Congo, also called the Democratic Republic of Congo or Congo Kinshasa, is one of the countries in Africa known for gorilla safaris. It is located in East Africa, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, and other countries in the eastern and central regions of Africa. The borders among Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo are covered with the lush Virunga Mountains, which are home to the remaining mountain gorillas, a rare species of primate.
Gorilla permits are documents that allow tourists to visit and meet gorillas in their natural habitats. The cost of eastern lowland gorilla permits, particularly in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, is USD400 for foreigners and USD200 for Congolese nationals.
Mountain gorilla permits in Virunga National Park cost USD450 for foreigners and USD250 for Congolese nationals. There are two subspecies of gorillas visited in Congo—mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas. Each has its own habitat, determined by the terrain and climatic conditions.
Mountain gorillas live in Virunga National Park, located in the North-Kivu region in the Virunga Massif. As the name suggests, these gorillas inhabit mountains at altitudes of 8,000 to 13,000 feet above sea level. These are very cold areas, but their long and thick fur enables them to survive. In contrast, eastern lowland gorillas, which live in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, prefer lowland areas at altitudes of 2,100 to 2,500 meters above sea level. They are known to be the largest among the four subspecies of gorillas.
Visitors can observe these gorillas through a gorilla trekking experience, which involves searching for them in their natural habitat after acquiring a gorilla trekking permit. The entire experience takes about 2 to 8 hours, including an hour spent in the presence of these gentle giants. Gorillas are called gentle giants because they are peaceful and only become aggressive if threatened. They are fascinating to observe due to their similarities with humans, such as breastfeeding, movements, and family composition.
Gorilla trekking is the most sought-after activity in Africa, especially in D.R. Congo. To participate, one needs to acquire a gorilla trekking permit, which acts as a ticket allowing visitors to meet the gorillas.
How to Acquire Congo Gorilla Permits?
Anyone can acquire a permit through a recognized tour operator or by directly contacting the Congolese authorities responsible for issuing permits in respective national parks. This government authority is known as the “Institut Congolais pour la conservation de la nature” (ICCN).
Gorilla trekking permits are highly competitive and in high demand, as they are the cheapest among all other gorilla destinations in Africa. Other destinations for gorilla trekking include Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. There is also a gorilla habituation experience that allows visitors to spend four hours observing the gentle giants, available only in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Therefore, people are advised to book Congo gorilla permits in advance, at least 3 to 4 months before their trekking date, especially during peak seasons. Peak seasons occur during dry months when travel is popular—from June to September and December to February each year. These periods offer clear skies and are ideal for meeting gorillas without the interruptions of rain and muddy trails.
Gorilla permits are non-refundable and non-transferable but can be rescheduled to any available future date if unused. The Congo gorilla permit includes park entrance and guide fees but excludes accommodation, porter hire fees, and transportation fares.
