Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Virunga National Park is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), along the borders with Uganda and Rwanda. It is Africa’s oldest national park, established in 1925, and is part of the Albertine Rift Valley.
The park is world-famous for its mountain gorillas, which live in the Virunga Mountains, making it one of the best places for gorilla trekking in Africa. It is also home to active volcanoes, including Mount Nyiragongo, known for its boiling lava lake, and Mount Nyamuragira, one of Africa’s most active volcanoes.
Virunga has a highly diverse ecosystem that includes savannah, swamps, forests, and volcanic landscapes, supporting elephants, hippos, chimpanzees, lions, and many bird species. The park also contains Lake Edward and river systems that support rich aquatic life.
Wildlife highlights
Last updated: June 13, 2026
Yes, most travellers require a visa to enter Democratic Republic of the Congo, which must typically be arranged in advance.
Travel to certain regions is possible with proper planning and guidance. It is essential to travel with experienced operators and follow current travel advice.
The Rwanda Government charges USD $1,500.00 for each person each day; Uganda charges USD $700.00 per person per day, Congo charges $450 per person per day. Gorilla Permits are non-refundable - we can try to resell your Permits if you need to cancel, but there is no guarantee that we will be able to find a person who will purchase a ticket for the date of permit.
Yes, You need an official Gorilla permit handled by each of the national parks to see the gorillas. You have to obtain the Gorilla permits several months in advance. We obtain the necessary Gorilla Tracking Permits for you as part of our service
The minimum age for a gorilla tour is 15 Years old. Please get in touch if your kids want to track gorillas and are between 10 - 15 Years. You will need to write a letter of taking full responsibility for them during the activity.
The Gorilla tracking safaris can be done in Uganda (the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park), Rwanda (Parc National des Volcans or Volcanoes National Park) and Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC (Virunga Mountains park called the Parc National des Virunga).
We do not add a surcharge to the cost of the Permit - the cost to you is what we pay the respective Government for your Permits.
NO, Gorilla Permits are not refundable. In an emergency we can try to resell the Permits for you, but there is no guarantee that we will be abl to do so.
Gorilla trekking is an on-foot wildlife experience (with a maximum of 8 people per group), through east Africa’s rainforests to get up close with endangered mountain gorillas.
Bwindi’s gorillas in Uganda live in a high altitude rain forest, while the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda live in a bamboo forest. These habitats result in some behavioral differences and definitely result in different hiking and viewing differences. Budget issues often impact whether our guests visit both parks and only one. If time and budget permit, we recommend that our guests view in both parks.
Yes, the following must be considered before you go for a gorilla trek.
You have to be over 15 years of age
You can not be sick or have any infectious disease
Only 1 hour is allowed with the gorillas at a distance of at least 5 metres
Maximum number of visitors per day is 6-12 people per group
No flash photography is allowed
No eating or drinking in the vicinity of the gorillas
No touching the gorillas (although they may decide to touch you)
Trekkers must be fit and well equipped, which includes warm clothing for the wet cool climate high in the mountains
Explore itineraries that visit this park.
Your Safari/trip Includes