VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, CONGO

Virunga National Park is part of the Virunga Gorilla Conservation Area. This only gorilla park in Congo stretches along the borders of Rwanda and Uganda. Virunga National Park covers an area of 790,000 ha. The park comprises of an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Ruwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes.

Virunga National Park

Congo is one of the few African countries where the rare and endangered mountain gorillas can be tracked from.It is in the mists of the Virunga Volcanoes that the last remaining mountain gorillas face extinction. Mountain gorillas are the rarest and largest of the great apes in the world. They are among our closest relatives yet one of the most endangered mammals on earth. Gorilla Tours to Congo take you to the Virunga National park, another home to the mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park is part of the 434 sq km that make up the the Virunga Gorilla Conservation Area that includes Uganda, Rwanda.

Virunga National Park is an important resource for the people of Congo. This only gorilla park in Congo stretches along the borders of Rwanda and Uganda. Virunga National Park covers an area of 790,000 ha. The park comprises of an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Ruwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. Other tourist attractions in the park include 1,000 hippopotamuses live in the rivers and birds from Siberia spend the winter there.

Deep in the forests, the primates live in family groups that are very protective of their home ranges. Each group usually consists of a dominant male called the silver back gorilla, with several females and their young, and some non-adult males. To watch them in their natural habitat is certainly one of the most inspiring experiences that you can take while on your tour within Africa.

Gorilla Tracking in Congo takes place in different gorilla groups that have been habitauted in the Virunga National Park. Below are the different mountain gorilla tracking groups and the number of gorilla trackers allowed per day.

Jomba:

• KWITONDA  group      :   8 visitors 
• MAPUA group               :   8 visitors

Bikenge

•                                                          
  - RUGENDO group         :   6 visitors

Bukima:

• KABIRIZIgroup             : 8 visitors
• MUNYAGA group       : 6 visitors
• HUMBA group              :   8 visitors

Gorilla Safari Destinations

Gorilla Tracking Guide Lines

On gorilla tracking tours within Congo, please observe the gorilla tracking guidelines outlined within the gorilla tours guide. Ggorilla trekking is a strenuous activity and one should be physically fit to enjoy this trip within the tropical rainforest of Africa. In congo the minimum gorilla trekking age is fifteen years. Anyone with signs of communicable disease will not be allowed to trek through the gorilla park. The possession of a gorilla permit is a guarantee of trekking and sighting the gorillas however the quality of the gorilla trekking can not be guaranteed totally. Maximum time allowed with the gorillas will not exceed one hour. For Gorilla Tracking, we strongly recommend a rain poncho, knapsack, long-sleeved shirt and trousers, sturdy hiking boots, leather gardening type gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent and any necessary medications be brought with the clients.

GORILLA TREK

• Gorilla Tracking in Mgahinga National Park
• Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Gorilla Tracking in Mgahinga National Park
• Gorilla Tracking in Parc des Volcans National Park

Gorilla Safari News

UGANDA GORILLA SAFARIS

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[ UGANDA GORILLA SAFARIS]

RWANDA GORILLA SAFARI (3)
GORILLA TREK IN RWANDA (5)
RWANDA PRIMATES SAFARI (5)
ULTIMATE RWANDA SAFARI (8)

3 Days Gorilla Safari - Fully inclusive gorilla trakking safari package to Bwindi Gorilla forest of South West Uganda available on both budget and luxury versions.