Is Gorilla Trekking In Dr.Congo Safe? Why Gorilla Trekking in Congo is Considered Not Safe? DR. Congo Gorilla Trekking Safety Tips, How Safe is it to Trek Mountain Gorillas in DR. Congo? Is Virunga National Park Safe for Gorilla Trekking?, Reasons why Realm Africa Safaris™ does not operate Gorilla Safaris to Congo.
Mountain Gorillas in Africa can only be seen in three (03) Countries; Uganda, Rwanda & DR. Congo. Only Uganda and Rwanda are currently considered the safest places to see Mountain Gorillas in Africa.
Is DR. Congo Safe for Gorilla Trekking?
DR. Congo is one of the three (03) Places where you can trek to See Mountain Gorillas in their National Habitat. Although Gorilla trekking In DR. Congo has been branded the “cheapest gorilla trekking in Africa” by many risk-taking tour operators looking to make some pocket change and don’t care much about the safety of both their guides and clients, we at Realm Africa Safaris™ continue to stress that Congo is Not Safe for gorilla trekking.
DR. congo has suffered a long spell of ongoing political unrest that has continued to claim the lives of wildlife custodians ( Rangers and Park wardens) since 1996 to date. The latest being 12 rangers gunned down in the Virunga National Park in DR. Congo.
Is Virunga National Park Safe for Gorilla Trekking?
Whilst Virunga National park in DR. Congo is considered Africa’s oldest National Park and perhaps one Of the most beautifully biodiverse park and home to up to 200 mountain gorillas that still survive in Africa – they were on a brink of extinction but as of the latest gorilla census, the population rose to 1000 recorded as still alive, thanks to on-going gorilla conservation.
Why Gorilla Trekking In Congo is Considered Not Safe: Despite Virunga National Park being the most biodiverse National park In Africa, Realm Africa Safaris™ does not operate Gorilla safaris in Congo for the obvious reasons of insecurity.
DR. Congo has suffered continued political unrest characterized by civil war amongst the different political factions that each continues to fight for power over control of the abundant natural resources of Virunga National Park.
… More than 200 park rangers have been killed in Virunga since 1996 – Why Gorilla Trekking In Congo is Considered Not Safe.
Even amidst the ongoing insecurity characterized by killings of the park ranger as early as 1996 with the latest attack having happened on 24 April 2020 claiming 12 wildlife custodian – rangers’ lives, there is still a couple of tour operators that are known to sugar-cot the reality and are using deceiving marketing language to convince tourists to go gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park. They also lure travelers into hiking to Nyiragongo hot lava Crater – both in DR. Congo.
Note: While both Virunga National Park, Nyiragongo, and many other sites in DR. Congo are considerably beautiful, we recommend moving them further down on your bucket list – Let’s keep an eye on how things unfold, and lets only go when we are sure it’s safe.
However following the recent April – May 2018 ambush, kidnap of tourists, and killing of game rangers by militia groups seeking control over the natural resources of the Virunga National Park, a resolution to close the park was reached by the Congo Government. Virunga National Park is expected to re-open its doors to tourism again in 2019 – assumably after an aggregate security infrastructure has been set up to manage the safety of tourists visiting the Virunga National Park.
Previous occurrences in the Virunga National park caused its Closure, and part of the reasons why Gorilla trekking In Congo is Considered Not Safe.
- Latest: 10th/01/2021 – a team of rangers was ambushed and 6 rangers were shot dead by the Mai-Mai Militia group in DR Congo’s Virunga Forest National Park. if rangers can be shot dead, would consider it safe to visit this Park?
Related: 6 rangers shot dead in the Virunga Forest National Park.
- On 16th April 2014 – Emmanuel de Merode, the Belgian director of the Virunga national park, was wounded in an ambush by militias who shot him in the chest – However, he still survives! Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27049627
- On 9th April 2018 – Five (05) Park Rangers and a driver were shot dead in an ambush by militia – For further unbiased reading: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/09/six-park-rangers-killed-ambush-drcs-famed-virunga-gorilla-park/
- On 11th May 2018 – Two British tourists and a ranger were ambushed, and the ranger was killed. However, the tourists were rescued in a joint operation.
- On 24 April 2020 – A total of 17 lives were lost among whom 12 were wildlife rangers attacked by a group of armed rebels believed to be involved in poaching and illegal charcoal production carried out in the Virunga National Park. (see: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/twelve-rangers-killed-in-latest-virunga-park-incident/)
** What is the correlation between the month of April and these killings? I notice that most of them happen in the month of April.
The unfolding of all the above and other insecurity happenings (not mentioned) in the Virunga National park caused the park to be closed for 8 months from May 2018 following a series of attacks on visitors by these armed rebel groups.
As Realm Africa Safaris™ we continue to caution travelers intending to go Gorilla trekking In Congo not to subject themselves to the risk of loss of life. However, we encourage them to postpone their travel intentions into DR. Congo until we are sure that it’s safe enough to visit or alternatively consider booking a Safe & secure gorilla safari to Uganda or Rwanda.
While both Uganda & Rwanda are undoubtedly safe for Gorilla Trekking, Gorilla Permits in Uganda cost a Lot lesser than they cost in Rwanda. Gorilla Permits in Uganda cost $700 per person per trek while Rwanda charges $1,500. The Price of Rwanda’s Permits is almost the actual cost of our 3 Day Gorilla safari in Uganda.
Realm Africa Safaris™ operates affordable private, and small group holidays ranging from; Budget, mid-range, and upmarket gorilla Safaris into Uganda starting in Kigali (saves time & money) – gorilla permits in Uganda cost $700 per person per trek while those in Rwanda cost USD1,500.
Flying into Kigali to trek Gorillas in Uganda saves you up to USD900 on gorilla permits which is more money than enough to cover your accommodation, meals, and transfer cost to and from Kigali. (see: Uganda Gorilla Safaris starting in Kigali)
Interested in an affordable Gorilla Safari to Uganda?
Book our 3 Days Budget Uganda gorilla safari through Kigali for USD979 per person – Including Gorilla Permits, Accommodation, meals, and ground transportation.
If sheer luxury is what you are looking for, then consider booking our 4 Days Luxury Gorilla Safari Starting in Kigali– Includes; 01 Gorilla permit, 03 Nights accommodation at Gahinga Lodge, meals, ground transportation, and fully escorted by a private local driver-guide.
