Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda vs Congo

A combined trip from Volcanoes National Park to National Parks in Democratic Republic of Congo is one that is very exciting and filled with lots of adventure and fun. A safari in Rwanda and Congo that combines game viewing and gorilla trekking will give you the two ultimate safari experiences i.e. game drives in Virunga, Kahuzi Biega national parks in Congo and gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park.

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARKS

Volcanoes national park in Rwanda was first established in 1925 making it the oldest national park in Africa. The national park borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo to its west and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, to its east.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience

The unique opportunity to see gorillas in their natural habitat is unforgettable, some even say life changing. Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up bamboo-covered slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour just a few feet away from the gentle creatures.

The largest living primate, gorillas are spread across much of the equatorial African rain forest. Broadly speaking, the species is split into lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas.

The volcanic range which spans Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to the endangered mountain gorilla. Tracking gorillas in Rwanda is safe and relatively accessible.

At the latest count, there are approximately 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild, with 604 in the Virunga Massif.

There are twelve gorilla families living in the Volcanoes National Park, which are fully habituated, with a few others habituated solely for scientific research. The groups, or troops, consist of at least one silverback along with several females and youngsters.

The troops are somewhat fluid in composition, but tend to stick to a preferred area. They are constantly monitored and protected by park rangers, with each group coming into contact with tourists for a strict maximum of one hour per day.

Permits

Six tracking permits are issued per troop per day, meaning the encounter is as intimate and as unobtrusive as possible. With only 96 permits available each day in Rwanda, it is highly recommended to book in advance, either online or via a reputable tour operator.

Visitors gather at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi at 7am, and are allocated a family group on the day according to fitness levels, as well as being briefed on protocols and rules for visiting the gorillas.

Gorilla families

The families are known as Susa, Igisha, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Agashya, Kwitonda, Umubano, Hirwa, Bwenge, Ugyenda and Muhoza.

Hikes up to their various locations can last anything from 30 minutes to four or more hours, reaching an altitude of between 2,500m and 4,000m. Porters are available to carry backpacks and cameras, as well as to offer a helping hand along the route.

For those interested in tracing the footsteps of Dian Fossey, her tomb is a 30-minute drive from the park headquarters and then two or three hours hike through the forest, to above 3,000m altitude.

The annual Kwita Izina gorilla-naming ceremony is a special time to visit the Volcanoes National Park, with guided tours leading up the main event providing an opportunity to meet park staff and conservationists, attend cultural evenings and a celebration in Musanze.

PRIMATE WATCHING IN CONGO

The Republic of Congo is widely known as the world’s leading destination for lowland gorillas and wild chimpanzees, which are usually found in the thick areas of rainforest that comprise the second largest swathe of tropical rainforest in the world.

Gorilla trekking in Virunga, Kahuzi Biega & Maiko National Park

Gorilla trekking is the prime activity in Virunga national park. This is the only place you find mountain gorillas in Congo. Just like in Uganda and Rwanda, one must have a valid gorilla trekking permit issued by the organization in charge. You will then be informed of the location from where you will begin your gorilla trek. Virunga national park has seven gorilla groups habituated for tourism

In the morning of the gorilla trek, you will be transferred to the park offices where you will receive a briefing from the park ranger in charge about the expectations in the forest. After this you and the people in your group will start the trek in the forest to search for the mountain gorillas.

Gorilla trekking in Maiko national Park is possible due to the presence of the eastern lowland gorillas. Travelers can take part in gorilla trekking in Maiko National Park for an encounter with the eastern lowland gorillas that are endemic to only the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is only here and in Kahuzi Biega National Park that eastern lowland gorillas can be trekked. While gorilla trekking in Maiko Park Congo, travelers can encounter a number of other wildlife including primates like chimpanzees

Most tourists who go to Kahuzi-Biega National Park do so to spot Grauer’s gorillas. Eastern lowland gorillas are larger than the mountain gorillas. The specie is making one of its last stands here and faces the possibility of extinction. The census of 2013 discovered 145 individuals in the highland sector of the park, a great decline from the 600 first counted in 1990.

Grauer’s gorillas face threats from poaching (young gorillas for trade), illegal cutting down of trees, encroachment on land for farming and mining coltan. Three Grauer’s lowland gorilla groups are fully habituated and open to tourists in the highlands. Kahuzi-Biega National Park Congo Tracking the gorillas involves hiking though the dense tropical rain forests, swamps and even highlands depending on the last location of the gorilla group.

You should also be able to identify the different individuals, personalities and group dynamics. By the end of the activity you will realize just how similar human beings are with gorillas and the more reason why we should protect them at all costs. Permits for gorilla tracking cost $400.

Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Chimpanzee in Congo is one of the most famous animal species that travellers look out for in the wilderness during their Congo Safari tours. This has become of the famous activities although mountain gorilla trekking is one of the biggest primate safaris which is only in three east African countries namely Virunga in Congo, volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga national park in the Uganda. With about 1000 gorilla species left in the world and distributed on these national parks, which has attracted a lot of tourists for gorilla trekking. However, Virunga national park has a hidden gem of chimpanzee of habituated groups that can be visited by the travellers having interest in chimpanzee trekking in Congo.

Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary; this place is one of the best homes to protect the chimpanzee and one of the best places for chimpanzee tourism in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary is situated within the two national parks that is Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega National parks. The sanctuary can be visited by the travellers taking part in chimpanzee trekking, the sanctuary mainly keeps orphaned chimps which are under rehabilitation at the centre. The sanctuary is located in the place that can be easily accessed by the travellers after gorilla trekking, it can be an addition to your gorilla trekking safari in Virunga national part in DR. Congo.

Golden Monkeys in Virunga & Kahuzi Biega NP

Golden monkeys in Rwanda can be found in the famous Virunga Mountains, they are common on highland forests and bamboo vegetation because they feed on bamboo. Shoot living in social groups of about 30 individuals feeding on insects, flowers, shrubs, bamboo branches,, fruits, invertebrates and leaves. They are said to be a sub species of the blue monkey that belonged to the old order of monkeys.

The Virunga volcanoes harbor about 4000-5000 Golden monkeys. These monkeys have a rare beautiful strike of gold on the backs. The Golden monkeys can be trekked in Congo, they can be seen in the Kahuzi Biega and Virunga national parks.

The golden monkey trekking activity always starts at 7:00am in the morning where you will be briefed a provided with armed game rangers and tour guides. The maximum number for a group is very limited unlike gorilla trekking where only eight people can visit a group of gorillas, the maximum time for studying them is an hour. The maximum age for children trekking is 8 years old.

Conclusion, this is without doubt one of Africa’s most undiscovered destinations with excellent potential for Primate Safaris. Gorillas in Rwanda and Primates in Congo are of a good combination when it comes to hidden treasures.