Gorilla Trekking in DR Congo 

When people think of gorilla trekking in Africa, Uganda and Rwanda usually come to mind first. But the Democratic Republic of Congo — often referred to simply as DR Congo or the DRC — holds a place of extraordinary importance in the story of mountain gorillas. It is the only country in the world where you can trek both mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas in the wild. For adventure travelers willing to venture off the beaten path, gorilla trekking in DR Congo offers an experience that is raw, deeply humbling, and utterly unforgettable.

This guide covers everything you need to know about gorilla trekking in DR Congo — from where to go and what it costs, to the current situation on the ground and what alternatives exist right now for travelers eager to see gorillas in the wild.

The Two Gorilla Trekking Destinations in DR Congo

DR Congo is unique in Africa because it hosts two entirely separate gorilla trekking destinations, each offering a different subspecies and a different kind of experience.

Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo is home to mountain gorillas and is the oldest national park on the African continent, established in 1925. Covering approximately 7,800 square kilometres, Virunga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biologically diverse protected areas in the world. It shares the greater Virunga Conservation Area with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, as well as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Within Virunga, around 300 mountain gorillas inhabit the southern sectors of the park, with multiple habituated families that have been accustomed to human presence over many years. The park is also home to two active volcanoes — Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira — making it one of the most dramatic and geologically active landscapes on earth.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park, located about 30 kilometres from the town of Bukavu in South Kivu, is home to eastern lowland gorillas, also known as Grauer’s gorillas. These are the largest of all gorilla subspecies, and DR Congo is one of only a handful of places in the world where they can be seen in the wild. Kahuzi-Biega was established in 1970, and lowland gorilla trekking began there as early as 1973. For travelers who want a less strenuous trek and a very different encounter from the mountain gorilla experience, Kahuzi-Biega is a remarkable and far less crowded alternative.

If you are also interested in exploring Uganda’s gorilla parks as part of a wider regional safari, our 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari or the 7 Days Ultimate Uganda Primate Safari are excellent starting points for planning your East and Central Africa primate adventure.

2026 Security Update: What Travelers Must Know

It is essential that any traveler planning a trip to DR Congo for gorilla trekking checks the current security situation carefully before booking. As of 2026, Virunga National Park is closed to tourism due to ongoing conflict in the eastern Congo region. The militant group M23 captured the city of Goma in 2025, and the surrounding areas — including the main access routes to Virunga — remain affected by instability. The park authorities have closed the mountain gorilla trekking sector for the foreseeable future, and international travel advisories strongly advise against non-essential travel to this area.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park, however, remains open and safe for visitors. This park is accessible via Bukavu, a different part of eastern DRC that has not been directly affected by the same conflict. Travelers who specifically wish to trek lowland gorillas in DR Congo can still do so, and Kahuzi-Biega continues to welcome international visitors safely.

For those whose hearts are set on mountain gorillas, Uganda remains the most stable, accessible, and richly rewarding destination for this experience. Our 4 Days Double Gorilla Trekking Escape gives you two separate gorilla encounters across two days in Bwindi — a deeply immersive option for serious wildlife enthusiasts. You can also explore East Africa safari holidays that combine gorilla trekking in Uganda with wildlife-rich destinations across the region.

Gorilla Trekking Permits and Costs in DR Congo

One of the most compelling reasons travelers have historically been drawn to DR Congo for gorilla trekking is the cost. A mountain gorilla trekking permit in Virunga National Park costs $400 per person — significantly lower than the $700 permit fee in Uganda and the $1,500 permit fee in Rwanda. For budget-conscious adventurers, this price difference has made DR Congo an attractive proposition, particularly when combined with the Nyiragongo volcano hike, which adds another extraordinary dimension to any Congo safari.

Lowland gorilla permits at Kahuzi-Biega are similarly priced affordably, making this park an accessible option for travelers on tighter budgets who still want an authentic, close encounter with wild gorillas.

A typical two-day trip from Kigali in Rwanda to Virunga National Park (when open) starts at around $1,100 per person for a group of two, covering the gorilla permit, transportation, accommodation, meals, and guide services. It is always recommended to book through a licensed and experienced tour operator who can handle the cross-border logistics, visa requirements, and accommodation bookings on your behalf.

For comparison, our 11 Days Uganda & Rwanda Cultural Safari covers both countries in one well-organized itinerary, allowing you to experience the gorillas of Bwindi alongside Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park for golden monkey trekking and cultural immersion.

What the Gorilla Trekking Experience in DR Congo Is Like

When Virunga was open to visitors, the experience of gorilla trekking there was described by many travelers as one of the most remarkable wildlife encounters on the planet. Groups of no more than eight visitors would assemble at the park headquarters at around 8 a.m. for a morning briefing from the rangers, which covered the history of each gorilla family, trekking rules, and what to expect in the forest. Visitors were then allocated to a gorilla family based on fitness level, personal preference, and language.

The trek through the volcanic forest could take anywhere from two to eight hours, depending on the movements of the gorillas on that particular day. Once the family was located, visitors were allowed one full hour in the presence of the gorillas — watching them feed, groom their young, interact with one another, and move through their habitat with calm authority. It is an hour that, by all accounts, stays with you for the rest of your life.

Every trekking group in Virunga was accompanied by armed rangers — not to intimidate visitors, but to ensure safety against other wildlife that shares the terrain. In Virunga’s long history, no tourist has ever been harmed while trekking with gorillas in the park, a testament to the professionalism and dedication of its conservation team.

For a comparable and currently available experience, Frena Adventures offers superb Uganda safari holidays that place you deep inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with expert local guides, seamless logistics, and accommodation options to suit all budgets and preferences.

Combining DR Congo with Uganda and Rwanda

Many gorilla trekking enthusiasts choose to combine DR Congo with a wider East and Central Africa itinerary. Historically, the most popular routing was to fly into Kigali, Rwanda, spend a day or two in the city, then cross the border at Gisenyi into Goma and proceed to Virunga. From there, travelers would either return to Rwanda or continue on to Uganda via the Bunagana border crossing in Kisoro.

This triangular loop across Rwanda, DR Congo, and Uganda represented one of the most extraordinary wildlife itineraries on earth — three countries, multiple gorilla encounters, a volcano hike, and stunning scenery at every turn. When the security situation in eastern DRC improves and Virunga reopens, this type of itinerary will once again be possible to plan.

In the meantime, a brilliant alternative is the Uganda and Rwanda gorilla safari combination, which pairs the best of both countries for a complete gorilla trekking experience without the need to enter DR Congo. Our 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Safari is also an excellent add-on to any Uganda gorilla trek, giving you two distinct trekking experiences within a single week of travel.

Is Gorilla Trekking in DR Congo Worth It — and When Will It Reopen?

The honest answer is that Virunga National Park at its best was one of the most extraordinary national parks on earth — a place where mountain gorillas, active volcanoes, rainforest, savannah, and the Rwenzori glacier peaks all coexisted in a single protected area. For travelers who were able to visit during its safer periods, gorilla trekking in Virunga was widely described as one of the most powerful wildlife experiences in Africa.

The situation in eastern DRC is fluid, and the Virunga National Park management team continues to monitor conditions closely. When the park does reopen — and those involved in Congo conservation remain hopeful that it will — gorilla trekking in Virunga will once again be a remarkable option for adventurous travelers.

For now, Kahuzi-Biega remains open for lowland gorilla trekking and is well worth visiting for those specifically interested in Grauer’s gorillas. And for mountain gorilla encounters, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest remains the gold standard — safe, breathtakingly beautiful, and home to roughly half of all the mountain gorillas left on earth.

Ready to plan your gorilla trekking adventure? Explore all our gorilla safari packages or get in touch with our expert team to start building your personalized itinerary. Whether your journey takes you to Uganda, Rwanda, or eventually the forests of DR Congo, we are here to make it extraordinary.