DR Congo Safari Holidays
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DROC, or simply either Congo or the Congo, and historically Zaire, is a country in Central Africa. It is, by area, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, the second-largest in all of Africa, and the 11th-largest in the world.
Though the country has been faced by series of unrest over several years the country’s Virunga massif still remains one of the best safari destinations attracting adventurers tourists to discover the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega, Mountain gorillas in Virunga national park, and hike one of Africa’s active lava volcano in the Nyiragongo mountains of the Virunga.
Top safari attractions in DR Congo
Virunga National Park DR Congo
Virunga National Park is a national park in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was created in 1925 and is among the first protected areas in Africa. In elevation, it ranges from 680 m in the Semliki River valley to 5,109 m in the Rwenzori Mountains.
Virunga National Park is the most evocative African destinations, the legendary and historical national park with iconic features in the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the top tourist attractions in the unique African setup with vast landscapes and impressive wildlife diversity including; the endangered Mountain Gorillas, the famous Nyiragongo active volcano, golden monkeys, the discovered extraordinary chimpanzees are all found in one of Africa’s largest standing rainforest situated in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Virunga obtained the acknowledgment of the UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.Thanks to the exceptional natural heritage and the good ecosystems state of conservation integration of mountaineering and trekking adventures and to its role as cross border protected area with Rwenzori national park and Volcanoes National Park.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park DR Congo
Kahuzi Biega national park is located in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo just 50 km away from Bukavu town which is one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s biggest business districts bordering Rwanda’s Rusizi which is also a big business Hub and beach holiday destination on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Kahuzi Biega national park is listed under the world heritage sites as it’s known to be holding one of Africa’s few remaining Lowland gorillas in the base of Mount Kahuzi and Biega, being the only habitat for the eastern lowland gorillas which are only found in Democratic Republic of Congo in the entire world. The 75,000 ha eastern sector is entirely montane. The massif is part of the Mitumba Mountain range, the western mountains of the Great Rift Valley. The two main peaks, Mount Kahuzi (3,308 m) and Mount Biega (2,790 m) are extinct volcanoes, and the massif dates from the late Tertiary or early Quaternary.
The western zone is forested by equatorial rain forest, with transition forest between 1,200 m and 1,500 m. In the eastern zone, six different primary vegetation types have been distinguished with the mountain rainforest, high-altitude rain forest, swamp forest, bamboo forest, subalpine heather, and swamp and peat bog.
Kahuzi Biega National park has a rich diversity of flora and fauna protecting both plants, mammals, and bird species, among which the Eastern lowland gorillas are the most prominent among the mammals found. Other primates include Chimpanzees, owl-faced monkeys, elephants, Bush buffalo, Alexander’s Bush squirrel.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park contains a greater diversity of mammal species than any other site in the Albertine Rift. It is the second most important site of the region for both endemic species and in terms of species diversity. Kahuzi Biega National Park protects over 136 species of mammals, among which the star is the eastern lowland gorilla & 13 other primates, including threatened species such as the chimpanzee.
Other extremely rare species of the eastern forests of the DRC are also found, such as the giant forest genet.
Nyiragongo Volcano in Virunga
Nyiragongo is located in the democratic republic of Congo (DRC) about 15kms from Goma Town and Lake Kivu, bordering Rwanda, the main crater of Mt Nyiragongo is about two kilometers wide and contains an active lava lake in it.
Mount Nyiragongo Volcano is found within the Virunga national park and is one of the Virunga Mountains that is open for Hiking and climbing by tourists. Climbing Nyiragongo Mountain is a dream for every traveler that is.
Mt Nyiragongo crater has two distinct cooled lava benches within the crater walls and one is about 3,175 meters (10,417 ft), the lower one is about 2,975 m (9,760 ft) Mount Nyiragongo lava lake is the most voluminous lava lake in history today. The depth of the lava lake varies; its maximum elevation of the lava lake is recorded 3,250 m (10,660 ft) prior to the January 1977 eruption, this lava lake is 600mts depth of about (2,000 ft).
Mt Nyiragongo is found in the eastern part of Congo (DRC) at the altitude of 3470m in the mountains of Virunga National Park, climbing/hiking up Mount Nyiragongo is not difficult, and reaching the top doesn’t take more than 5 hours.
Gorilla and Nyiragongo permit information
Congo has the cheapest gorilla permits of any of the destinations in East Africa, Congo gorilla permits currently cost 400 $ compared to Uganda at 700$ and Rwanda at 1500$ however traveling to Congo may be more than just going online and book, pay and travel it requires an expert safari operator to arrange a safari of a lifetime
Nyiragongo hiking permits currently cost 300$ and for more information on how to book the permits contact our safari experts today for updated information
How to travel to DR Congo for a safari
DR Congo’s main capital is Kinshasa which is seemly far away from the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo so traveling to Congo can be easy via Rwanda’s main capital Kigali, upon arrival in Kigali travelers can take a road transfer of approximately 3-4 hours to the border town of Gisenyi where they can cross to Goma the tourism Hub of eastern DR and from there, safaris can be arranged to Virunga and Nyiragongo
Best time to travel to DR Congo for safari
The best time to travel to DRC is during the long dry season from May to September, with July markedly the driest month, followed by June. Temperature also drops ever so slightly during these months. There is a shorter dry period in January and February.
Travelers are advised to contact us for the current state of tourism operations in DR Congo before booking and traveling for safari.