Luxury Gorilla Trekking in Congo
A typical luxury gorilla trekking in Congo includes high-end/luxury gorilla lodges, private travel and VIP offers, and many other exclusive services. Explore our complete guide to planning a memorable luxury gorilla trekking in Congo. Get to know the top luxury gorilla safari destinations to explore in Congo, the best time to visit, luxury accommodation, how to get there, and how you can book a gorilla permit.
Where to go for a luxury gorilla trekking tour in Congo
Experience an unforgettable luxury gorilla trekking adventure in Congo’s premier destinations, including the Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was established as a national park in 1925. The vast 7800 sq. km Virunga National Park is home to mountain gorillas and other species.
Located in Eastern Congo, the Virunga National Park is inhabited by over 200 species of mammals, 65 species of amphibians, and 100 reptiles. The mammal species include over 200 mountain gorillas, Central African red colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, African bush elephants, olive baboons, blue monkeys, and more.
Birds that exist in the Virunga include blue-headed sunbirds, Rwenzori batis, African olive pigeon, grey-crowned cranes, African hobby, red-faced woodland warblers, and others. The landscape of the Virunga National Park is characterized by wetlands, papyrus, grasslands, and montane forests. The park lies in the elevation range of 1800 to 2800 meters.
Checklist of habituated gorilla groups to visit in the Virunga National Park
A total of about 8 groups are open for gorilla tourism in the Congo’s Virunga National Park. They include Rugendo gorilla family group, Kabirizi, Lulengo group, Munyaga, Mapuwa gorilla family, Bageni, and more. During the actual trekking date, expect to visit any of the families in a group of 8 trekkers.
The Luxury Lodges in the Virunga National Park
Mikeno Lodge: This is a comfortable luxury gorilla safari lodge that is worth booking for your overnight stay in Virunga National Park. Mikeno lies close to the Virunga National Park offices and also offers easier access to the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage. It comes with multiple features, including en suite facilities, decks, and fireplaces.
Kibumba Tented Camp: Set in the heart of the lush forested hills, Kibumba Tented Camp is one of the key lodges to consider for gorilla tours in the Virunga National Park. This lodge is set along the misty Mount Mikeno slopes and has up to 18 tents. The Kibumba Tented Camp features comfortable rooms with private suites, flushing toilets, showers, balconies, and many room types, including single, double/twins, & triple. The tented camp also comes with a classic restaurant for guests to settle for tasty local and international cuisines.
Getting to the Virunga
Visitors on a luxury Congo gorilla trekking tour can access the Virunga National Park by road or air. Road travel to the Virunga National Park involves driving from Kigali, and you connect through the Rwanda-Congo border crossing. You navigate via Gisenyi town, where you can spend about 3-4 hours to get to the park. By air, you may take a flight to Goma International Airport, which is an hour’s drive to the Virunga National Park.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Kahuzi-Biega is one of the best destinations in Africa for tourists, especially when it comes to gorilla trekking tours. Located in the Eastern Province of Congo, 30km from Bukavu, Kahuzi-Biega shelters a great population of the Eastern lowland gorillas. Kahuzi-Biega was created in 1970 and currently lies on an area of 6000 sq. km. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Today, it is home to about 5 habituated gorilla groups. These include: Chimanuka group, Mugaruka, Mpungwe, Nyakamwe, and Nganwa gorilla family groups.
Where to stay in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi-Biega doesn’t have its own lodges, but there are available options in the nearby town. They include Coco Lodge in Bukavu town with a price range of USD 100 to USD 200. Other lodge places to consider for overnight stay include L’Orchids Safari Club, Hotel Begonias Bukavu, Mount Kahuzi Hotel, and many others.
Access to this Park
Kahuzi-Biega National Park can be reached with ease from Kigali through the Bukavu route. Or depart from Bukavu, 40km away, approximately a 2-hour drive to the park. You can also take a boat ride on Lake Kivu and disembark from the southern Kivu on the Bukavu side. Note, road transportation is best enjoyed in a 4×4 tourist vehicle, preferably a strong Land Cruiser.
The actual Congo gorilla trekking experience (what to expect)
The typical gorilla trekking experience entirely involves embarking on a journey with a professional guide, trackers, and porters present. The trekking journey begins with a briefing at the park office, where you get to know the essential gorilla trekking rules and allocation of gorilla groups.
Gorilla trekking in Congo can last for 2-6 hours, but the length of your trek may vary depending on your trekking speed. A maximum of 1 hour is expected to be spent face-to-face with Congo’s mountain gorillas or lowland gorillas. The entire gorilla trek requires a certain level of physical fitness and early preparation.
Booking the permits for luxury gorilla trekking in Congo
Valid gorilla permits for you to book cost USD 400 per person, and the permits are valid for only single treks. The cost of booking Congo permits applies to both mountain gorilla and lowland gorilla trekking sessions.
How to book the luxury gorilla trekking tour in Congo
Book your Congo luxury gorilla safari through a reliable tour operator. Contact Native Africa Tours to organize for you the best of Congo luxury gorilla trekking adventure. We are a trusted African gorilla safari company with decades of experience in organizing affordable gorilla safaris. Choose from our customized Congo gorilla tour packages that usher you to Kahuzi-Biega or Virunga and begin your primate adventure in a unique style. Talk to our experts directly to begin your planning and secure a Congo gorilla slot when it is still early.
Gorilla trekking regulations
Congo, like Uganda and Rwanda does implements the standard gorilla trekking regulations across its 2 main gorilla safari destinations. The top rules and regulations or guidelines to observe during a guided gorilla trekking session include observing a minimum safe distance of 7-8 meters from a family of Congo mountain gorillas/lowland gorillas.
Avoid embarking on a gorilla trekking tour when sick. Communicable diseases like flu/cold can easily transfer to gorillas. To reduce any chances of such a risk, you are advised to stay back.
Ensure that you turn your head away from gorillas while you cough or sneeze. The mouth should be properly covered when coughing, and also the nose you sneezing.
On the actual visit, it is recommended to visit a single gorilla group as 8 visitors. This is the standard capacity and shouldn’t be exceeded.
When you are interacting with gorillas, try as much as you cannot to have direct eye contact with the Great Apes.
Your voice should be kept relatively low, and avoid any sudden movements/loud noises. Such acts can easily make gorillas become irritated, and they begin charging at you.
The gorilla habitat must be kept clean from any litter. If you have any used items, ensure that you return them and dispose of them in the designated locations in the park offices.
Conclusively, luxury gorilla trekking in Congo promises captivating encounters with both mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas in their natural environment. To experience any of these unique primate adventures, consider booking your holiday through Native Africa Tours.
