since it looked pretty cool. In hindsight, it wasn’t necessary since the trek was easy and only lasted an hour before we reached the gorilla family. (The other groups also said their treks were relatively easy and took 1 to 2 hours to find the gorillas). I already described my first interaction with the Congo gorillas at the beginning of this blog post, but I’ll reiterate that being so close to Silverback gorillas and their family is one of the top experiences I’ve ever had!

The most surprising elements were:

• How similar the primates looked to us – humans share 95-99% of the same DNA. During the gorilla tour, I felt like I was looking in a mirror (- ok, maybe I’m slightly prettier). To observe a wild animal and the physical similarities, like hands and thumbs, to humankind was “funnily surreal.”
• The gorillas’ behaviors were similar to humans. At one point it started to rain, and the mother immediately picked up her baby and walked into a more covered area. Well, Miss mother gorilla – I feel you, I also don’t like to get my hair wet!
• How much the gorillas farted! Seriously every 5 minutes I’d hear a release of gas.

Gorilla trekking during rainy season

Should you do a gorilla trek in the Congo during the rainy season? Since I am a backpacker that means I have a tight budget, so when I saw the gorilla permits were half the price – $200 – between March 15 to May 15, I knew that was the time I wanted to go. Although it was the rainy season, we got lucky and experienced no rain during the gorilla trek. It also didn’t rain at all the next day during the Nyiragongo volcano trek. It rained at nights while we were there, but the weather did not impact our journey. I don’t think rain would hinder the experience (i.e., you will still find the gorillas), but it would be an annoyance. Don’t let rainy season stop you, just be prepared with proper footwear, a poncho, and an umbrella to hide under to take photos.

Things i wish i knew before

• Do not fly out of the Goma – The airport is small, and they try to get additional money out of Westerners. Most people choose to fly out of Kigali, but since I used airline miles, I decided to fly out of Goma. When I arrived at the airport, I was surprised that I needed to pay an additional $50 departure tax in cash. The airport staff also wanted to charge me for extra shots, even though I had my yellow fever vaccine card. I assured them that since I am from the US, I already had all the necessary vaccinations and did not need them to stick any needles in me! I could tell they thought they could take advantage of me.
• Use John Paul as soon as you decide to visit the Congo. Seriously, he will organize everything for you and make you feel comfortable in a country that has many negative associations.
• An East African Visa is voided once you enter the Congo.
• To cross the border, you need to show your yellow fever vaccine card .
• Spend more time in Goma . I only planned to stay in Goma for two nights for the gorilla trek and volcano hike, but I would’ve loved an extra day or two to explore Goma, and kayak on the lake.
• I wish I were more knowledgeable about Congo’s complicated history. Then I would have had more enlightening conversations with the locals. I highly recommend watching the movie This is Congo , an unfiltered documentary that follows the life of 4 Congolese affected by the ongoing conflicts.

Gorilla Trekking Congo? Just do it! Here’s a video from my experience.

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30 comments.

What an amazing travel experience! Its so helpfull i would love to plan a trip to see the silverbacks and virunga nationalpark! Do you have Some advice about visa? I also will visit Uganda and Rwanda. Is it safe to visit more places in Congo ?

The best person to talk to is John Paul who I listed in my post. Seriously, he is super helpful. I did not visit anywhere else in the DRC. The visa is only for 7 days, but I would suggest spending more time in Goma, and kayak in the lake. Your trip sounds exciting!

yes you can visit other places here in congo and others places too and there’s so many interesting places to discover too,the visa of DRC is giving once you booked for the gorillas and if you want to spend other few days in congo then you can buy one more visa for one month, and even in rwanda is safer too for visiting some places too,as it’s a small country but it safer too

Greetings. I am looking to book a trek to see the Gorillas/chimps in Virunga NP next June/2024. You were recommended as a guide. Info I need: where to fly into from USA. Total costs for a 4-5.day trek. Would you take care of all the bookings/ permits? I appreciate the help. I am on a low budget. Mark Stearns. Philadelphia. USA. [email protected]

yes you can visit some places here in goma as in congo too, and rwanda also too is very safe too,and visas of DRC is 105 dollars because it delivery by virunga ,and if you wish to spend more days in congo then you need to buy one more visa for one month for whole congo

Yes there’s so many places to visit in goma DRC Just get in touch with us on WhatsApp and we Can help out with this +243990622714

Thank you! well needed info.

Great post, Very interesting and very informative.

I have a question regarding the gorilla trek and Volcano hike. I asked the park for the cheapest option, they gave me a respons that I NEEDED to buy a package that was $1400 dollars (gorilla trek, volcano trek and accomodation).

However, I can book the seperate trips for $400 dollar gorilla track and $350 volcano trek on their booking website.

But they said to me the following:

I am afraid we no longer offer stand alone day trips for gorilla treks, you do have to book a package and the minimum stay is two nights at Kibumba in order to gorilla trek. The Mikeno Mist has Kibumba Camp included, which is the cheapest accommodation we offer. There is no other accommodation in the park but ours, and we only allow tourism into the park with our packages for security reasons, I am afraid.

They still offer the seperate packages on their booking site and they even did a Facebook promotion yesterday..

When I confronted them with this they came back with me with the following:

I am sorry for the confusion. While the system does let you book a separate gorilla trek, we do not do them, unfortunately there is no way for us to stop the system letting you book only a gorilla trek, which is why we have instructions on how to book your package on the bookings pages. We cannot offer day trips to see the gorillas as we have had to put set departure times and routes for transfers for all tourism in the park for security reasons. If you were to book a stand alone gorilla trek, I would be emailing to let you know it was not possible, resulting in us either refunding you or adding the two nights at Kibumba Camp. However, while we do not offer stand alone gorilla treks, the permits for gorilla trekking are in with the rates for the packages and they are discounted at 50%, so you still only pay half price for a gorilla trek in the set packages.

Can you maybe confirm that they really are only doing packages and I can’t book 2 seperate treks anymore? And if I will stay in Goma, like you did, and do the 2 seperate treks?

I just want to do it the cheapest way possible, but paying 1400 (excluding visa, volcano backpack, porter fees etc etc) is insane! Even for Africa.

Great post btw, thank you for all the information!

If you was contact me before of this I should help you in so many ways but it seems like that was too late tije But next Time After coronavirus Book with us for separately trekks nyiragongo volcanoes Hike or gorillas trekking WhatsApp number +243990622714

However, I can book the seperate trips for $400 dollar gorilla track and $350 volcano trek.

When I confronted them with this they gave me back the following respons:

Can anyone confirm that they really are only doing packages and I can’t book 2 seperate treks anymore? And if I will stay in Goma, like you did, and do the 2 seperate treks? Maybe find a company there that can help me to only do the seperate treks?

It’s insane to pay 1400 for the two treks and accomodation (excluding visa, backpack for the volcano hike and porter fees etc etc), even for Afrika it’s insane!

I’d like to hear from you if you can help me with this.

Great post btw, very helpfull!!

Hello Tije, I’m in Kigali right now and willing to do the gorillas and volcano. Did you have an anwser for your question?

Apologies for the late reply. The best person to Contact is John-Paul who I mentioned in the post. He is local and can answer all questions. But it does seem that they have changed the process for gorilla trekking in the DRC. You can book the volcano trek separately, but the gorilla trek has to be one with a package.

I got the same response from some company as Tije Bekkering in recent weeks. I’ve been contemplating going to DRC for this for a while, but the quoted prices are nuts, even for Africa. Is it true that you can no longer book only the permit/tour and stay in your own accommodations/own transportation?

I believe that is the case. Contact John-Paul who I mention. He is local and has the most updated information. Nonetheless, the volcano trek is amazing, as is the gorilla trek and the DRC can definitely use the tourist dollars. This is not a backpacking option, but I’d still recommend the tour despite the high cost.

Hi, can i ask how much the bus cost from Kilgali to the border.(.in US $ )? a taxi would cost $100 so it has to be much cheaper by bus! Thanks

Hi, can i ask how much the bus cost from Kilgali to the border.(.in US $ )? a taxi would cost $100 so it has to be much cheaper by bus! Thanks also, I think you can only choose accomodation within the park now if you book a tour.

My dream is to travel! What an inspiration you are. I think the only thing holding me back are my father, who has dementia, and the lack of money. I don’t have anything really to even start on.

Traveling is a privilege and can definitely be hard thing to do when you have to take care of sick family members. Start saving now, so that one day you are able to travel. I spent two years saving money before I started my trip.

Would you agree that there is another cheaper and safer option. To fly to Kigali and to organise transportation to Mghahinga National Park Uganda, 3 hours from Kigali or stay in Ruhengari and its an hour away. The permit maybe $700 but the permit is discounted to $400 currently. I think this is now the cheapest option because i spoke to the Virunga National Park and they advised that you have to stay 2 nights and stay at one of the lodges as well. Its my understanding that the transfer to the park is $300 round trip.

Unless something has changed recently, I think the Uganda-Rwanda land border is still closed to tourism.

Hello. I just returned from a 3 days gorilla trek in Congo (Kahuzi-biega NP). It was once in a lifetime experience. As Virunga remains closed till May 2021, this is a perfect budget-friendly alternative. You can contact Standard Safaris to organize for you.

I would love to hear more about this experience. Would you be interested in writing a short (150-300 words) blurb that I can add to this blog post to make it more complete? If so, let me know the best way to contact you. Feel free to DM me on IG @Kesitoandfro

Thank you for this post! I’m eagerly waiting to reschedule my covid-cancelled Virunga NP trip from last year and I literally cannot wait.

This is a great, very detailed and informative article. However recently, that’s about a month ago we did host here in Uganda an Italian guest who went out for Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Uganda. His final remarks were that this is some once in a lifetime experience that is so Underrated. The world has focused more on Trekking these Mountain Gorillas but i dare you to Try out Habituation and thank me later.

Best information ever. Usually reading it twice a day. Thank you for inspiring story.

This article is so perfect thanks a lot

I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. 925 Solid Silver Ring

If anyone is interested in travelling to Congo for gorillas, i recommend considering kahuzi biega national park for lowland gorillas and primate walk in Lwiro primate sanctuary since virunga national park is still closed. or else if you have limited pockets, you can land in kigali and hire chauffer or reliable operators like http://www.epicugandavacation.com to arrange a transfer to Bwindi or Mgahinga parks of Uganda and see gorillas at a cheap deal with no hustle.

perfect article, thanks alot

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3 Days Congo Gorilla Safari – Starting from Rwanda

3 Days Congo gorilla safari tour to Virunga National Park offers a different experience from Uganda and Rwanda. The increase in the price for gorilla permits in Rwanda has made silverback gorilla tours and safaris to Uganda and DR Congo better and more economically feasible. A gorilla permit in DR Congo costs only 400USD whereas in Rwanda gorilla permits cost $1500. This three days Congo gorilla safari to Virunga National Park is designed to give our clients a cheaper but unique opportunity to do gorilla trekking at the great Virunga national park which despite bad press and recent closures has so much to offer.

However, the key attractions in the park are the mountain gorillas and climbing mount Nyiragongo . 20 percent of the remaining population of mountain gorillas are found here. Uganda and Rwanda may have more mountain gorillas but the Virunga National Park has the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. After tracking the gorillas, tourists have an opportunity to visit this interesting Centre for free. The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) is responsible for the overall management of the park but has had to deal with many challenges. A new challenge is the discovery of oil within the park. This could lead to the destruction of key wildlife habitat to build oil wells and encroachment on park land.

The 3 Days Congo gorilla tour starts from Rwanda before crossing to Goma town in Congo via Gisenyi. The gorilla trekking in Congo package includes visiting Lake Kivu and touring Kigali. You may also be interested in our 2 days Congo gorilla tour package.

Tour Highlights

• Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
• Visiting Lake Kivu
• Touring the city of Kigali

Full Itinerary

Dinner and accommodation will be at Mikeno Lodge (Luxury) or Kibumba Tented Camp (Mid-range).

Day 3: Transfer back to Kigali for departure

Wake up at your own leisure, take breakfast and prepare to start the journey back to Kigali. The park authorities will drive you up to the border crossing point where you will cross back into Rwanda and meet a driver from Mission Africa Safaris.

End of Tour

Quote Inclusions and Exclusions

The Tour price will include: –

• A safari vehicle
• The Congo Visa
• A Private Driver/Guide
• Gorilla tracking permits for Congo
• Accommodation for 2 nights
• Daily drinking water and meals
• Tour of Kigali city

The tour price will exclude the cost of flights, visas, personal costs and Personal Insurance.

Practical Guide

Gorilla trekking can be even more amazing if you pack or consider the following: –

• Good hiking boots with good traction but comfortable
• Thick cotton gloves to protect your hands from scratches
• A light raincoat in case the weather is not good
• Packed snack and water for drinking
• Porters to help with heavy backpack. Reserve between $10 and $15 as tip for the guides and Rangers who ensure that you have a great time your time in Rwanda and Congo. Tip is not compulsory.

Important Notes

•  This tour doesn’t include dinner and accommodation before the first day of the tour but can always be arranged
• You are required to be 15 years or more to do gorilla trekking
• You must have a yellow fever card to enter Rwanda and Congo
• The Congo Visa is covered in this tour but you need to plan for the Rwanda Visa. Please note that you will be required to get another Visa when entering Rwanda after completing gorilla trekking in Congo.

Accommodation

Kibumba Tented Camp: Kibumba is another accommodation facility run and owned by the Virunga Foundation. The camp is built on a hill close to an area inhabited by two of the habituated gorilla families in Congo. The lodge sits on the foot of the Nyiragongo Volcano and provides 18 spacious self-contained tents. Each tent has a bathroom, a warm shower, clean bed sheets, a working table and much more. There is also a communal lounge with majestic views of the park and the Virunga volcanoes. Guests should expect nutritious meals consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables and international cuisines. If you are looking for a mid-range lodge where you can be completely immersed in nature (lush vegetation, volcanoes and true African wilderness), then Kibumba tented camp will do it for you.

Bukima Tented Camp: Bukima means “place where there are monkeys”. Bukima Tented Camp is a mid-range lodge found outside the park boundaries but close to one of the starting points for gorilla trekking in Virunga. It started as a camp for gorilla researchers but is now hired out to tourists. Bukima is an excellent choice because it is very close to the briefing point for gorilla trekking and offers amazing views of the Virunga volcanoes and especially Mount Mikeno. This means that you don’t have to travel too far to start the hike if you are their guest. Interestingly, even guests at the luxury Mikeno lodge have to pass through Bukima on their way for gorilla trekking. If the trek goes longer than expected, they stop over for lunch before heading back to their lodge. So how are their rooms and food? Food is great here and so are the rooms. The Camp has 6 tents with their own beds, bathrooms, water, flush toilets and hot showers.

Uganda Safaris

• 1 Day Short Gorilla Trip
• 1 Day Kampala City Tour
• 1 Day Jinja City Tour
• 2 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trek
• 2 Days Jinja Water Rafting
• 2 Days Murchison Falls Safari
• 2 Days Queen Elizabeth Safari
• 3 Days Ssese Islands tour
• 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
• 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience
• 3 Days Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga
• 3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale
• 3 Days Queen Elizabeth Safari
• 3 Days Tour Murchison Falls
• 3 Days Lake Mburo National Park
• 3 Days Lake Bunyonyi Tour
• 3 Days Lake Bunyonyi and Gorilla Trekking
• 4 Days Safari Murchison Falls
• 4 Days Queen Elizabeth Safari
• 4 Days Kidepo Wildlife Tour
• 4 Days Uganda Wildlife Tour
• 5 Days Uganda Safari
• 5 Days Uganda Primates Safari
• 5 Days Murchison Falls Safari
• 5 Days Queen Elizabeth Safari
• 6 Days Uganda Wildlife safari
• 6 Days in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth
• 6 Days in Kidepo and Murchison Falls
• 6 Days in Kibale, Bwindi and Murchison Falls
• 6 Days in Murchison Falls and Budongo Chimpanzees
• 7 Days Uganda Safari
• 8 Days Primates Safari
• 8 Days Gorillas and Masai Mara
• 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
• 9 Days Rwenzori Hiking Safari
• 10 Days Uganda Safari
• 11 Days Best of Uganda Safari
• 12 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
• 13 Days Uganda Rwanda tour
• 15 Days Grand Uganda Safari

Rwanda Safaris

• 1 Day Gorilla Tour Rwanda
• 2 Days Gorilla Tour Rwanda
• 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari
• 5 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda and Primates
• 7 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda and Primates
• 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Golden Monkeys
• 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Golden Monkeys
• 2 Days Golden Monkey Trekking
• 6 Days Rwanda Safari
• 1 Day Kigali City Tour
• I Day Akagera National Park Safari
• 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari
• 3 Days Akagera National Park Safari
• 3 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Dian Fossey Hike
• 2 Days Nyungwe National Park Tour
• 3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe

Combined Safaris

• 4 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
• 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Karisimbi Hike
• 5 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
• 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
• 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
• 10 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari
• 14 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
• 15 Days Uganda Rwanda Congo Safari

Please give me a quote for a tour for the end of February 2023 if possible.

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• 3 Days Gorilla Tour In Congo

Transfer from Kigali to Bukima in DR Congo for gorilla trekking safari

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This 3 days gorilla tour exposes you to Congo’s mountain gorilla in the virunga national park in Congo offering you with the best wildlife experience. The tour starts and ends in Kigali in Rwanda. Democratic Republic of Congo is the least visited gorilla tourism destination which making a safari there surely adventurous.

Day 1: Kigali to Bukima in DR Congo

In the morning, you will be picked up from your lodge by our driver guide to start you 3 days gorilla tour In Congo, drive through kigali heading to the Bukima in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This will take you roughly 4 hours to reach Goma where you will have a stopover for lunch refreshment. Later, you will transfer to Bukima reaching in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at Bukima lodge/Mikeno lodge.

Day 2: Gorilla tracking tour in Congo Virunga

You will have a morning breakfast and then transfer to Virunga national park headquarters for briefing by the park rangers. Here you will be told the rules while trekking to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable experience. You will then hike into the jungle searching the allocated gorilla family. Interaction with the gorillas will last for an hour after which you will descend back to the starting point. Non flash light cameras are the only ones allowed to take photographs. Dinner and overnight at Bukima lodge/Mikeno lodge.

Day 3: Return to Kigali

Have a morning breakfast and return to kigali to end your 3 days gorilla tour In Congo and catch up your return flight.

PRICE WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

* Gorilla permits * Warm lunches on transfer days and water in car * Professional Guide/ driver * Ground transportation in a 4X4 safari car * Accommodation for 2 nights * Meals at the lodges (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

PRICE WILL EXCLUDE:

* Airticket and visa fees * Soft sodas and alcoholic drinks * Extra activities out of itinerary * Laundry expenses * And other personal items/expenses

End of the tour

POPULAR UGANDA TOUR SAFARIS

• 1 day Short Gorilla trip – Rwanda
• 10 Days Gorilla Safari Tour
• 10 Days Gorilla trekking Safari in Congo and Uganda
• 12 Days Gorilla safari tour
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• 2 Days Gorilla Trekking Adventure
• 20 Days Uganda and Rwanda safari
• 3 Days Congo Gorilla Safari
• 3 Days Gorilla Experience in Congo
• 3 Days gorilla tracking in Rwanda
• 3 Days Magical Gorilla Tour And Culture
• 3 Days Nyiragongo Volcano Hike
• 3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Tour
• 3 DAYS PRIMATE SAFARIS
• 4 Days Congo Gorilla Trek Safari And Nyiragongo Volcano Hike
• 4 Days gorilla safari and Kampala city tour
• 4 Days gorillas and Lake Kivu tour
• 4 Days Gorilla Trekking and Lake Mburo Safari
• 5 Days gorilla safari and Water rafting
• 5 Days gorilla trekking and wildlife in Lake Mburo Park Safari
• 5 Days Gorilla Trekking Experience
• 5 Days gorillas and wildlife tour
• 5 Days Rwanda gorilla safari
• 6 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari Details
• 6 Days Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari in Rwanda
• 6 Days gorillas and chimpanzee trekking
• 6 Days Mountain Gorilla trekking in DR Congo and Rwanda  
• 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour
• 6 Days Special Package
• 6 Days Gorilla Safari Tour – Gorillas, Wildlife and Chimps safari
• 7 Days Congo Wildlife Safari
• 7 Days gorilla adventure Tour safari
• 7 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour
• 7days gorilla tour primates, wildlife safari and gorilla trek
• 8 Days Best Of Rwanda
• 8 Days gorilla safari trip
• 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Holiday Tour
• 6 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Safari in Rwanda
• 8 Days Uganda safari tour – rhinos, wildlife, primates and gorillas
• 9-Days Expeditions To Rwanda
• 9 Days Uganda, Rwanda & DR Congo Gorilla Safari

Physical Contact Details

Africa Adventure Vacations Ltd Plot 85 Kanjokya Street, Uganda Phone: +256 752 974500 +256785025022 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

15 Days Gorilla Safari Tour 12 Days Gorilla safari tour 10 Days Gorilla Safari Tour 8 Days Best Of Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzee And Tree Climbing Lions 8 days Uganda safari tour – rhinos, wildlife, primates and gorillas 8 Days gorilla safari trip 6 days gorilla safari tour – gorillas, wildlife and chimps safari 7 Days gorilla adventure Tour safari 7 days gorilla tour primates, wildlife safari and gorilla trek 6 Days gorillas and chimpanzee trekking 6 Days Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari in Rwanda 5 Days gorilla safari and Water rafting 5 Days gorillas and wildlife tour 4 Days Gorilla Trekking and Lake Mburo Safari 4 Days gorilla safari and Kampala city tour 17 Days Best of Uganda Wildlife Safari and Cultural tour

2 Days Gorilla Trekking Adventure 3 Days Congo Gorilla Safari 3 Days Gorilla Experience 3 Days Gorilla Tour 4 Days Congo Gorilla Trek Safari 6 Days Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari 7 Days Congo Wildlife Safari

1 day Short Gorilla trip – Rwanda 2 Days Gorilla Tracking 3 Days gorilla tracking in Rwanda 3 Days Magical Gorilla Tour And Culture 3 Days Nyiragongo Volcano Hike 3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Tour 3 Days Primate Safari 4 Days gorillas and Lake Kivu tour 5 Days Gorilla Trekking Experience 5 Days Rwanda gorilla safari 6 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Safari in Rwanda 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour 6 Days Special Package 7 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour 8 Days Best Of Rwanda 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Holiday Tour 9 Days Expeditions To Rwanda 14 Days Best of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi Tour 15 Days Best Of Uganda Safari Tour 16 Days Remarkable African Safari 19 Days Big Five Safari In Uganda

Visit Rwanda Tours

2 Days Gorilla Safari in Volcanoes Rwanda 3 Days Affordable Gorilla Safari in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda 3 Days Rwanda Chimpanzee Trek In Nyungwe 3 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari In Akagera National Park 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari, Dian Fossey & Golden Monkey Tracking 4 Days Double Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda 5 Days Best Rwanda Primates Safari 7 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari & Gorilla Habituation Experience 7 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour & Wildlife Safari

6 Days Mountain Gorilla trekking in DR Congo and Rwanda 9 Days Uganda, Rwanda DR Congo Gorilla Safari 10 Days Gorilla trekking Safari in Congo and Uganda 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda safari 15 Days Uganda gorilla safari tour 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda safari tour 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda safari 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda gorilla safari 20 Days Uganda and Rwanda safari

Popular Uganda Tours

3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda 3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park 3 Days Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari 3 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking safari 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking safari from Kigali Rwanda 4 Days Double gorilla trekking safari Uganda 4 Days Gorilla Fly In Safari Uganda 4 Days Luxury Safari to Kidepo Valley National Park 5 Days Mountain Gorilla Tracking and Wildlife Tour In Uganda 9 Days Primate Safari and Genocide Trail 10 Days Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Tour 10 Days Fly In Uganda Gorillas – Rwanda Wildlife & Primate Safari 11 Days Magical Hike To Rwenzori Mountain Ranges 11-Day Hiking Sipi Falls, Abseiling, White Water Rafting and Gorilla Tracking Experience 13 Days Luxury Classic Wildlife Safari in Uganda

Uganda Wildlife Safaris

1 Day Kampala City Tour 2 Days Lake Mburo National Park Tour 3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee tour 3 Days Primate Safaris Rwanda 3 Days Nyiragongo Hike 3 Days Sipi Falls Hiking And River Nile Exploration 3 Days Group Tour To Queen Elizabeth Tour 3 Days Magical Experience In Queen Elizabeth National Park 3 Days Murchison Falls National Park – (2 Nights) 3 Days Experience Murchison Falls 4 Days Tree Climbing Lions And Chimpanzees 4 Days Queen Elizabeth And Lake Mburo Safari 5 Days Kampala And Source Of The Nile Tour 5 Days Green Rwanda Experience 5 Days Kidepo Valley National park tour 5 Days Zebra And Lions’ Tour 6 Days Special Package 7 Days Gorilla Trekking And Tree Climbing Lions Of Ishasha 7 Days and 6 nights wildlife safari to Uganda with Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife And Cultural Tour 8 Days Best Of Rwanda 9 Days wildlife Safari to Uganda 9 Days Visit Rwanda 10 Days Rwenzori Mountains Climbing 10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Climbing expeditions 12 Days Best Karamoja Trip Uganda 13 days wildlife safaris and jinja city tour 14 DAYS Big Five & RAFTING – 14 DAYS (13NIGHTS) 15 days Bird watching Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari 15 Days Uganda Hardcore Forest Birding Safari

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Gorilla Tours to Rwanda, Uganda & Congo

Gorilla Tours | Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda & Rwanda

We organize bespoke gorilla tours in Rwanda , Uganda and DR Congo .   We have not had incidents where our clients have missed encountering the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats for a breathtaking experience. These are the only 3 destinations in the world where mountain gorillas which share 98% of the human DNA can be found. Are you interested in a budget or luxury trip to Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo?  Book a lifetime wildlife experience to see the endangered primates in any of these destinations.

Gorilla trekking is a thrilling adventure in the montane rainforests of Bwindi and the Virunga Mountains where the endangered mountain gorillas live. Our gorilla safaris are well customised to include other experiences depending on the the interests of the traveller to enable them enjoy a lifetime experience. Most of our visitors combine their gorilla tracking safaris with other tours such as game viewing , chimpanzee tracking and golden monkey tracking in Uganda and Rwanda. A gorilla tour in either Rwanda or Uganda leads you to one of the habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi impenetrable national park or the Virunga Mountains. These montane rainforest parks are natural habitats for mountain gorillas which are exclusively found in this part of the world.

Trip Advisor Reviews

Check out our outstanding reviews on Trip Advisor posted by some of our past clients who have been impressed by our professional and quality services. These grateful clients have highly rated us in offering satisfactory and worthwhile travel experiences in East and Central Africa. From breathtaking wildlife encounters like gorilla trekking , chimpanzee tracking , and game viewing to adventure and cultural expeditions, Africa Adventure Safaris is highly credited for organizing thrilling experiences.

We also tailor-make itineraries that include Tanzania's premier national parks including Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara; Egyptian and Ethiopian world class archaeological sites; and a visit to the world largest Victoria waterfalls in Zimbabwe. Visit our  useful travel information   page for detailed advice on when and how to book  gorilla permits.

Featured Gorilla Tours & Safaris

2 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour

2 Days Uganda gorilla tour from Kigali crossing to Bwindi national park for gorilla trekking tours in the wild. Read More

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek

Book a 3 Days Rwanda gorilla trek to Parc Nationale des Volcans and visit the Genocide site with GTA. Read More

7 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari

7 Days Rwanda gorilla safari including a visit to Volcanoes, Akagera and Nyungwe Forest national parks. Explore Rwanda’s top national parks. Read More

4 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari (Double Trekking)

The 4 Days Uganda gorilla safari for double gorilla trekking experience. The 4 Days safari  to Bwindi entail 2 gorilla treks and visiting the batwa pygmy communities to learn and experience their traditional forest life Read More

5 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Chimpanzee Safari

Enjoy this 5 Days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzee safari Volcanoes National Park & Nyungwe Forest national park respectively. Th 5 Days Rwanda primates safari offers you chance to see gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitatas. Read More

12 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Tanzania Wildebeest Migration

Book a 12 Days Rwanda gorillas & Tanzania wildebeest migration safari with Gorilla Trek Africa.  Enjoy a close encounter with endangered gorillas in Volcanoes Park and experience the annual migration of wildebeests in Tanzania. Read More

9 Days Tanzania Wildebeest Migration Safari

Enjoy  a 9 Days Tanzania Wildebeest migration safari.  The great annual movement of wildebeest and other ungulates in search for fresh pastures through Serengeti national park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National parks thus encountering great predators such as cats and crocodiles along River Mara is a great spectacle. Read More

10 Days Rwanda Safari (Primates & Game)

Book a tailored 10 Days Rwanda safari  to explore  primates and wildlife in this small country. The 10 Days safari include  mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, Dian Fossey hike and big five game. Visit top destinations in Rwanda with Gorilla Trek Africa. Read More

14 Days Rwanda, Nyiragongo & Serengeti

Enjoy a 14 Days Safari to Rwanda with chimp tracking in Nyungwe & mountain gorilla watching, Tanzania, Rwanda and Congo with a chance to witness the active lava of the Nyiragongo, the Serengeti Wildebeest Migration. Read More

2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour 

This 2 Days Rwanda gorilla tour  enables you to trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park with an additional experience of either a cultural tour or hiking Mount Bisoke. Read more..

6 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps & L. Kivu

Book a customized 6 Days Rwanda gorilla, chimps and L Kivu safari with Gorilla Trek Africa.  Discover great primates of Rwanda, the mountain gorilals, in VNP, chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest and a boat cruise at Lake Kivu. Read More

4 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Dian Fossey

Book a 4 Days Rwanda gorillas and dian Fossey grave hike with Gorilla Trek Africa. Trek Rwanda gorillas in Volcanoes National park at discounted rates with GTA. Read More

More customised gorilla tours & wildlife safaris in Uganda and Rwanda

Enjoy our tailored luxury gorilla tours and wildlife packages to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to our standard safaris, Gorilla Trek Africa is offering luxury packages which feature luxury hotels and lodges across Africa.

3 Days Rwanda Luxury Gorilla Trekking

3 Days Uganda Luxury Gorilla Trekking Tour

3 Days Uganda Luxury Habituation Experience

6 Days Uganda Luxury Gorillas & Wildlife Safari

5 Days Rwanda Luxury Gorillas & Chimpanzee Trekking

4 Days Rwanda Luxury Double Gorilla Trekking Safari

4 Days Kidepo Valley Luxury Flying Safari

BOOK A LUXURY TRIP Your Name (required) Your Email (required) Subject Number of Days (required) Number of people (required) Your Message Why travel with us?

Our emphasis on exceptional travel services has made Africa Adventure Safaris Ltd (AAS) one of the best tour operators in Africa. National parks that protect mountain gorillas and host our gorilla tours include Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda and Virunga national park in DR Congo. Book an exceptional gorilla tour to any of these parks and enjoy a lifetime encounter with one of the habituated gorilla families that live in these stunning montane rainforests of east and central Africa. Besides gorilla safaris , we also organise other wildlife and adventurous experiences including  game viewing, chimpanzee trekking & habituation , bird watching, and mountain climbing to make your African safari a complete package.

Why go for a gorilla tour?

A gorilla tour in Rwanda or Uganda offers travellers an opportunity to meet one of the rarest wildlife species in the world, the mountain gorillas. These endangered primates do not survive in captivity and can only be found in their natural habitats within the Virunga Mountains and in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Mountain gorillas were at the brink of extinction a few decades ago majorly due to poaching and habitat loss but as a result of intensive conservation efforts, their population is now on a recovery trend.

Meeting these gentle giants in the wild has been described as one of the best wildlife experiences in the world by many travellers who have encountered them in the montane rainforests of east and central Africa. At Africa Adventure Safaris, we don’t just organise a gorilla tour for our travellers, we make sure that they also explore other amazing experiences the region has to offer to maximise their safari memories and quench their curiosity. We always customise our gorilla tour packages to include experiences like game viewing, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, cultural tours, among others depending on the interests of the traveller.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Tours

Is gorilla trekking worth the money.

Yes, gorilla trekking is a worthwhile experience that every wildlife enthusiast should undertake in a lifetime. Interfacing with these awesome giants is a breathtaking phenomenon. You can choose to enjoy either a gorilla trek that allows you an hour in the presence of the gorillas; or have fun with the gorillas for over 4 hours – the Gorilla Habituation Experience.

2. How much is the cost of a gorilla permit in any of the 3 countries: - DR Congo (Virunga NP), Rwanda (Volcanoes National park) and Uganda (Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks)?

The cost of a gorilla permit for foreign non-resident visitors is USD 1500 for Rwanda; USD 400 in DR Congo; and USD 700 for Uganda.

Is gorilla trekking better in Uganda or Rwanda?

In terms of drive distance, Rwanda being a small country geographically, it takes only 3 hours to access the gorilla park (Volcanoes National Park) from Kigali airport on a smooth road; whereas it takes about 5 hours from Kigali to Bwindi national park in Uganda. If one is to begin the tour from Entebbe airport, it would take more than 8 hours to get to the park.

In terms of gorilla tracking experience, both countries are the same since they share similar features – they both belong to the Virunga Coservation Area and owing their originality to the same tectonic forces that form the mighty Virunga Massif with a rich biodiversity.

Is it safe to trek gorillas in Uganda?

Uganda national parks including Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks are the safest parts of this country. The team park rangers is well paid and motivated. They keep patrolling the parks 24/7.

How Much does a safari cost in Uganda?

Uganda is the cheapest safari destination in East Africa. Apart from a gorilla permit that costs USD 700, with a minimum of USD 100 each person per day can suffice. A safari in Uganda can be a day to 24 days depending on how you wish a safari to be customized for you.

What is the best time to track gorillas?

Gorillas can be visited any time of the year. However the dry months of June, July, August and early September; and December to February are the best period of the year. During the rainy season March to May, and October to December, roads tend to be destroyed by floods; and in the park being tropical rainforests, rain is quite unpredictable thus making a gorilla safari albeit expensive, becoming a nightmare!

What is gorilla habituation experience?

Gorilla Habituation Experience (Gorilla Habituation experience) is the activity where tourists are allowed to spend 4 hours with the gorillas as they immerse in all activities the gorillas undertake on a particular day. This experience is only organized in Rushaga sector of Bwindi national park in Uganda. When a guest books this Gorilla habituation Experience the funds are utilized in promoting the gorilla conservation efforts.

What is the minimum age for gorilla tracking?

In Uganda the minimum age for gorilla and golden monkeys trekking is 15 years; and for chimpanzee tracking 12 years. In Rwanda, gorilla tracking minimum age is 15, so is the hike to Dian Fossey’s tomb; and 10 years for golden monkeys tracking.

In Uganda, if the child is below age and is keen to track gorillas, the adult guardian or parent must sign a document by Uganda Wildlife transferring all risk on him or her.

What is the minimum number of people allowed to track a gorilla family?

Only 8 people are allowed to track a gorilla family per a day. Where the number exceeds 8, there must be exceptional cases and Uganda Wildlife Authority senior park warden has to explain the reason for that.

For Gorilla Habituation Experience, only 4 persons are allowed to track a gorilla family. It is one of the reasons why a permit for this activity is as costly as USD 1500 per person.

What are the chances of seeing gorillas?

There are over 97% chances of seeing the gorillas. The reason is that an advance team of rangers, on a daily basis, follow up the gorillas and can ably tell their movements. In the last 12 years we’ve been in operation (Gorilla Trek Africa Ltd), we have not witnessed any incidence of our clients missing gorillas.

When should i book a gorilla safari?

At Gorilla Trek Africa Ltd, we advise our potential guests 4 months before traveling with us at least to pay a deposit that can buy a gorilla permit and pay the rest of the balance 2 weeks to the travel date. Gorilla permits sell out very fast as they are on a very high demand.

All you need to know about gorilla tours in Rwanda, Uganda & Congo

For over a decade, Africa Adventure Safaris has been making adventure safari dreams of our clients come true (refer to our tripadvisor reviews). Your tour with us will be characterised by magical moments – especially after facing off with one of the stunning gorilla families in the wild. Get off the beaten track and into the scenery with our 4WD- off-road vehicles with luxury coach seats and air-conditioning. You will feel inspired, emotional and satisfied after looking into those liquid brown eyes of these human-related apes. Read more..

There is still much to see in the wildernesses of Rwanda, Uganda & Congo away from the gorilla tours, with other wildlife experiences like game viewing, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching and more all available to exploit. Our safaris range from 1 to 24 days for those that may want to traverse the region and explore its amazing wildlife, cultural and historical experiences.

Where do gorilla tours take place

Mountain Gorilla tours take place in only two locations in the world, that is in the Virunga Mountains that straddle the borders of Rwanda, Uganda & Congo and in Bwindi impenetrable national park in southwest Uganda. Mountain gorillas survive only in the wild and cannot be found in any zoo anywhere in the world. The montane rainforests in these two locations are the ideal habitats for these endangered subspecies and therefore the only place where they can be found. In addition to Bwindi, there are 3 national parks within the Virunga Mountains that protect mountain gorillas namely; Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park in DR Congo and Mghainga gorilla national park in Uganda. The gorilla census of 2018 indicated that there were 1,064 mountain gorillas living in the wild though their number is likely to have increased since then. Bwindi impenetrable national park protects the highest number of mountain gorillas with about 450 of them followed by Volcanoes national park in Rwanda with about 350 while Virunga national park in Congo has about 200 animals.

Which destination is the best for gorilla tours?

The gorilla trekkin g experience is breathtaking and intriguing regardless of the destination where it may take place. Mountain gorillas share 98% of the human DNA and exhibit the same behaviour wherever they are found just like human beings. However, there a few factors that make one gorilla trekking destination more or less favourable to the travellers. These include cost of the gorilla tour, distance travelled from the airport to the park, standard of accommodation facilities, transport network, security, among others. In terms of cost, Rwanda is considered to be the most pricy with her gorilla permit sold at $1,500 per person. The country is also striving to be a high end tourist destination with several luxurious lodges and hotels already in place. Uganda’s gorilla permit is sold at $700 per person to foreign nonresidents, $600 to foreign residents in East Africa and Uganda Shillings 250,000 to East African residents. Congo’s gorilla permit is the cheapest at $400 per person although the country is less popular for gorilla tours due to the civil conflict in the eastern part of the county where mountain gorillas are found. Rwanda has the easiest accessibility to the gorilla park as it only takes visitors less than 3 hours to drive from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes national park in the northwest.  This is far faster compared to over 10 hours driven from Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi in Uganda. It is also worthy noting that many travellers trek gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park while coming from Rwanda because it is more easily accessed from Kigali rather than Kampala. Unlike DR Congo, both Rwanda and Uganda are politically stable and travellers are assured of safety while on their gorilla trekking tours and other safaris.

Best season for gorilla tours

Although mountain gorillas are visited throughout the year, the best time to enjoy the breathtaking gorilla trekking experience is the dry season between June to September and December to February. Mountain gorillas live at high altitude in rugged montane rainforests which can be so difficult to trek in wet season through due to slippery and muddy conditions caused by heavy rains. Gorillas tend to be very difficult to find in rainy days since they tend to stay at one place for a long time whereas they roam freely in their habitat during warm days hence very easy to find. However, regardless of the season, travellers who want to trek gorillas are always encouraged to pack important gear like rain jackets and hiking boots since it may rain anytime in these gorilla trekking parks.

Gorilla permits

A gorilla permit is the primary requirement for those intending to visit mountain gorillas. The issuance of gorilla permits is highly regulated due to the need to enhance gorilla conservation in all the 3 countries. Only 8 permits are issued per day to trek a habituated gorilla family, meaning that only 8 visitors are permitted to visit a gorilla family per da. The easiest way to acquire a gorilla permit is by booking online through a credible tour agent. After receiving the booking fee, the agent goes ahead to buy the permit from the issuing authority on behalf of the client. Due to the limited issuance of gorilla permits, travellers are recommended to book for gorilla tours at least 6 months in advance in order not to miss out on this lucrative and adventurous encounter. Read more..

Gorilla trekking guidelines

Before entering the jungle to search for mountain gorillas, trekkers are first briefed about the dos and donts of gorilla trekking which are simply guidelines for the exercise. These were drafted by conservation authorities to ensure that the welfare of the gorillas is prioritised to enable continue to thrive in their natural habitat. This is very important especially when you consider the fact that mountain gorillas were at the brink of extinction a few decades ago. Limiting human interference is therefore one of the ways the animals can helped to live healthy and free in their natural habitats. Among the major rules include limiting the number of visitors per gorilla group to 8 per day and restricting the time visitors spend in the presence of gorillas to one hour. Others include prohibiting visitors from touching gorillas, maintaining silence in their presence, among others. Read more..

National parks for gorilla tours

There are four national parks where gorilla tours take place namely; Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park in southwest Uganda, Volcanoes national park in northwest Rwanda and Virunga national park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Bwindi protects the highest number of mountain gorillas and perhaps the most popular destination for gorilla tours. The park has over 20 habituated gorilla families that can be visited by trekkers every day and meeting these gentle giants here is almost certain for every visitor. Volcanoes national park in Rwanda has 12 habituated gorilla families, Virunga national park in DR Congo has 8 while Mgahinga in Uganda has one family which visits the park periodically and then returns to Rwanda. In addition to mountain gorillas, these habitats have also got a variety of other wildlife species that can be spotted by visitors while on their gorilla tours. These include the beautiful and colourful golden monkeys in Volcanoes national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park as well as forest elephants and baboons in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Other common species that can be found in all gorilla trekking parks include several bird species, chimpanzees, monkeys, among others.

What to pack for gorilla tours

Gorilla trekking is a unique experience that takes place in dense jungles of montane rainforests and therefore requires some special gear for a successful experience. Conditions in the parks such as regular rains, muddy and steep terrain, nestles and thorns in the woods make it important for travellers the necessary gear for the gorilla trekking encounter. Some of the most important items among the gorilla trekking gear include hiking boots, pair of gloves, pair of khaki trousers, long-sleeved shirt and a rain jacket. Other important items for gorilla trekking such as drinking water, packed lunch and snacks, and a walking stick are provided to the trekkers by their lodge of accommodation.

Gorilla families

Just like humans, gorillas live in social families of related members with almost the same organisation like their human counterparts. A typical gorilla family is composed of the leading alpha male known as a silverback, several females, infants and several juveniles. In terms of numbers, there are some gorilla families that have been recorded with as low as 2 members while others have got as many as 30 members. It is worthy noting that apart from the habituated gorilla families that are visited by trekkers in these parks, there are also many others that are are wild or still undergoing process of habituation. Some of the habituated gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park include Susa, Agashya, Mahoro, Titus, Kwitonda, Sabyinyo, Umubano, among others. Read more.. 

Gorilla tours in Rwanda

Gorilla tours in Rwanda are conducted in Volcanoes national park in the northwest, the country’s home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Volcanoes is one of the 3 mountain gorilla habitats found within the Virunga Mountains that lie across the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo. The park has got 12 habituated gorilla families that are visited by trekkers every day with each family visited once per day by a group of 8 tourists. Although Rwanda’s gorilla gorilla permit is the most expensive compared to Uganda and DR Congo, the easy accessibility to the park, good quality accommodation facilities and a good road network make it the most ideal destination for gorilla tours. The gorilla trekking encounter in Volcanoes national park is also considered to be less exhausting because the park’s landscape is not as steep and the vegetation less dense compared to Bwindi in Uganda and Virunga in Congo. Given these favourable factors, it takes less time to reach gorillas in Volcanoes national park than in the other two habitats. Read more..

Kwita Izina – Gorilla naming ceremony

As part of her gorilla conservation efforts, Rwanda introduced the gorilla naming ceremony in 2005 in which new born gorillas are given names. The ceremony is locally known as ‘Kwita Izina,’ which means giving a name. It was adopted from Rwanda’s old tradition of giving names to newborn babies before a congregation of family and friends. The ceremony is carried out annually in September at Kingi, the headquarters of Volcanoes national park. Over 350 mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park have been named ever since the ceremony began. Naming infant gorillas helps rangers to easily monitor and protect them as they roam through the park. The practice has significantly enhanced gorilla conservation given the steadily increasing number of mountain gorillas in the park since it was initiated. As part of the ceremony several international guests including politicians, conservationists and celebrities are always invited to take part by naming the infant gorillas. Read more..

Uganda gorilla tours

Bwindi impenetrable national park in the southwest is the leading destination for Uganda gorilla tours. The park protects over 450 mountain gorillas, the highest number of the subspecies found in a single habitat. With over 20 habituated gorilla groups available for visiting by, Bwindi receives the highest number of gorilla trekkers of all mountain gorilla parks. Some of the habituated gorilla groups that are regularly visited in Bwindi include Mubare, Rushegura, Bitukura, Nshongi, Nkuringo, Bweza, among others. Gorilla tours in Bwindi take place in four different sectors of the park namely; Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma and Nkuringo with gorilla permits allocated to visitors bearing one of these sectors. This is done to ensure responsible tourism in the park and reduce human interference and pressure on some gorilla groups more than others. Many travellers visit Bwindi to trek mountain gorillas via Kigali – Rwanda since it is a shorter distance to reach the park than coming from Kampala or Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. Gorilla tours are also done in Mgahinga gorilla national park though not as common as in Bwindi since the park has got only one gorilla family. Mgahinga is majorly visited by travellers who want enjoy another primate experience of golden monkey tracking due to the huge presence of the species in this park. The cost of a gorilla tour in Uganda is $700 per person for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents in East Africa and Shs. 250,000 for East African citizens. Read more..

Gorilla habituation in Bwindi

Gorilla habituation exclusively takes place in Bwindi impenetrable national park in the southern sector of Rushaga. Gorilla habituation is the process through which wild groups of mountain gorillas are made used to the presence of humans to facilitate tourism and strengthen their protection. During the process, the identified gorilla group is tracked by daily by rangers as they study their behaviour, location and organisation. Only four visitors per day are permitted to take part in the habituation process alongside rangers and trackers. The visitors get chance to spend more time in the company of gorillas unlike the normal gorilla trekking experience whey they are limited to only one hour before the gorillas. When the process is complete, the habituated gorilla group is officially availed for tourism and can be visited by travellers. Visitors who want to take park in the gorilla habituation experience are charged $1,500 per person and they are required to book their permits in advance to facilitate their integration into the process. So far, gorilla habituation with visitors is practised in only Bwindi impenetrable national park. Read more..

Gorilla tours in Congo

DR Congo is hugely endowed with a variety of wildlife species and unlike Uganda and Rwanda , the country has got more than one subspecies of gorillas. Congo’s mountain gorillas are found in Virunga national park while the other subspecies of lowland gorillas are found in Kahuzi-Biega national park both located in the east of the country. Gorilla tours are conducted in both parks with travellers able to choose their favourite subspecies for trekking. There are 8 habitauated gorilla families in Virunga national park including Kabirizi, Bageni, Mapuwa, Rugendo, Munyaga, among others. Congo’s gorilla permit is sold at $400 per person and just like in Rwanda and Uganda, travellers wishing t trek gorillas in Congo are encouraged to book in advance.

Gorilla tours in Congo are are less pronounced compared to Uganda and Rwanda due to the political instability in the eastern part of the country, the area around gorilla parks. This makes the area less attractive to visit due to the insecurity that chases away many potential visitors. The gorilla parks in the area are usually closed to tourism during the periods of intense conflicts and occasionally reopened when there is some relative stability. Travellers wishing to trek gorillas in Congo are encouraged to inquire about the security situation in the area before they book their safaris. Read more..

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