The Democratic Republic of Congo is of the best adventure travel destinations in Africa. Congo is known as the second largest country in Africa centrally located along the Equator and having much of its area covered by the thick rain tropical forests with in the central Africa.
The country has badly suffered many years of political unsteadiness, this has highly affected tourism in Congo, particularly in the Eastern section of the country bordering Rwanda and Uganda, where the Virunga National Park and Kahuzi – Biega National Park are located.
Tourism in Eastern Congo majorly focuses on gorilla tracking; the country offers travelers both Mountain gorillas located in the Virunga National park as well as the Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Kahuzi-Bienge National park.
The Kahuzi – Biega National Park
The Kahunzi – Biega park is named after two mountains, Mt. Kahuzi (3.308 m.) and Mt. Biega (2.790 m.). With its 6.000 sq km in size, situated in the South Kivu region of Congo. The Eastern Lowland Gorilla, have a close relationship to the mountain gorillas, situated in Kahunzi – Bienga National Park in DRC. Kahuzi – Biega national park was the first park to habituate gorillas in 1972 and gorilla trekking has been done ever since – This park provides a secure option for travelers with a desire to track mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Virunga National Park
Elegantly named after the eight Volcanoes Mountains located within its Southern territory, of which the Niyragongo and Nyamulagira are still active volcanoes. The Virunga National Park was founded in 1960 after Congo Independence with a size of 7.800 sq Km along the Ugandan border for over 300 km. This Park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area, which comprises three contiguous national parks – Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Parc National des Volcans (PNV) in Rwanda, plus Virunga. You can plan a gorilla safari in Congo with one of the local tour operators listed on this website.
Cost of a gorilla permit in Congo
Price of a gorilla permit to Congo is US$500. This includes the permit, escort and transport in Congo. Travelers to Congo for gorilla trekking have to pay for their visa fees at $50 per person; and another $50 to return to Uganda.
Congo Gorilla tracking process
On the gorilla tracking day, trackers assemble at a Kisoro hotel / Virunga hotel by 6.00Am and are then transported to Congo for the tracking. Visas should have been obtained a day earlier. A Congolese-specially-licensed vehicle takes the tourists, and brings them back to the boarder also after tracking.
Congo Tour Operators
Climbing Nyiragongo
place Quartier les volcans, avenue Boungaivillers,
Freedom Plaza 3rd floor C2, Goma, Congo – Kinshasa
Call +256 392 159498
Email: info@climbingnyiragongo.com
Website: www.climbingnyiragongo.com
