The Democratic Republic of Congo is the only home to mountain gorillas in West Africa. It’s the only country in the world with both the mountain and lowland gorillas in two different national parks.

Virunga national park is home to the mountain gorillas and Kahuzi Biega national park is home to the lowland gorillas. There different means on how to get to Congo for a gorilla safari.

The most efficient way of getting to Congo is by air. Flights to Congo are organized by Ethiopian airways once a week to Goma airport.

It is also possible to get in to Congo by road from neighboring countries like Rwanda and Uganda that too have mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park respectively.

After getting into Congo here are the options on how to get to Congo gorilla trekking safari destinations.

How To Get to Virunga National Park

By road;

From Goma, Virunga national park is 358km via Buhumba-Mukoka-Bikara-Kyondo road (the best route) with a drive time of 10h 49min.

From Goma via Rutshuru-Ishasha-Kasindi road Virunga national park is 313km away with a drive time of about 9h 7min. This route includes border crossing and passing via Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National park. Its best for tourists coming from Uganda.

From Rwanda, it’s a 4 hours’ drive from Kigali to Gasenyi the nearest town to Goma. Its 1and ½ hours to the park in Bukima sector. For this route you will have to spend a night in one of the hotels in Rwanda.

From Kigali (Rwanda’s capital), Virunga national park is 383km away via Kigali-Gatuna road then Ntungamo-Katunguru road in western Uganda. This road includes crossing a ferry.

How To Get to Congo’s Virunga National Park By Air;

Direct flights to Goma are only possible once a week every Saturday from Ethiopia to Goma. You can fly in to Goma-Congo’s international airport with Ethiopian airlines then transfer by road to the park.

Return flights after a gorilla trekking safari in Congo can only be done 7 days from the day you fly in; the most favorable option is going by road to Rwanda then take a flight from Kigali international airport.

The fly in safaris are most favorable for tourists who take 7 days Congo gorilla safari and wildlife tour.

How To Get to Kahuzi Biega National Park

By road;

From Goma, Kahuzi Biega national park is 138km away. The roads to Kahuzi Biega national park are rough and dirty with a requirement on payment of toll fees for crossing to a different province. It’s a bout a driving time of 5 to 6 hours from Goma but having a professional driver is recommendable.

By air Goma is the national airport and road distances from there are the same.

For a memorable Congo gorilla tour, organizing with a gorilla tour operator is the best option for all preparations.

The truth is here for the best gorilla safari Congo preparations, just start planning today and trek both the mountain and lowland gorillas.