Congo gorilla permits cost only $400 each, making them the cheapest. You will need one before you are granted access to go gorilla trekking in Congo. Gorilla permits in Congo cost far less compared to Rwanda and Uganda that charge $1500 and $600 respectively. A gorilla permit can be obtained through the park or you can use a trusted travel agency to get you one. Using a travel agency is far much better because they can also organize your accommodation and transportation.
Congo gorilla permits should be bought way in advance especially if you are traveling during the dry seasons. The demands for such months are absolutely high. You should book your gorilla permit 3 months in advance before traveling to trek mountain gorillas in Congo.
A gorilla permit is valid for only one day. A maximum number of eight people will be allowed to visit each gorilla family in a day. After locating the gorillas, you have a maximum of one hour to observe them and take photographs while obeying the set gorilla trekking guidelines. The guide can end the visit early if gorillas seem uncomfortable or begin to charge.
50% of the gorilla permit fee will be refunded to the tourists if they show any sign of illness prior to gorilla trekking because gorillas are subject to human diseases like flu, Ebola, cold and many more with no necessary immunity to fight the diseases. You won’t be allowed to trek to avoid disease transmission in case you’re sick.
After obtaining a gorilla permit, be prepared to hike. Mountain gorillas live in high altitude forests of volcanic mountains implicating you will indeed require some energy for trekking. As for your packing list, you must carry good hiking boots, garden gloves, insect repellents, energy snacks, drinking water and other things you might need. There are several mountain gorilla families you can trek in Congo’s Virunga National Park after obtaining a Congo gorilla trekking permit. The allocation process is random and you cannot influence it.
Checking online availability for gorilla permits in Congo
We can help you check for online availability of Congo gorilla permits or you can contact Virunga Foundation directly through their main website: https://virunga.org/.
Congo is a country found in Central Africa. It is one of the three countries where you can trek mountain gorillas from. The other countries are Rwanda and Uganda; in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda then Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda respectively.
The best months to book your Congo gorilla permit for are any that fall between the dry seasons of June to September and December to February. During this time the roads to the park are so accessible and hiking trails are not muddy and slippery. The wet season can also be an advantage because gorillas don’t go to higher elevations. They hardly look for food as its abundant on the slopes.
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