Explore Diverse Gorilla Trekking Adventures in Congo

No experience gets better each moment like encountering gorillas in their natural habitats; a territory whose rhythm of life is dictated by the owners; shy yet very active and happy.

Gorilla trekking is unmatched and a lifetime adventure, open to everybody regardless of race, color, dialect, status, or nationality; except for those under the age of 15 years.

Congo Gorilla trekking is one of the finest offers worth grabbing. Unlike other countries; Republic of Uganda, Republic of Rwanda, and D.R. Congo has two gorilla species in two different destinations; a factor that should lure you to visit.

Giving your eyes to what it has never seen, except in the wildlife documentaries, books, and films.

Most of the tourists connect from Kigali Rwanda to Congo; a much nearer and most epic route, with rolling hills, scattered homesteads, and flourishing plantations.

Gorilla trekking can be done while on a honeymoon vacation, family retreat, group safari, videography, or solo travel.

The exercise can last for two days or more, in only one destination or two destinations combined.

About D.R. Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest country in the continent of Africa, situated in central sub-Saharan Africa, neighbored by the republic of Congo in the northwest, Central African Republic, South Sudan to the northeast, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda to the east, Tanzania to the south, Angola to the southwest, south Atlantic to the south, and Zambia to the southeast.

The Congo rainforest is the second-largest rainforest in the world.

Back from the dark past; the Ebola outbreak and the rebel insurgencies in the eastern region (part of the country with gorillas), lots of conservation and transformative action have been done; making the destination one of the safest and most exciting for gorilla trekking.

It is the cheapest destination as compared to others offering the same package. There is an abundance of biodiversity, flora and fauna, modern and traditional accommodation facilities, cool climate, captivating landscape, and transportation.

The languages used include; Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba, Arabic, and English; with the Gorilla language seemingly different, but more interesting.

Don’t fear associating with the local natives; from the start of the adventure to the end. Christianity is the dominant religion, besides Muslims and traditionalists.

In the world, there are about three gorilla species, of which Congo is a host to two of them; the Mountain Gorillas and eastern lowland Gorillas, in the vast Virunga chain of Mountains.

Scientists have done the research and suggest Gorilla genes are approximately 98% similar to that of Humans; a fact that can only be proven after getting closer to them, and watching their similar behavior, feeding, and social life.

Other studies reveal that humans have the same ancestral lineage as the apes; though residing in the misty tropical forests of Africa.

Gorillas have giant bodies, with hair all over, except for the eyes and the thumb.

The difference between the eastern Lowland Gorillas and mountain Gorillas is the body size, structure of the thumb, their eyes, and time spent on the ground.

They live in groups called troops, led by one dominant silverback; whose duties include among others; leading the family, instilling discipline in the group, finding new territories and defending the family against any attack.

Most of the silverbacks are known for their fighting nature.

Alive; there are about 1060 mountain gorilla species on earth, residing in the vast Virunga chain of mountains which sprawls through Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They are primarily vegetarians; feeding on fruits, stems, bamboo shoots, and roots. On rare occasions, they feast on insects. Their life span ranges from twenty five years to sixty, with each gorilla subscribing to a specific gorilla family.

Death or disappearance of a silverback in most cases leads to division in a family.

Gorillas can make over 27 unique sounds, each meaning a different message or signal. Experts say they scream while signaling danger, after getting something nice, when playing and at the time of a get-together.

Their language is best known to them, but unforgettable once you chance them interacting. Each day, mountain gorillas spend a night in a different place, thus a call for trekking them.

The good news is the Congo land is not so hilly thus meaning locating the creatures isn’t so tiresome and no special skill is needed.

Gorilla trekking is done on foot, but this does not exclude the disabled because no matter the direction the Apes have taken, porters and park rangers, help you meet your relatives.

Everything is done deep in the forest, witnessed by unique trees; others aged over 100years, birds, several other primates, and mountain backdrops.

The exercise starts with a pre trekking briefing and registration at the park headquarters by the park rangers; who explain the trekking do’s and don’t s and assign members to the different Gorilla families, and then later give company from the start to end of a gorilla trekking exercise.

From the briefing point, the path used follows where the gorillas were spotted the previous day, then to where they are anticipated to be.

Everyone follows the rhythm of the jungle; no rushing, breaking tree branches, or making a pathway because the gorilla kingdom must be left intact.

Interestingly; there are several other primates, birds, and unique plants you stand the chance of encountering way to the apes.

Often seen are the mothers breastfeeding, giant silverbacks posing for the photos and infants all happy and somersaulting.

Your fitness and direction the gorillas have taken determines the duration of trekking, but approximately 1-7 hours, plus a maximum one hour for taking photos and watching the Apes play, feed and have fun, as the young stars climb trees, silverbacks teach their infants how to feed and the mothers clean up their babies.

To ensure conservation; the following are rules set for everyone out for the activity; before, during, and after the gorilla trekking exercise in all the destinations with gorillas in D.R. Congo.

Gorilla trekking starts very early in the morning thus the reason for perfect time management, don’t look deep into the eyes of the Gorillas because it irritates them, no littering the park, no making noise because it annoys the Gorillas, maintain a 7-meter distance from the Apes to avoid infecting them with Human illnesses such as flue, avoid imitating their sound are actions, and watch hands before entering the Jungle.

The gorilla numbers keep changing with new births, and some deaths.

Is an hour with a gorilla family safe?

Yes, one hour given after encountering the Apes is such a big deal to all the Gorilla trekkers. It is time to rest, closely watch the lifestyle of the Apes, get all questions answered, as well as take photos.

The one hour is truly exciting, and very safe, regardless of the past dark history of Congo Virunga national park.

In a circumstance that Gorillas feel attacked or insecure, they react by beating their chest, running in four legs, tearing leaves, screaming in any of the 27 voices, somersaulting and running around their territory.

Faced with such a situation; don’t cry or run, but rather submit to the drama by facing down, following the instructions from the park ranger, and also squatting down to ease tension.

Gorillas are very friendly creatures, whose intention is not to harm visitors, but rather protect their family, excite and be safe.

What to Know About Gorilla Trekking In D.R. Congo

Up to a group of 8 people, each aged 15 years plus are permitted to encounter a gorilla family per day.

Once a gorilla trekking permit is purchased and the day set; no changes are made, and no refunds once one misses.

Gorilla permits can be purchased approximately 6 months in advance, though at times the urgency can enable you to get a permit as soon as you can the money.

Gorilla Trekking Destinations In D.R. Congo

D.R. Congo has two gorilla species in separate destinations; the rare mountain gorillas in Virunga national park and the eastern lowland gorillas at Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park

Located east of Congo, around the Goma region, Virunga national park is one of the most exciting destinations in Congo.

Rebels brought activities to a halt in 2012, but forward to 2016, the park was reopened and received its very first tourist, a visit that has never stopped to date.

Security is tight, and more conservation practices are done to ensure the park remains intact.

This is one of the largest and the oldest national parks in the continent of Africa, offering asylum to a quarter of the total population of mountain gorillas on earth.

In the park, we find one of the most active mountains on earth; the giant mountain Nyiragongo, with its blazing summit.

Other residents are forest mammals, birds, reptiles, and unique primate species.

Gorilla trekking commences very early in the morning, with a pre trekking briefing and document verification by the experienced park rangers.

They explain the trekking rules, more about the Apes, and then assign groups to any of these 8 Gorilla troops.

Kabirizi Gorilla group at Bukima region; Humba troop with about 10 members; Rugendo troop with about 8 members; Mapuwa Gorilla family at Jomba, a short distance from the Uganda border post with 22 members; Lulengo Gorilla troop with about 9 members; Munyaga Gorilla troop with 7 members; Nyakamwe Gorilla family with 11 members; and Bageni gorilla, and Bageni Troop at gatovu section with about 26 members, thus the largest group in the park.

Birdwatching, mountain hiking, and nature walk make up the list of activities you can add to your trekking in Virunga.

Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National park

One of the finest Gorilla trekking destinations in the continent of Africa; lying west of Bukavu town, south of Kivu next to Rwanda.

A portion of the park is a lowland terrain, and the other part with Mitumba mountain ranges of the giant Albertine; a corridor stretching about 7.4 kilometers, and the larger region covering approximately 5,400sqkm from Bukavu to Kisangani.

Other attractions include; Lugulu and Luka rivers, and swamps.

The park is a combination of two dormant volcanoes; Biega at 9.15ft, and Kahuzi at 10.853mtrs above sea level.

The park is one of the largest habitats of the sought-after eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri), one of the endangered species grouped in the IUCN Red List.

Kahuzi Biega national park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a wide range of biodiversity, and rain forest habitats; notably the birds, and primates.

The temperature ranges between 18 °C (64 °F) to 10.4 °C (50.7 °F) day and night. About 1,178 plant species, 136 mammal species, and 349 bird species are protected here.

The survey census made in April 2011 by the wildlife Conservation society, put the number of the individual eastern lowland Gorillas to 181 individuals, in the different gorilla groups, of which only two families are open for trekking.

A total of over 9 gorilla families are at the park. The eastern lowland Gorillas have huge bodies, plenty of hair, a large thumb, and deem eyes.

Most of their time is spent on the ground, yet they also don’t over move, thus making trekking them one of the easiest yet the most exciting.

Depending on your speed and the direction these apes have taken, it might require about 1- 8 hours tracing for them in all the different regions of the Park; through the different regions known as their feeding or relaxation points.