Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park from Kigali
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park from Kigali: Virunga National Park, situated in the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country’s east. The national park is the most ecologically diversified protected area on the planet. It is one of the African continent’s oldest national parks. Actually, the park is regarded as Africa’s first national park.
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park from Kigali.
Gorilla trekking activities in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo begin at Bukima Patrol Post and cost $450 USD. Tracking can take between three and eight hours, including one hour of actual contact with the gorillas. Tourists may also follow the Bageni, Humba, Mapuwa, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, and Rugendo gorilla families in Virunga National Park.
Virunga National Park is home to one-third of the world’s mountain gorilla population. There are eight habituated gorilla groups accessible for tourists to track in the national park, with the Kabirizi gorilla family being the largest and most sought after group by gorilla trekkers. This gorilla group of 34 individuals may be located in the Bukima area.
Tourists can undertake gorilla trekking in Congo’s Virunga National Park during the dry seasons, which run from June to August and December to February. When going mountain gorilla tracking, don’t forget to bring a nice pair of hiking boots.
All gorilla trekking hikes are conducted by Virunga Rangers and local pisteurs who are in charge of daily monitoring of the 10 habituated gorilla groups in Virunga. Treks often entail 1-2.5 hours of trekking each way, depending on the group’s location and the severity of the terrain.
What are chances of seeing Mountain Gorillas during gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park?
If you don’t quit up after about an hour, your odds of spotting gorillas at Virunga National Park are 100%. The park rangers are well trained and can follow the gorillas to their most recent position, regardless of whether they move or not. The park rangers use foot prints and feces to determine where the animals are eating. You might be interested in learning more about gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
How to get to Virunga National Park from Kigali, Rwanda?
Virunga National Park in eastern Congo can be safely accessed from Kigali City which is Rwanda’s Capital. This travel route includes flying into Kigali International Airport. Fly Emirates, Qatar Airways, KLM, British Airways, South Africa Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, or Rwanda Air to arrive in Rwanda. All of these airlines provide flights from your home country to Rwanda. When you arrive in Kigali, you will be met by a safari guide from your trip operator. If you arrive late, the Guide will take you to a hotel in Kigali for a break. If you arrive early, the driver will take you directly to Gisenyi in Rwanda, a 4-hour excursion.
Gisenyi is a town on the border with Congo. If you have arranged your trip without using a travel operator, you can take one of the regular buses that go from Kigali to Gisenyi. It’s less expensive but less convenient because you’ll be stopping frequently.
When you arrive at the border crossing, your visa should already be in the system, and all you have to do is give in your passport for stamping. When entering the Congo Rwanda border, a yellow fever vaccination card is required. Once all paperwork is presented, your tour guide will pass you over to the Virunga Foundation.
The park is managed by the Virunga Foundation, which is also in charge of coordinating all tourism activities. They are also in charge of transportation, lodging, and the gorilla trekking experience while in the park. The foundation often sells the gorilla trekking experience to travel operators like Explore Rwanda Tours as a comprehensive tour package that includes gorilla permits, meals, transportation, and lodging.
When is the best time to visit Virunga National Park?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park is accessible all year, however there are some months that are better than others, and these are the dry months. The months of June to September and December to February are ideal for visiting Virunga National Park in Congo because there is little or no rainfall, making the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is thin, allowing for clear views of the park’s animals, and the roads leading to the park are accessible.
Tourists may still visit the national park during the rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November, to save money on hotels and gorilla trekking permits. During the aforementioned months, however, there is a lot of rain, the hiking trails are muddy and slippery, the foliage is dense, making it impossible to observe the park animals, and the roads leading to the park are inaccessible.
Where during gorilla trekking in Virunga national park from Kigali?
The hotel facilities within Virunga National Park and in Goma town are designed to appeal to three types of passengers: budget travelers, midrange travelers, and luxury clients. Budget lodges are less expensive and provide ordinary beds and amenities. They are self-contained, with adequate toilets and facilities. Food and beverages are also simple. Most hotels have room service, televisions, swimming pools, and even airport shuttles. However, these services are of low quality, and there is no assurance that you will obtain them.
Middle-class lodging facilities take quality to the next level and charge reasonable rates ranging from $100 to $250. Their services and amenities are exceptional. The rooms are always self-contained and have a reading desk, phone services, a bar, and a restaurant. Local and continental meals are available. Then there are the luxurious lodgings.
These provide the finest quality and are aimed at clientele who want to have the best possible experience when away from their luxury properties. In a luxurious room, everything is wonderful. The rooms are big and include a balcony. There are laundry services, an amazing bar, a restaurant, a conference room, airport shuttle, a large swimming pool, a gym, large gardens, spa and massage.
When on safari in Virunga National Park, tourists may choose from a variety of lodging alternatives, so they don’t have to worry about where they will stay. Lulimbi Tented Camp, Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters, Bukima Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island, Kibumba Tented Camp, and many more are among the accommodation alternatives available.
