Discounted gorilla permits in Virunga national park
Discounted gorilla permits in DR Congo are offered during the rainy season to attract a large number of tourists to the Virunga national park. Gorilla trekking in DR Congo can be done in Virunga national park which is a home to mountain gorillas and Kahuzi Biega national park a home to eastern lowland gorillas.
Discounted gorilla permits in Virunga national park are available from mid-March to mid-May and mid-October to mid-December. The normal gorilla permit price in Virunga national park is $400 for foreign non-residents and foreign residents, then for the DR Congo citizens and East African citizens, it’s $200. During the low season, the gorilla permits are discounted to $200 for foreign non-residents and foreign residents, and 100 Congo residents and East African citizens.
Gorilla trekking permit price for Virunga national park includes park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, security, and conservation fees. The permit price excludes accommodation, transport, visa, and porter fees. The discounted permits can be got from a trusted local tour operator such as Africa Adventure Vacations.
Virunga national park is one of the most visited places, especially by travelers that want to spend time with mountain gorillas. The national park is located in the eastern part of DR Congo protected mountain gorillas that do share 98% human DNA. Some of the mountain gorillas in Virunga national park have been habituated to make them get used to human beings. The mountain gorilla groups that have been habituated are 8 and they include Humba, Nyakamwe, Munyaga, Lulengo, Mapuwa, Bageni, Kabirizi, and Rugendo.
When to book discounted gorilla permits to Virunga national park?
Travelers intending to visit Virunga national park in the low season of March to May and October to November can book discounted gorilla permits for the park at any time before the final flying into the country. However, the best time to book these discounted gorilla permits is 3-4 months in advance and this is advised to avoid last-minute booking disappointments.
What period are the discounted permits in Virunga national park?
Discounted gorilla permits in Virunga national park are available from 15th March to 15th May and 15th October to 15th December. The above period is called the low season and during this season, the trekking permits that are normally $450 are reduced to $200 per person per trek. During the low season, the discounted gorilla permits attract more travelers into the park since the permits for other places are high (Rwanda and DR Congo)
How to book discounted gorilla permits for Virunga national park?
Traveling looking for how to nook discounted gorilla permits for Virunga national park don’t have to worry about how they will do so. All they have to do is contact Africa adventure vacations limited by sending them an email containing the days they want to travel which must be between 15th march to 15th May and 15th October to 15th December.
Using the dates, we shall check for the availability of the trekking permits with the Virunga national park authorities. When the permits are available, we shall send you an email containing the different banking methods for you to send the money for the permits. After we have received the money, we shall book the permits for you.
How many discounted gorilla permits are available in Virunga national park?
There are 64 discounted gorilla permits in Virunga national park in the low season. The permits are only 64 because the national park is home to 8 gorilla families and only 8 people are allowed to trek a single gorilla family per day.
The gorilla trekking experience in Virunga national park
Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park starts with a briefing where drivers pick the trekkers from the lodges early in the morning after they have taken breakfast. The trekkers are taken to the Bukima ranger post where they meet the park wardens that teach them the rules and regulations of the trekking activity.
After the briefing activity, the trekkers are grouped not exceeding 8, and the armed ranger guides are assigned to each group and they lead them into the jungle to search for mountain gorillas. The trekking activity takes 2-7 hours of going through different vegetation covers as you meet different park animals such as topis, bushbucks, chimpanzees, duikers, giant forest hogs, buffaloes, elephants, monkeys, and birds.
After several hours of searching when the trekkers meet the mountain gorillas they keep the rules and regulations of the activity and be around these apes for 1 hour learning about their habits, taking photos, and watching them do daily activities such as breastfeeding, coupling, feeding, and playing among others. Later the trekkers get out of the forest and they meet their drivers to take them to the lodge or their next destination.
What to pack for mountain gorilla trekking in the low season in Virunga national park?
Travelers intending to visit Virunga national park in the low season of March to May and October to November need to know it’s during this period that the rainfall is too much in the park. They need to pack items such as waterproof hiking shoes, a pair of gaiters, long-sleeved clothes, a rain jacket, long stocks, insect repellents, a pair of binoculars, a camera and extra batteries, sunscreen, a hat, sanitizer, facemask first aid kit, drinking water bottle, and energy-giving snacks.
Where to stay on a gorilla safari in Virunga national park during the low season?
There are so many accommodation facilities in and around Virunga national park where travelers can stay during the gorilla trekking safari in the low season. These accommodation facilities do offer huge discounts during the rainy months and they include Lulimbi Tented Camp, Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters, Bukima Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island, Kikumba Tented Camp, and much more.