Budget gorilla trekking in Congo presents a remarkable opportunity to immerse in the jungles in search of the Great Apes at a pocket-friendly cost. Congo is a typical budget-friendly destination in Africa offering primate adventure seekers a chance to embark on a life-changing gorilla trekking experience. All Congo gorilla safari destinations are budget-friendly because the gorilla permits cost the same amount.
How much is a Congo gorilla permit?
One reason Congo is regarded as a budget-friendly destination is the fact that its gorilla permits are far cheaper than Rwanda and Uganda. The Congo gorilla trekking permits as of 2024 cost USD 400 for foreign non-residents, USD 200 for East African residents, and USD 20 for national residents. The cost of Congo gorilla permits applies to all the gorilla tour destinations.
It is possible to book a gorilla permit for Congo through a local tour operator/company such as Monteero Safaris. Make the best use of our active emails to reach us or directly call and let us plan a rivaled gorilla trekking adventure together. We are Monteero Safaris contact us on info@monteerosafaris.com, monteerosafaris@gmail.com, or via WhatsApp and mobile + 256 705 726336 | + 256 774 335372. Do not wait till the last minute, consider booking your Congo permit and gorilla trekking tour now.
Where to go to trek Congo gorillas
All budget gorilla trekking in Congo tours are enjoyable across the country’s lush Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Luckily, primate adventure seekers can encounter both the eastern lowland and mountain gorillas all in their natural environment. This is the unusual bit about Congo gorilla tours.
Virunga National Park is the biggest mountain gorilla park with a land area coverage of about 7800 square kilometers. Lying in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area. Its lush tropical forest offers refuge for over 300 mountain gorillas. There are about 8 habituated gorilla groups in the dense jungles of the Virunga National Park. These include the Humba, Munyaga, Kabirizi, Rugendo, Lulengo, Nyakamwe, Bageni, and Mapuwa gorilla groups. Each of the habituated Congo gorilla families is allocated to a group of 8 visitors to explore each day. The treks are conducted in the presence of an experienced park ranger guide.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park offers the most captivating eastern lowland or Grauer’s gorilla trekking adventures. Officially, gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega started in 1973 about 3 years after Kahuzi-Biega National Park was established. The park was established primarily to protect the endangered Grauer’s gorillas. Currently, the available groups of lowland gorillas to visit include the Mugaruka, Chimanuka, Bonnani gorilla family, Nganwe, and Mpungwe gorilla groups. Each of these groups is trekked by a maximum of 8 visitors and treks are conducted only once per day.
Where to stay on Budget Gorilla Trekking in Congo
Virunga budget-friendly lodges to book include Kibumba Tented Camp and Bukima Tented Camp. These are available for booking at budget-friendly rates but there are also other options like midrange and luxury. The midrange lodge option in the Virunga National Park is the Tchegera Island Camp and Lulimbi Tented Camp. The Luxury lodge is the Mikeno Lodge and all of them offer comfortable stay during your gorilla tour in the Virunga National Park.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park budget accommodation include Hotel Begonias Bukavu, Lake Side Hotel Bukavu, Exodus Bukavu, and others. It is also possible to book midrange or luxury accommodation options like Coco Lodge Bukavu and L’Orchids Safari Club.
When to book a budget gorilla trekking tour in Congo
Booking your budget gorilla trekking in Congo in advance is essential. This should be done at least 3 months earlier. Multiple benefits come about from booking a gorilla safari early including discounted offers from the tour company and accommodation service providers. Advance gorilla tour bookings are also accepted a year before the actual visit to Congo to trek gorillas.
Best time to go for budget gorilla trekking in Congo
Congo is an all-year-round destination but gorilla trekking is best done during the peak dry months. There are also 2 phases of dry season worth marking on the travel calendar that is the long and short dry months. The longest dry months run from June to September and short dry months from December to February. The parks are also open during the low season months of March, April, May, October, and November. This is the peak wet season.
Packing list for Budget Gorilla Trekking tour in Congo
Budget or luxury gorilla tours, and packing rights are required of any primate adventure seeker. The list of items to carry includes waterproof hiking/walking boots, a pack of snacks, long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, gaiters, a pair of socks, a good camera that shouldn’t have a flashlight in it, extra camera batteries, and a memory card. Other items include a first aid kit, insect repellents, a day pack, a sweater, sunglasses, a safari hat, bottled drinking water, a walking stick, and more.
Getting to Congo for the budget gorilla trek
All budget gorilla trekking destinations in Congo are accessible by road or air. By road, you can have access to Congo’s Virunga National Park or Kahuzi-Biega from Kigali Rwanda. This involves border crossing and a Congo visa and also a yellow fever certificate is required.
By air, you can take a flight up to Congo’s Goma International Airport. At Goma Airport, you can be picked up by a Monteero Safaris guide and transferred by road to the nearby hotel or directly to the park of choice for early arrivals.
Additional Tourist Activities to enjoy
Volcano Hiking
Visitors can also embark on a guided volcano hike in Virunga or Kahuzi-Biega National Park. In the Virunga National Park, expect to embark on a thrilling trek to Nyiragongo Volcano at 3470 meters’ summits. At Kahuzi-Biega National Park, expect to explore the Kahuzi and Biega Volcano where the park takes its name.
Birding
Over 706 bird species exist in the Virunga National Park alone including 24 indigenous species. The Virunga bird species include among others the francolinus nobilis, Rwenzori Turacos, Musaphaga, and Forest ground thrush.
In the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, there are more than 347 species of birds to explore. These include among others the African kingfishers, long-crested eagles, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, African green broadbill, Handsome francolins, African black swift, yellow chested helmet, and Shelley’s Crimsonwing.