Obtaining D.R. Congo gorilla permits is mandatory to every holidaymaker in need of engaging in gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park to meet some of the endangered mountain gorillas or Kahuzi-Biega National Park to view the Eastern Lowland gorillas.
A gorilla permit is a legal document which allows trekkers who are above 15 years to track a habituated family of mountain gorillas or Eastern Lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A Congo gorilla permit at hand is a great opportunity for you to spend 1 hour of a close encounter with gorillas in the wild, interact with them, take photos, and learn more about their distinct daily behaviors.
Trekking with mountain gorillas or Eastern Lowland gorillas in the DR Congo is undoubtedly a life changing experience. What makes Congo an exceptional gorilla destination is the fact that it is a home to 2 distinct sub-species of gorillas and these are found in different parks, Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega N/park. D.R. Congo is home to both the Eastern Lowland gorillas and Mountain gorillas which are all sub-species of the Eastern Gorilla family. The rare mountain gorillas in the DRC thrive within the Virunga National Park on the norther shores of L. Kivu while Eastern Lowland gorillas are in southern – Kivu based Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Whether a holidaymaker is interested in trekking to see mountain gorillas or Eastern Lowland gorillas, Congo issues out her gorilla permits at US Dollars 450 per person per day. A Congo gorilla permit cost covers park guides, entrance fees to the Virunga National Park for mountain gorilla trekking or Kahuzi-Biega National Park for Lowland gorilla trekking experience.
However, the cost of Congo gorilla permits excludes tipping, transportation, accommodation, porter fees plus other personal related expenses. Virunga National Park alone has a total of 8 habituated families of mountain gorillas and they translate into 64 gorilla permits that are available for booking by Congo holidaymakers on gorilla safaris. Kahuzi-Biega National Park protects 5 habituated Eastern Lowland gorilla families and they translate into 40 available gorilla permits each day.
How to book the Congo gorilla permit?
The 2 options are available for travelers to have their Congo gorilla permits booked. Travelers can contact a reliable tour operator on ground, which is readily available to help you achieve your dream or contact the Virunga park offices in Goma by telephone or email or contact ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la conservation de la nature) in case you plan to trek lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega N/Park.
The essentials for booking Congo gorilla permits include date, month and year when you would like to be in DRC for gorilla trekking. Once you contact us with these details, our team then goes to cross-check availability of permits and a deposit will be required for you make to have your permit booked. When you make a deposit of money, scanned copies of your passport plus its details should be sent as they will be required during the processing of your gorilla permit.
When should you book the Congo gorilla permits?
Congo gorilla permits should be booked early; at least endeavor to secure one within 3 to 6 months prior to your actual date which you plan to go trek mountain gorillas or lowland gorillas. This is especially for travelers who are interested in trekking gorillas during the peak season/months of the year; June, July, August, December, January & February. These are also considered to be the best months of the year for holidaymakers to enjoy the best of Congo gorilla trekking experience in Virunga or Kahuzi-Biega National Parks.
What else to carry besides D.R. Congo gorilla permits? The ultimate D.R. Congo gorilla trekking experience can be achieved when you have packed appropriately. And in addition to valid gorilla permits, you should also come along with rain coat or jacket/poncho, good camera, waterproof daypack, first aid kit, long trousers, long sleeved shirts, sweaters, insect repellents and others.
