Congo Gorilla Safaris

Congo Gorilla Safaris – Gorilla Safari Consultants

Congo gorilla safaris are popular among African travellers, though Uganda and Rwanda remain the top gorilla trekking destinations.

However, the Democratic Republic of Congo offers a unique advantage. It is home to three gorilla species—western lowland, eastern lowland, and mountain gorillas. In eastern DRC, you can track the eastern lowland and mountain gorillas for a rare and diverse trekking experience.

Unlike Uganda and Rwanda, Congo provides a wilder adventure. The thick rainforests, cool breezes, and untouched wilderness create an authentic bond with nature. Though infrastructure is less developed, this adds to the adventure and raw beauty of the experience.

At Gorilla Safari Consultants, we design well-planned Congo safari packages that immerse you in the heart of Africa’s remote wilderness while ensuring comfort and safety.

Eastern lowland gorillas

Mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo – mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Congo

Mountain gorillas are the most frequently tracked species. They live on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes, straddling the borders of DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda. Once numbering only 620 in 1989, their population grew to just over 1,000 by 2018—a remarkable conservation success.

Thanks to these efforts, the IUCN reclassified mountain gorillas from critically endangered to endangered in November 2018. Living mostly on the ground, they offer close encounters as they forage, rest, and play in the dense foliage.

Gorilla safaris Consultants has well-planned Mountain Gorilla trekking packages to fit your best interest.

The other gorilla species in the Democratic Republic of Congo include;

Eastern lowland gorillas

Eastern lowland gorillas live in the forests and swampland just to the west of the Virunga Volcanoes. Also known as Grauer’s gorilla, this is the largest of the four gorilla species, with males standing up to 1.85m tall – that’s over six feet. They spend more time in the trees than their mountain counterparts, which can make observing them easier if they are not too far from the ground, although from time to time they will forage high in the canopy.

Their numbers are not well known. Due to ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, it is extremely difficult to count eastern lowland gorillas and study their behavior. In the mid-1990s, their population was estimated at 17,000; current reports say there may be anything from a quarter to half of those remaining in these forests. Given the threats it faces, the eastern lowland gorilla is critically endangered. Congo gorilla safaris with Gorilla Safari Consultants will take you into the deep Congo forest where you will experience these massive primates.

Western lowland gorillas

Western lowland gorillas are the most numerous of all gorilla species; however, in DRC they live only in the far west of the country, close to the Atlantic coast. You can track them elsewhere, most notably in the Central African Republic but also in the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Gabon. The western lowland gorilla is critically endangered.