Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is very attractive to various tourists from all over the world to the country. Virunga National Park is one of the famous safari destinations in Africa with the mountain gorillas. Although the country has been faced with the political conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo, the country offers the fascinating gorilla trekking experience at friendly costs. Initially Virunga national park was established to protect and conserve the unique wildlife species, for science and research purposes and protecting an indigenous threatened fruit gathering community; the Twa. The Virunga Wildlife conservancy is the joint where the west African rainforests meet the East African savanna grasslands and runs more than 300 km (190 mi) along the Albertine rift that divides the African continent from north to the south Virunga National Park covers an area of about 7800 square kilometers from the Virunga Mountains in the south of the Rwenzori in the north. Virunga national park is a home to other mammal species includes buffaloes, elephnats, bongo, warthog, waterbucks, bushbucks, blue duikers, red river hogs, chimpanzees, aardvarks and among many others without forgetting the various bird species like Ruwenzori turaco, Grey throated barbet, Narrow-tailed starling, African fish eagle and among many others. Besides gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo is also a home of the Eastern Lowland gorillas that live in Kahuzi Biega national park.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park starts very early in the morning at the park headquarters where the tourists will be given the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking by the skilled rangers and guides, you will also be briefed about the expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you will be grouped in different groups of 8 members in each group, and each group led by the skilled park guides who knows the park trails, you will enter the forest to look for the gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park takes a period from 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on their location because the gorillas like to move from one place to another in search of food. You will observe diverse animal species, bird species, plant species along the way while looking for the gorillas, and once you find the gorillas. You will be allowed to spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas in their natural habitats; that’s when you will watch the gorillas feed, watching the gorillas breast feed, making nests for their next nights, taking photos and recording their movies to show people back home. After the one hour experience you will trek back to the starting point at the park headquarters where you will be rewarded with the gorilla trekking certificates for taking part in gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking permits in Virunga National Park.
Goirlla trekking permits are legal documents that are issued to the tourists who are above the age of 15 years to carry out gorilla trekking in the park and be in presence of the gorillas for one hour;
Gorilla trekking permits in Virunga National Park costs 450 USD per person per trek and the permits can be booked through a reputable tour operator like African Vacation Safaris where you will contact us through email us with the date, month, year and the gorilla destination that you wish to go gorilla trekking since gorilla trekking takes place in two different safari destinations that is Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park. After contacting us, we will check for the permit availability on your desired dates and if there are permits available on your dates, you will be asked to make a deposit for your gorilla trekking permit. And once the payment has been made, we will acquire the gorilla trekking permit on your behalf.
And booking through African Vacation Safaris is the best option when booking your gorilla trekking permits because we will not only get your gorilla trekking permits on your behalf but we shall also plan for your entire gorilla trekking safari that includes transportation, accommodation, meals, service of the full time English speaking drive guide, and all other safari activities that you want to do after gorilla trekking.
The gorilla trekking permits in Virunga National Park should be booked at least 2 to 4 months in advance before the trekking date because they usually get sold out quickly especially during the peak season especially during June to September and December to February and then to avoid the last minute inconveniences, you are advised to book earier before the actual date of gorilla trekking.
The gorilla trekking permits in Virunga National Park includes the one hour with the gorillas, security by the experienced security by armed rangers and the services of an experienced park guide, park entrance fees.
How to get to Virunga National Park.
Virunga National Park is located in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore travelling by the road to Virunga is challenging in some way from the rest of Congo except Goma Town 32km close. Many travelers to Virunga National Park use another alternative where they fly to Kigali International Airport, then connect by road through the Gisenyi town, and then cross to Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo by the direct road. From Gisenyi its approximately 2 hour drive to reach the park headquarters at Bakima. For the travelers coming from Uganda they do side cross at Bunagana border post in Kisoro town and take an hour drive to Bukima the mountain gorilla trekking headquarters.
The Ethiopian Airways operates single flights each week to Goma, then the you will be picked with the safari vehicle from Goma Airport and then be transferred to the park headquarters for gorilla trekking.
For more information about the gorilla trekking safari; and other safari activities done on a safari in Democratic Republic of Congo do not hesitate to contact us at African Vacation Safaris we shall plan and organize for you the perfect safari experience with the unforgettable safari memories in your entire field.
