Which Visa Do I Need To Visit Kahuzi Biega National Park For Gorilla Trekking?

A tourist visa is the most appropriate visa for gorilla trekking in D.R.Congo case you must possess a visa before entering D.R.Congo. In order not to spend a long time at immigration, it is best to secure your visa in advance.

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In case your point of commencement after international flight arrival to gorilla trek to Kahuzi Biega National Park in D.R.Congo is in Rwanda or Uganda, you may also have to apply for a visa for either of these countries. In case Uganda or Rwanda are your transit points, you may apply for a transit visa just in case you are not taking part in any activity in these countries. For more details, you may contact your travel agency.

 For you to do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need a permit. To book a gorilla permit, you must select a date when you hope to do the gorilla tour and find availability. It is best to purchase your gorilla permit in advance because they sell out in advance because of the high demand, especially during the peak season.

You can apply and purchase the D.R.Congo visa online or through the consular within your country. Although you can obtain a visa on arrival at immigration, the process you go through is quite challenging and time-wasting.  If you can save time by purchasing the visa in advance, it is a great idea especially if you start the safari on arrival.

When Is The Best Time To Book A Visa To Go Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

For comfort, it is better to apply for your visa to D.R.Congo Rwanda, or Uganda as soon as you confirm your gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park. The process of applying for these visas may take some time because of the bureaucracy around travel.

In case your country has a visa-free arrangement with D.R.Congo, you have to make all other necessary arrangements in advance.

How To Book A Gorilla Trekking Permit For Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Choose a date when you wish to go gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park and the number of people you hope to travel with. This helps when checking the availability of gorilla permits from the Virunga Tourism office.

Upon receiving your inquiry, our safari consultant checks the availability of gorilla permits from the Virunga Tourism office. It is best to purchase your gorilla permit in advance because they are limited to a maximum of 8 per gorilla permit yet supply is restricted for conservation reasons.

After booking the gorilla permits, do forward some personal details like your full name as presented on the passport, nationality, date of birth, and much more.

When Is The Best Time To Book A Gorilla Trekking Permit In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

The best time to book a gorilla trekking permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park is at least 90 days before the date of this safari. This is because, during the peak season, gorilla permits are in high demand yet supply is restricted. Purchasing the gorilla trekking permit is the first step to confirming the gorilla safari.

During the peak season that is June, July, August, September, December, and January the gorilla trekking permits are highly demanded so sell out in advance. Even other logistics that support gorilla trekking like accommodations, transport, and others sell out in advance.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we help you make all necessary arrangements within your safari plan and provide necessary arrangements where necessary. We package our safaris according to up-market, mid-range, and basic. We have over 10 years of experience in planning African safaris which has helped us to accumulate the knowledge that we use to advise our clients over time.

The wet season that is March, April, May, and November is the low season when demand for gorilla permits is fewer opening opportunities for those wishing to have less company while on a gorilla tour. In case you are budget-sentient, the low season opens more opportunities to do gorilla trekking at a discounted cost.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking Safari In Kahuzi Biega National Park

The cost of gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park varies with inclusions in the safari package. The cost of the gorilla safari includes purchasing the gorilla permit first. No matter which safari package you choose, the cost of the gorilla permit cuts across all budgets.

Other additional costs that support the gorilla safari include accommodation, transport, and others. The cost of gorilla safaris in Kahuzi Biega National Park is influenced by the number of people traveling, the number of days on safari, safari activities to engage in, timing, and much more.

Is Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Safe?

Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is currently safe as on the ground are other D.R.Congo security agencies who work closely with the ranger guides on the ground to keep law and order. Kahuzi Biega National Park in eastern D.R.Congo is known for being insecure because of the rebel activities in this area.

Every gorilla trek in Kahuzi Biega National Park must be escorted by ranger guides because they have some defense weapons in case of an emergency. While walking in the jungle, you may encounter other unhabituated forest dwellers who may hurt you.

Before any gorilla trek, all tourists are advised to attend a briefing where guidelines for gorilla safaris are given but you must keenly follow them.

No gorilla trekking safari is allowed to commence without an escorting ranger guide. The ranger guides take you through the guidelines of the gorilla trek but as a tourist, you must fully abide by the rules. When you finally meet the gorillas, you have one hour with them to reduce the chances of causing them to get agitated.

Wear the right attire for the gorilla trek which is at least a long-sleeved shirt and convertible trousers in wilderness-friendly colors like tan, forest green, Khaki, and much more. The wilderness has some rough surfaces like stinging nettle and insects that may hurt you. Apply insect repellants and carry a first aid kit too.

What Is the Return Time From Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

From the starting time of the gorilla trek, you may locate the eastern lowland gorilla in 120 minutes or more depending on where they may be spending their day. When you start the gorilla trek, ranger guides follow the trail leading to where the gorillas were last seen the previous day. Even the clues leading to where the gorillas may be spending their day are provided by the rangers who wake up earlier to seek their way about.

Finding the gorillas depends on factors prevailing in the day like weather conditions prevailing in the day, condition of the trails, the location of the food source, and much more. As a tourist, you need to bear some level of patience before locating the gorillas but you can keep your mind open to seeing other features in the forest like primates, birds, various fully grown trees, and much more.

Finally, upon seeing the eastern lowland gorillas, just an hour is allowed with them but you need to follow the guidelines of the gorilla safari.

Are The Eastern Lowland Gorillas Aggressive?

In nature, the eastern lowland gorillas are tranquil primates even though they look fierce on the outlook. Eastern lowland gorillas have a larger body covered in dark far. Their sunken eyes and knuckle locomotion make the gorillas appear fierce however this is not the actual nature of these primates.

Before opening the gorilla family to the public, the lowland gorillas are habituated for some time until they are ready for public visits. Gorilla habituation is a process by which a wild gorilla family is helped to get used to human presence without altering their nature.

When with the eastern lowland gorillas, you must keenly abide by the rules of gorilla trekking.

The nature of the lowland gorillas doesn’t mean you provoke them because they can charge as they present some odd behaviors like hooting, thumping their chests, pulling vines around them, and much more.

When you notice such behavior, wait for the ranger guide to establish the cause of the matter like in case they fight with another gorilla family, weather conditions prevailing in the day, family feud, and much more. Try not to stare into the eyes of the lowland gorillas, provoke them, or touch their infants because this may cause them to get agitated.

Which accommodations to book for the gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Accommodation to book on gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park varies with categories that are upmarket, mid-range, and basic facilities.

Kahuzi Biega Accommodation: Orchid Safari Club, Coco Lodge Bukavu, Hotel Begonais Bukavu, Panorama Hotel, Exodus Hotel, Hotel Elizabeth

How to get to Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Some of the routes to Kahuzi Biega National Park are via Kigali in Rwanda where you pass Gisenyi to Rusizi to Cyangugu border to Bukavu town to Kahuzi Biega National Park.

From Uganda, you may pass via the southwestern part passing the Bunagana border to Bukavu town to Kahuzi Biega National Park

Charter flights can also be arranged but require booking for better arrangements to be made when requested.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park Difficult?

The trek to gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park has some challenges because you have to walk in this pristine rainforest. The forest is generally wet most of the days of the year because rain falls frequently with less sunlight penetrating through the dense jungle.

The vines drape down the overgrown trees and different physical features within the forest make it quite challenging to traverse the forest. The ranger guide with a machete uses it to trim the vegetation that may obstruct tourists.

Finding the gorillas may also take some time as their location is dependent on the factors prevailing in the forest. When you have some patience, you will locate the lowland gorillas.

When the rains fall, the trails in the forest get slippery and soggy so you need to wear safari boots and other clothes.

What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

• Rainproof gears in case it falls without warning
• Safari boots to wear while in the jungle as the ground is so boggy and may have pricking items.
• Safari clothes in colors that a wilderness friendly
•  Extra batteries in case one runs low
•  A camera to take memories of what conspired during gorilla trekking safari in D.R.Congo
• Garden gloves to wear in case you have to hold a tighter grip on a creeper in the forest
• Pajamas warm enough for the extremely cold nights
• A torch for lighting in the night when lights go off
• Some hard cash to change into local currency in case you need to purchase something during a gorilla trekking safari. Credit cards are rarely used because getting money from them takes a long time.
• A foldable safari hat with a wide brim to protect your hair from dripping water off the tree leaves.
• Insect repellant to smear the body with to keep away insects.
• A pair of binoculars to get a clearer view of far-ranging features
• Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t provide them or if you are not comfortable using them
• Backpack to carry with the gorilla safari gears and hand them to a porter where required.
• A travel adapter and charger in case you need to recharge your electronic gadgets
• Sunscreen in case you visit another pack and you have to bask under the sun by the poolside.
• A pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from buzzing insects in the wilderness.
• Snacks to munch on when you get hungry while gorilla trekking and hiking up the mountains Biega and Kahuzi
• Bug spray in case your room may contain them
•  Warmers because this area receives cold conditions in the early morning after afternoons

The most appropriate visa for gorilla trekking in D.R.Congo is a tourist visa. It's best to purchase your visa in advance to avoid any interruptions or delays on arrival for your gorilla trekking safari. Contact our team for more information and for any assistance concerning booking your tourist visa to D.R.Congo.