Experience the ultimate gorilla trekking adventure in D.R. Congo
D.R. Congo is one of the most thrilling destinations in Africa for wildlife lovers, offering a truly unique gorilla trekking experience. The country is home to the endangered mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park, one of Africa’s most iconic and biodiverse protected areas. Trekking here is an adventure like no other, taking you through lush, misty rainforests, volcanic landscapes, and rugged terrain where these gentle giants roam freely.
Gorilla treks in Congo usually begin early in the morning with a briefing from expert guides. You’ll hike through dense forest trails, following the tracks of gorilla families.
The treks can vary in difficulty, from a few hours to a full day, but the reward is unforgettable: sitting quietly as a gorilla family goes about its daily life, from playful youngsters to the powerful silverbacks.
Virunga National Park harbors the largest population of mountain gorillas in Congo. The park is under the Virunga Conservation Area which covers a distance of over four different national parks in three countries. Virunga National Park was established in 1925 making it the Congo’s oldest national park. Virunga National Park harbors over 350 mountain gorillas that live in different gorilla families in the park. There are about 10 gorilla families in the park but only 8 of them are habituated and available for trekking.
Virunga National Park is vast with an area of about 7,769 square kilometers. The park has diverse landscapes with a variety of unique flora and fauna. It is on this basis that it was named a UNESCO site in 1994. Other than the endangered mountain gorillas, Virunga National Park has other attractions including the chimpanzees, volcanic mountains, and Lake Kivu among others.
Kahuzi-Beiga National Park is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the eastern region. It is one of the most exceptional places on earth to have a memorable gorilla trekking experience. The park is home to about 250 rare lowland gorillas that usually stay in the lowlands such as on the bases of mountains. These lowland gorillas live in the bamboo forests of the park. Kahuzi-Beiga was established in 1970 covering a distance of about 6,000 square kilometers.
When embarking on a gorilla trekking safari in Congo, visitors are always briefed about the trekking rules and regulations before the actual trekking. Visitors are informed about the expected code of contact during the trekking process. These rules and regulations are put in place to protect, and conserve the gorillas and also to brief visitors about the expected code of conduct. Some of these rules and regulations include the following.
- Only a maximum of eight people and allowed to trek each gorilla family at a time. This is done to reduce crowding around the gorillas as many people may stress them which leads to aggressive behavior.
- Persons below the age of 15 years are not allowed to trek the gorillas. This is because it is believed that people of 15 years of age have an adult reasoning and would obey the rules and regulations and also follow the guidelines of the rangers and guides.
- Individuals suffering from air borne diseases such as flu, cough, and COVID-19 among others are not allowed to trek. Gorillas share over 99% DNA with human beings and this means they can suffer from the same diseases. Air borne diseases are very dangerous as they spread through air and to a large area.
- Avoid surrounding the gorillas while trekking as this behavior may threaten them and seem to be a trap hence activating their aggressive instinct.
- In case of a nature call and you want to use the toilet while trekking, a ranger will help you dig a pit of about 2 feet and after you are done cover it. This done to protect the gorillas from contracting human diseases that are caused by poor disposal of human waste.
- Avoid spitting in the forest while trekking. Gorillas’ diet is mainly made up of vegetation especially leaves, roots, shoots, and tree bucks among others. Therefore, when you spit on the leaves and gorillas eat the leaves with your spit it may alter, they diet and cause to suffer from human diseases.
- Never feed the gorillas. It is strictly forbidden to feed the gorillas while trekking because it may alter their diet cause them to get sick or even die.
- Avoid littering in the forest while on your trekking adventure. The forest is the natural habitat of the gorillas and should strictly be kept in its natural state at all times.
- In case of an attack from the silverback, lower yourself down in submission and it will back off. Silverbacks rare charge to visitors but in few cases it does, never try to fight back as this may seem to be a challenge to it. A silverback can weigh over 200 kilograms and with strength of over 5 fully grown men and challenging this beast will surely leave you damaged in the hospital if you are lucky to make it out alive.
Always keep in mind that gorillas are wild animals with wild instincts and should never be provoked.
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