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Best Time to Visit DR Congo: Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tips

For starters, it’s important to note that the D.R. Congo is the world’s wealthiest nation. Its mineral and natural endowments make it unmatched. D.R. Congo, formerly Zaire; D.R.C; the Congo; or Congo-Kinshasa, is situated in East Africa. Its neighbors include Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania in the East; Republic of South Sudan to the Northeast; Zambia in Southeast; Central African Republic in Northeast; Angola in Southwest; and the South Atlantic Ocean in the West.

It’s the most populated Francophone country globally, with an estimated 110 million inhabitants. The country is by land area the second biggest on the continent. By global rankings in land area, it’s the 11th. Kinshasa is its capital and the most populated city in Africa.

The country attained its name from the great River Congo, whose presence is keenly felt throughout the country. Another important aspect to note is the river’s uncontested depth, which makes it the deepest river in the world. Additionally, because of its size and water levels, it has the second largest discharge of water of any river globally. The river’s name is attributed to the former Kingdom of Kongo, of the Bakongo people who lived along the River Congo hundreds of years ago.

D.R. Congo has one of the world’s highest precipitation levels, which explains the thick rainforest cover across the country. For centuries, this has given birth to the Congo rainforest, the world’s second largest natural forest after the Amazon Forest. The thick rainforests have been a sustainable ground for the unique wildlife in the country, creating one of the world’s most fascinating ecosystems.

It’s no surprise then that only the Democratic Republic of Congo has both subspecies of gorillas, i.e., mountain gorillas and Eastern lowland gorillas, also known as Grauer’s gorillas. Both subspecies are located in the eastern part of the country, often referred to as the Virunga Conservation Area. The two subspecies have their uniqueness such as their area of habitation, a reason for their distinct names; mountain gorillas live in the mountainous areas of the country, while Grauer’s gorillas live in the lowland areas of D.R. Congo. As for similarities, the gorilla is one of the largest primate species in the world. They are conserved in restricted ecozones, most notably in Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo.

Gorilla destinations in D.R. Congo:

Virunga National Park:

It ranks as the most biodiverse area on the African continent. It has almost all species of wildlife, crawling and flying. Located close to the Congo Basin at the eastern edge of D.R. Congo, Virunga is the primary home of mountain gorillas in D.R. Congo. It officially became a national park in 1925 and covers about 3,120 square miles.

Virunga boasts two active volcanoes, Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo, which stand rumbling in this park. Tourists can enjoy trekking the different gorilla families therein.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park:

This is the central home of the Eastern lowland gorillas in D.R. Congo. Established in 1970 as the hub for monitoring, protecting, and conserving lowland gorillas, you won’t be able to view the Eastern lowland gorillas anywhere else in the wild except within Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Visitors travel from all parts of the world just to view these rare species.

The park’s name is derived from a combination of two adjacent mountains, Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega. The Wildlife Conservation Society oversees activities within and outside the park. A gorilla permit to this park costs $400 for each trekker and can be accessed through Bukavu town.

Best time to visit D.R. Congo:

D.R. Congo is crossed by the Equator, with some areas lying in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. D.R. Congo’s climate is in many ways distinct from its neighbors. While it has two dry seasons, the rains are unpredictable and can sometimes surprise visitors, occasionally becoming heavy even during the supposed dry seasons. Despite this variability, the periods between July-September and December-February remain the best times to visit D.R. Congo.


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