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Democratic Republic of Congo Wildlife

Considered one of the world’s seventeen “megadiverse” nations, the DRC is home to a cast of characters. The continent’s “big five” – elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos and buffalo – can all be found here on a wildlife safari, as well as the world’s only wild population of bonobos.

Virunga National Park, a haven of biodiversity which contains more bird, mammal and reptile species than any other protected area in Africa, has everything from glaciers and lava flows to forest and savannah found within the park’s borders. Perhaps best known as being one of the last places to see mountain gorillas in the wild; the habituation of a handful of gorilla family groups living in Virunga allows travellers to spend time in close proximity with these great apes. Gorillas are far from the only wildlife experience here; a huge variety of birdlife can be seen filling the skies above Virunga, including pelicans and flamingos that hunt for fish in Lake Edward. The Ishasha River, which drains into the lake, attracts a variety of large land mammals and is a great spot for sightings of tree-climbing lions, wallowing hippos, herds of elephant and buffalo. The endangered okapi, a cousin of the giraffe, inhabits the valley below the Rwenzori Mountains to the north.

Primates in the DRC

Eastern Gorilla

Weighing upwards of 200kg, the imposing eastern gorilla is the largest of all primates, and is split into two subspecies: the mountain gorilla and the eastern lowland gorilla, both species providing stunning gorilla safaris in some of the best gorilla trekking destinations, and both of which are listed by the IUCN as critically endangered. Despite their size, strength and ferocious-looking fangs, gorillas subsist almost entirely on fruit and vegetation and are inherently wary of humans, even to the point of shyness. Mountain gorillas, as their name suggests, inhabit Virunga’s forested volcanic mountains and the roving groups of between five and 30 individuals can be found at high altitudes, ranging from 7,000 to 14,000 ft. Eastern lowland gorillas, the larger of the two subspecies, are found within Kahuzi-Biéga National Park on the western side of Lake Kivu, a large body of water which abuts onto the southern edge of Virunga. Virunga National Park and the surrounding areas offer opportunities for tracking down and spotting both species of gorilla, with a number of groups having grown accustomed to our presence through years of habituation activity.

Gorilla Trekking Safaris

Dzanga Sangha Gorilla Tracking Safari

Track endangered western lowland gorillas, observe forest elephants, bongos, and mangabey monkeys, and join the local Ba'Aka tribe on a net hunt in the dense rainforests of the Dzanga Sangha reserve. Journey to the rainforests of the remote Dzanga Sangha Reserve on this pioneering safari to the Central African Republic. Dzanga Sangha is one of the few places in the world where you can track habituated western lowland gorillas, and is also home to forest elephants and the elusive bongo antelope. Join the local Ba’Aka people as they hunt and gather medicinal herbs, and trek through pristine rainforest in search of colourful birdlife and mangabey monkeys. Staying in the comfortable yet basic Sangha Lodge, this safari is perfect for adventurous travellers hoping to get off the beaten track for incredible wildlife experiences.

From $10,000 per person

St Uganda Mountain Gorilla Shutterstock Photocechcz

9 Day Western Lowland Gorilla & Bai Safari

Located in the north-west region of the Republic of the Congo, discover two unique camps inside the pristine Odzala-Kokoua National Park, and a third on a private concession bordering the national park. This is a lowland rainforest characterised by a network of bais, rivers, marshes and swamps. This vast and truly wild region, with its wide range of landscapes and habitat, is home to an incredible diversity of life. Forest elephant, leopard, bongo, forest buffalo, giant forest hog and hippo live alongside the greatest density of western lowland gorilla in Africa.

From $15,500 per person

Short Gorilla Tracking Safari

Nothing can prepare you for it. The moment you first encounter a mountain gorilla nestled in the midst of the verdant Rwandan thicket. As soon as you step foot in the legendary Virunga Mountains, there’s a palpable sense of interconnectedness, rippling from the land, to the wildlife, to the people.

From $11,500 per person

RWA Cl Rwanda July Gorilla Sideview Credit Richard Denyer

Luxury Complete Rwanda Safari

The opportunity to visit Rwanda's three main wildlife hotspots whilst staying in the most luxurious accomodation and transferring vy helicopter, from tracking the world famouns mountain gorilla and meeting the doctors of the mountain gorilla vetinary project, to tracking the cheeky chimpanzee in Nyungwe and searching for a multitude of wildlfie on game drives in Akagera National Park.

From $39,000 per person

Chimpanzees

Currently being habituated close to Virunga’s park headquarters, DRC is also home to around 40 percent of the world’s chimpanzees which you can track in Virunga National Park.

Bonobos

Closely related to chimps, and to humans, DRC is the only country where bonobos live and the world’s only bonobo sanctuary exists in Kinshasa. These small, peaceful and highly sociable apes are tough to see in the wild.