Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park

Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park is the main activity offered to tourists visiting the national park. Virunga national park is home to about 300 mountain gorillas, a sub-species that is also found in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda.

Virunga national park is situated in Goma in the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is one of the oldest national parks in the world after it was declared a national park in 1925. The park was created to protect its endangered species of mountain gorillas.

The national park has a total of 8 habituated gorilla families which are ready for trekking on daily basis and they include Nyakamwe, Mapuwa, Lulengo, Kabirizi, Rugendo, Munyanga, Bageni and Humba. These gorillas are more tolerant to humans, as they have been habituated for a longer period of time, compared to those in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park starts early in the morning at Bukima Patrol Post. Gorilla trekking activities in the national park commence with a briefing at the park headquarters where visitors are briefed about the rules for gorilla trekking and the expectations during trekking. After the briefing visitors are grouped into a group of 8 people because each gorilla family can be visited by a maximum of eight persons. Visitors are grouped depending on their physical fitness and interests and then they will be allocated a park guide.

How long does gorilla trekking take in Virunga National Park?

Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park is not as physically challenging as it is in Uganda and Rwanda. It takes about 2 to 6 hours to trek gorillas in Virunga national park depending on the location of the mountain gorillas. Gorillas are always on the move from one place to another in search of food which can make tracking them quit challenging thus taking a longer period to locate them. Once a gorilla family has been found visitors are allowed to spend one hour with the gorillas in their natural habitat learning about their behaviors, habits, watching them feed, breastfeed, taking plenty photos with flash less cameras and recording videos. During gorilla trekking in the park, you will be able to view different bird species, tree species and other primates like monkeys which will offer you with extra ordinary experiences on your safari.

Cost of Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.

In order to trek mountain gorillas in Virunga national park, you will need to acquire a gorilla trekking permit which costs USD 400 dollars per person. The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Congo is a lot cheaper as compared to its competitors in Rwanda (USD 1500) and USD 700 dollars in Uganda.

Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park in Congo can be done anytime of the year. However the best time to track mountain gorillas in the park is between June to August and December to February. During this period, it is much easier for trekkers to go hiking in the mountains and in the forests as well. Also, it is during the dry season that the hiking trails in the national park are not so slippery and muddy; thus making trekking for gorillas in the park a lot easier.

What to Pack on a Gorilla Trekking Safari in Virunga National Park.

On the day that you are set to do gorilla trekking in Virunga national park, you should pack the following essential items; Sunscreen, a hat/cap, insect repellent, a face mask, a good pair of hiking shoes, long trousers and long sleeved shirts, a camera, binoculars and a raincoat in case it rains. Don’t forget to carry your gorilla trekking permit on the day you are going to trek gorillas.

Accommodation for Gorilla Trekkers in Virunga National Park.

In case you are wondering where you can possibly get accommodation while on you gorilla trekking tour in Virunga, do consider the following facilities which offer great lodging services to gorilla trekkers visiting the national park; Bukima Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island Tented Camp, Lulimbi Tented Camp and Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters to mention but a few.

How to get to Virunga National Park.

Virunga national park can be accessed by road from Goma town. The park is situated about 35 kilometers from Goma which is about 35-45 minutes of driving. Alternatively, visitors can access the national park from Kigali city in Rwanda which takes about 4 hours through Gisenyi town. Visitors can also board scheduled flights from Kigali International Airport to Goma international airport and then drive to Virunga national park.