Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park, is home to both mountain gorillas in its Mikeno sector and eastern lowland gorillas further south, alongside golden monkeys and forest elephants. DRC’s gorilla permit is significantly less expensive than Uganda’s or Rwanda’s, which draws travellers willing to trade some infrastructure polish for lower cost and far fewer visitors on the trail.
Logistics here take more planning than in Uganda or Rwanda, and we monitor regional security advisories closely before confirming any DRC itinerary. When conditions allow, this is one of the least crowded gorilla trekking experiences left in Africa.
Trip Planning Basics
Best Time To Visit: June to September and December to February
Gateway: Goma via Kigali (Rwanda) transfer, or Kigali directly
Visa: Visa required in advance, arranged through park authorities
Typical Permit Cost: Gorilla permit around USD 400