A guide to gorilla trekking in Virunga national park – Democratic Republic of Congo

A guide to gorilla trekking in Virunga national park Congo: Gorilla trekking is the major tourist activity conducted in Virunga national park. The park is as well famous for the existence of different volcanoes including Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Nyamuragira, Mount Mikeno, and mount Sabyinyo making it yet the best place to go for volcano hiking. Virunga National Park also offers other fascinating activities to engage in such as birding, chimpanzee trekking, nature walk, visiting the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage and many more.

Amongst all these activities, Mountain gorilla trekking remains the most enjoyable activity that attracts plenty of tourists all year round to spend an hour with the endangered mountain gorillas in their nature home. The fact that Virunga national park offers the cheapest gorilla trekking permit as compared to other gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda and Rwanda attracts lots of primate lovers to enjoy this activity all year round.

Gorilla trekking in virunga national park is such a rewarding and breath-taking activity as long as you follow the guidelines at all the time. To majority, gorilla trekking is a lifetime experience thus this guide will enable you to plan perfectly for this adventure. You need to know all the necessary information about gorilla trekking in Virunga national park including the cost of a gorilla trekking permit, gorilla trekking rules and regulations and many more as will be elaborated within this guide to gorilla trekking in Virunga national park Congo.

A guide to gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
Virunga Gorillas

Planning for gorilla trekking in Virunga national park, below is the guide to help you have a successful adventure;

How do i obtain a gorilla trekking permit for virunga national park Congo?

While planning your safari to trek gorillas in Virunga national park, you need to find out how best to acquire a gorilla trekking permit which is the only gate pass to access the habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga national park.  The gorilla trekking permit can easily be obtained through a reputable tour operator/ company which can as well help you to plan your entire safari including the transportation and accommodation. Alternatively, a gorilla trekking permit can be obtained online from virunga national park official website.

Where and how is gorilla trekking conducted in Virunga national park Congo?

On the day of Gorilla trekking in virunga national park, all trekkers are expected to gather at Bukima ranger post where briefing is conducted before trekkers embark on a forest walk to search for the endangered mountain gorillas in their habitat. While at Bukima ranger post, trekkers are availed with the gorilla trekking rules and regulations then grouped into various groups depending on the number of trekkers that day and number of habituated gorilla families available for trekking. After all this, trekkers are allowed to hire porters and get ready to start the trek in search for habituated gorilla families. The entire time spent on gorilla habituation in Virunga national park is unpredictable, however, once trekker finally find these gorillas, they have only 1 hour of close interaction with these gorillas as they watch them play, feed, fight, groom and many more.

What are the guidelines for gorilla trekking in Virunga national park Congo?

Like any other destination for gorilla trekking in Africa, there are set gorilla trekking rules and regulations that should be followed by all trekkers in order to have the best experience in the jungle.

First and foremost, before embarking on your safari to trek gorillas, it is important to note that all trekkers are expected to be aged at least 15years and above below which one is not allowed to participate in the gorilla trekking adventure.

People with flue and cold or any other communicable disease are prohibited for participating in gorilla trekking in Virunga national park.

While in the habitat of gorillas, all trekkers are required to follow the guidelines as instructed by the rangers. This is because there are lots of different wild animals in the park that could be unhabituated and dangerous to humans.

Trekkers are as well advised to avoid unnecessary movements and keep in a group at all given period of time while in the habitat of gorillas.

A guide to gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
Virunga National Park

Ensure that you lower your voice at all time while in the habitat of gorillas in virunga national park

No littering the park and in case of a short call, ensure that you dig a hole and cover it later on.

Avoid eating anything, drinking or even smoking during gorilla trekking.

Finally, incase gorilla charge which happens on a rare occasion, you need to keep calk, do not panic, and do not run. Just listen and follow whatever your ranger guide tells you to do.

Conclusion;

Gorilla trekking remains the most enjoyable safari activity to enjoy while on a Congo safari to virunga national park. This activity can as well be conducted in Kahuzi Beiga national park to trek the Eastern lowland gorillas. Elsewhere, Gorilla trekking is as well done in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park. Let’s get going it’s time to encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

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