Virunga National Park is Democratic Republic of Congo’s giant as far as its tourism and it’s ranked to be the oldest national park in Africa formerly called Albert national park.
This park is located in the Eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo characterized with tropical rain forest, bamboo forests and swampy areas, this park is popularly known for the shy endangered Mountain Gorillas in the mist with over six gorilla families for trekking, these Gorilla families in Virunga National Park include Kabirizi Gorilla family, Humba, Rugendo, Mapuwa, Lulengo and Munyaga Gorilla family with most of them being found in Bukima sector.
Therefore, gorilla trekking tours in Democratic Republic of Congo requires you to buy a permit such that you are issued permission for the activity and this permit costs $440 USD per person, this permit is always booked in advance before your trekking dates such that it’s processed in time and highlighting it clearly is that once this money for the permit is paid its non-refundable unless a clear reason is presented to the responsible authorities.
This permit is always valid for use by one person following your respective dates and once you do not turn up for your dates it will be considered invalid.
Preparing for the activity very early in the morning after your breakfast you will be first briefed about the dos and don’ts while in the presence of the apes by the park officials at the park headquarters, after that session you will be assigned a park ranger guide to lead you through the journey heading into the jungle in search of these shy endangered mountain gorillas, after discovering their location you are issued a period of one hour only while in their presence seeing them playing with their young ones, feeding, laughing plus taking photos of them for memories.
But for successful trekking you should make sure your voice is at low tone while in the jungle, move slowly in the jungle, do not run after these apes, do not touch on these apes without permission, do not eat in presence of these apes and lastly do not use flush cameras when taking photos of these apes. After the one-hour session with these apes next step is descending back to the park offices for gorilla trekking certificate award.
