Are you planning or thinking of doing a complete gorilla trekking safari in Congo? Democratic Republic of Congo is among the best gorilla tracking destinations in Africa. Are you looking for Congo gorilla tours, several tours await you to experience! From the wonders of Virunga National Park to the lowland gorillas of Kahuzi Biega National Park. It is only in Congo where you can visit the orphaned gorillas near Mikeno lodge and Eastern lowland gorillas only done in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Here is what you can expect preparing and enjoying a gorilla trekking safari in Congo. In Africa, there are only three countries where visitors can visit gorillas in the wild including DR Congo, gorilla trekking is done in the oldest Virunga National Park, in Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga and in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla trekking permit in Virunga National Park cost US$400 of the cheapest comparing to Uganda and Rwanda. In Uganda a gorilla permit cost $700 while in Rwanda it cost $1500.
There are these little things you need to do and know and they will make the entire Congo gorilla safari more rewarding, always first remember to book your gorilla permit in time, book as early as possible before the days or weeks to your trekking due to the high demands of these permits, more than 80 people travel to Virunga National Park now on a daily basis gorilla trekking experience and the hike to the Nyiragongo volcano.
Please arrange your trip during favorable time, make sure you travel at the right time of the year, Budget Gorilla Trekking advises traveling during the dry season when the soils of the forest are not muddy. Check well in advance that you have a valid passport and it won’t expire within six months of the date you intend to leave Congo. Should your passport be lost or stolen, it will generally be easier to get replacement if you travel with a photocopy of the important pages.
Your permit allows you to spend one hour with a habituated group of mountain gorillas. Sometimes your guide may allow you a few more minutes, especially if you have had a long trek to reach them and the tourist group is not disturbing to the gorillas. Journeys clients who reach the Mountain Gorillas are thrilled with the experience. Even with the one-hour limit, all Journeys clients are thrilled and report that the effort was worth it.
Porters can be hired to carry your day pack and assist you in difficult areas. The local guides will work to make it as easy as possible for you to track and photograph the Mountain Gorillas.
When planning for Eastern lowland gorilla safari in Congo? It is only in Kahuzi Biega National Park where you can visit the Eastern lowland gorillas. In Kahuzi Biega, there are over 9 gorilla families but only four gorilla families are opened for tourists to visit the eastern lowland gorillas.
Being the first time visitor to trek gorillas in Africa, be prepared to walk for more than 4 hours during the mountain gorilla trek and for the lowland gorilla tour less than 3 hours in Kahuzi Biega National Park. On the day of gorilla trekking, it is advisable that you carry your hiking boots, rain jackets in case it rains, warm clothes as it is often cold when you set out at 6am but warm as sun rises, bring long sleeved shirts and trousers for protection against stinging nettles, a pair of old gardening gloves might be helpful and if you feel safe with a walking stick you will get it at US$5, insect repellent, sun glasses, sunscreen and a hat and make sure you carry drinking water and snack plus lunch boxes. Make sure you carry you camera. With all this, just relax your mind to enjoy the walking experience in the jungle on the gorilla safari in Africa.
For one to trek gorillas, you must be at least 15 years of age, gorilla trekking in Congo is limited to a number of 6 people per gorilla family per day. Walking to find the gorillas depends on the feeding season of these gentle apes as they move to search for food in the wild, its estimated that for the mountain gorillas it can take from 2 to 8 hours yet the Eastern lowland gorillas, it can take 2 hours to encounter the gorilla as the trackers of the gorilla will be aware of where the gorillas spent the previous night to easy the gorilla safari in Congo.
During the trekking in the forest, always listen and follow the guides’ instructions, as they have all the required experience to enable you visit the gorillas. Virunga National Park, Kahuzi Biega National Park and Mount Nyiragongo are full of hills and steep volcano slopes where you will be required to pull yourself up steep grades by grasping onto branches, plant roots. If you need a break, let your guide know and will give you time to rest.
Once the gorillas are located, viewing them is limited to a maximum of one hour to watch and observe them as they groom around with each other, jumping on branches of trees, while taking photos and videos of them. A distance of 7meters feet away from gorillas is a must; gorillas are susceptible many human diseases so you should not go to see gorillas if you have flu or a cough. Gorilla trekking can be a life changing experience in a way that plan comes into a reality on the day to see the gorillas. Gorilla trekking is still standing in the first position of one of the few experiences that most people desire to have before they die.
