Gorilla trekking in the Virunga Mountains – Gorilla trekking safaris in Virunga Massif – Booking gorilla trekking permits.
Gorilla trekking in the Virunga Mountains – Gorilla trekking in the Virunga Mountains offers an unforgettable wildlife experience with endangered Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the latter often providing the most budget-friendly Gorilla permits. Treks involve early mornings, a briefing, a guided hike through the dense forests to find the habituated families, and a precious hour observing these gentle giants, with essential gear including masks, sturdy shoes, and rain gear.
Planning for Gorilla Trekking in the Virunga can be confusing without knowledge about the country and National Parks. Previously known as The Belgian Congo and more recently Zaire, the Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced a series of wars that have led to civil unrest. However, as the second largest country in Africa with a population of 78.74 million people, the country has vast untapped human and natural resources. Her potential for great wealth in the future is attributed to the large deposits of oil, gold, diamonds and other mineral resources.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the only country where visitors can track both Mountain Gorillas and the lowland Gorillas in the wild. It is the best country to see the wild Eastern lowland gorillas though they can be as be seen in zoos around the world while the Mountain Gorillas can only thrive in the wild. Lowland Gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo can be tracked at the Kahuzi Beiga National Park while the Mountain Gorillas are found in Virunga National Park. Mountain Gorillas are generally larger in size than lowland Gorillas with darker and thicker coats that are designed to help them survive in cold high altitudes. Both sub-species feed on leaves, tree shoots and fruits. Both subspecies live in families/groups led by a dominant male silverback that is responsible for the safety of the rest of the group members and keeping unruly individuals in check. Mountain Gorilla Families are generally larger with over 30 individuals at times.
Getting to Virunga National Park
After booking your gorilla permit, accommodation and Visa, you might wonder how you will get to a large country like the DR Congo or more precisely Virunga National Park. The first step is landing in either Kigali international Airport in Rwanda or Entebbe Airport in Uganda.
Rwanda – Congo route
Flights to Kigali usually arrive in the late afternoon or evening hours implying that you might have to first sleep in a hotel in Kigali before embarking on the trip to the Congo border because the border offices don’t open 24/7. You should start the journey to the border early morning the next day. The journey from Kigali to Gisenyi takes about 4 hours by road. A hired private car will cost you $100 while public transportation costs way less. From Gisenyi you can take a local taxi for less than a dollar to the Congo Rwanda Border. If you are using the services of a tour company like Mission Africa Safaris, then all you need to do is show up at the airport and you will be picked by a guide who will drive you to your hotel and then to the border and park the next day.
You will need a yellow fever vaccination certificate, Passport and a Congo Visa to cross the border to Congo. Border officials from the Rwanda side will stamp your passport and then you will cross for another stamp at the Congo side office. Once that is done successfully, then you are free to head to Goma town in the Democratic Republic of Congo and then the Virunga National Park.