Democratic Republic of Congo lies on the border of East Africa where Kenya is found. After having your Kenya tours you can still go for gorilla trekking in DR Congo.
Democratic Republic of Congo is a perfect country for gorilla trekking tours because the country protects both the mountain gorillas and Eastern Low-land gorillas of which it is the only country in the world to contain the both types of gorillas.
Virunga National Park is the only park in Central Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo which keeps the mountain gorillas and the eastern low-land gorillas in Congo are only found in Kahuzi Biega National Park though there is a believe that the eastern low-land gorillas can still be seen in Virunga National Park but Kahuzi Biega National Park is the most appropriate Park for the eastern low-land gorillas in Congo.
A gorilla permit in Congo costs US$ 400 a cheaper price compared to that of Uganda which costs US$ 600 and for Rwanda which costs US$ 1500 thus viewing the rare endangered mountain gorillas at a cheaper and an affordable price.
Gorilla trekkers in Virunga National Park will meet all the eight habituated mountain gorilla families which exist in the Park which are; Bageni, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, Mapuwa, Humba, Kabirizi and Rugendo which are all tracked from Bukima patrol post.
The tracking begins with briefings scheduled at 07:00am where trekkers are briefed on how to easily find these primates. There are some rules and regulations governing the tracking activity in the park.
These include; keeping maximum silence, not littering in the park, not eating and smoking from the park, keeping a distance of at least 7 meters away from the primates while viewing, not using flashlight cameras while taking photos, tracking in a group of eight individuals just to mention but a few.
Virunga National Park is really a perfect place for tourists who go there to track mountain gorillas. Besides gorilla tracking, the Park offers endless views of the most active volcanos in the whole world.
These are Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo Volcano. Nyiragongo is situated within Virunga and also provides views to the most violet and largest Lava Lake that lies at the top thus having a complete tour in Congo especially when you as well visit Kahuzi Biega National Park to see the eastern low-land gorillas and other primates in place.
Accommodation in Virunga National Park include; Bukima tented camp, Mikeno lodge, Tchegera Island tented camp and the Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters which are situated on Nyiragongo Volcano therefore hikers to this Volcano are not encouraged to carry camping tents and they are instead emphasized to carry light hiking boots, heavy clothes for the coldness at the summit of the Volcano especially during the night since hiking of the Nyiragongo takes two days meaning that hikers will stay in the Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters. Hikers are also advised to carry enough drinking water and packed food.
However, though not compulsory but for the sake of your success during the hike, you are also emphasized to employ porters to help you in carrying your luggage and the porters are found in Congo and paid an agreed price between the two of you and still you can also employ a cook if you want because at the summit there is no ready meals.
Nyiragongo hiking permit cost US$ 300 and hiking sticks will helps in balancing while hiking are also sold at US$ 5 at the starting point of the hike.
Kenya Tours:
Before or after your gorilla safari in Democratic Republic of Congo you can have your tour in Kenya of which it is one of the best countries for wildlife safaris in Africa and East Africa.
The Maasai Mara National Park is Kenya’s best Park for the wildlife safaris of which the Park is one of Africa’s best due to its quantity in the wildlife resided in the Park which include Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Rhinos, Leopards, Wildebeests, Zebras, Topis, Thomson’s gazelles, Impalas, Cheetahs, Hyenas, Grant’s antelope, Elands, Giraffes, Crocodiles, Hippos and many others of which all the present wildlife species in the Park are viewed in a large quantity.
The park also inhabits Rivers such as; Talek River and Mara River where hippos and Crocodiles are viewed from.
Maasai Mara National Park is contiguous to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania of which the two Parks are East Africa’s finest due to the large number of wildlife they inhabit and all the Parks are situated on the same conservation area of Maasai village thus a visit to any of the Park will link you to interact with the Maasai people who live in both Tanzania and Kenya.
The park is a habitant to over 470 bird species and interestingly during July to November, some animals such as Wildebeests, Zebras, Thomson’s gazelles and Topis migrate from Serengeti to Maasai Mara National Park looking for pastures and then return back in the following months and since these animals migrate in a very huge number, most tourists make it the most ideal period to visit the Park due to the fact that they will be able to view a large quantity of wildlife including a view to over 1.5 million Wildebeests, over 97,000 Topis, over 500,000 Thomson’s gazelles, over 200,000 Zebras and also a very huge number of Lions and other animals.
The park entry fee is US$ 80 which is paid at the Park’s main gates which include; Sekenani main gate and Ololaimutia gate.
The park’s accommodations include; Entumoto camp, Little governor’s camp, Mara bush houses, Mara expedition camp, Mara intrepids, Mara plains camp, Mara leisure camp among others.
However still in the Kenya, you can also visit Amboseli National Park which is the best park in the whole world for a tourist to view the free-ranging elephants and it is Kenya’s second best park for wildlife tours after Maasai Mara National Park.
The Amboseli National Park also protects other species such as Cape buffaloes, Impalas, African lions, Masai giraffes, Spotted Hyenas, Cheetahs, Blue Wildebeests, Zebras and many others however the Park also boosts over 400 bird species.
The Park’s best accommodations include; Kibo safari camp, Ol Tukai safari lodge, Amboseli safari Serena lodge, Campi ya Kanzu, Amboseli Sopa lodge and many more.