Democratic Republic of Congo is a Central African country consisting of many national parks of which in those include Virunga national park where the rare endangered mountain gorillas originate.

Virunga national park is also very much known for its exceptional wildlife and bird life though the most attractive activity remains tracking of the rare endangered mountain gorillas.

The Mountain gorillas in Virunga national park live in the dense forests and extensive savanna of the Park however gorilla safaris takes place in the Bukima patrol post.

Virunga National Park can be accessed from Uganda after having a gorilla safari in Mgahinga national park because Mgahinga is part of the Virunga massif.

Virunga National Park was the first Park to be gazzated in Africa (1925) which passed through Congo, Uganda and Rwanda and was under one government but later the Park splinted into three Parks Mgahinga national park, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo where now the Parks are under different governance according to the countries they are in.

Therefore, though the Virunga massif splinted into three Parks but the fact is that they can all be accessed from one Park to another.

A Congo gorilla permit costs US$ 400 which is bought from the Congolese Wildlife Authority and tourists especially who are far from Congo are emphasized to use the tour companies like Nature Adventure Africa Safari Limited to help them in purchasing a gorilla permit on their behalf and also do all the bookings for the whole tour.

Virunga national park is home to over 200 mountain gorillas and trekkers will be able to interact with eight habituated gorilla families in the Park.

For tourists who usually visit mountain gorillas in Virunga national park are entitled to live in Mikeno lodge, Tchegera Island tented camp and Bukima tented camp.

Gorilla trekkers are entitled to pack good and light hiking boots, long sleeved clothes, gloves and enough water and packed food.

Gorilla tracking starts with briefings which are held at the Park’s head offices and they begin at 07:00am then the tracking begins at 08:30am.

A group of 8 individuals per day is allowed to go for the trek and strictly one hour you should spend with the primates.

Other species in the Park include Low-land gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, birds, buffaloes and many more. Flashlight cameras are not allowed to use while taking photos of the primates simply because you may scare them and run away you are still viewing them.

Democratic Republic of Congo is a blessed country surely because it is composed of three great apes (mountain gorillas, eastern low-land gorillas and chimpanzees) and all can be spotted in Virunga national though the low-land gorillas are most spotted in Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega national park.

Kahuzi-Biega national park is also found in the eastern parts of Congo in Bukavu town (Lwiro County) and its name comes from its two dormant volcanoes; Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega.

Even-though it is best known for keeping the eastern low-land gorillas but it also protects eastern chimpanzees, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hippos, Mount Kahuzi climbing mice and many more.