As the DRCongo gradually opens up, a number of attractions will become accessible: mountain gorillas in Parc des Virunga, eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega, chimpanzees, bonobos, and the live volcanoes of Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira.
Kifaru African Expeditions is working in associate with mapendano voyages based in Kigali and Eastern DRC at the moment. We do have trips to the DRC at present only to the southern part (Bukavu) for the low land gorillas and Rwenzori mountain climbing. We will begin the visit to the Nyiragongo, Ishasha Congo, Nyiragongo, Djomba gorilla site as soon the insurgency in those parts calms down. Further information please send an e mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Main Attractions
The DRCongo is one of the last frontiers in Africa. Eastern Congo in particular, is one of the most spectacular areas in Africa and is best accessed through North Western Rwanda and South Western Uganda.
The Mountain Gorilla can be seen in Djomba and Bukima on the western slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. There are currently 3 families habituated and viewing is the easiest of all the gorilla parks in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
The Lowland Gorilla lives further south near Bukavu in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The park which is in a mountainous jungle area was the first in Africa to allow viewing of gorilla families. There are 4 habituated gorilla groups.
The live volcanoes of Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo are near the town of Goma and erupt periodically. Nyiragongo erupted violently in 2002, partially destroying the town of Goma and minor fissures continue to appear. Both volcanoes have craters bubbling with live magma and are a spectacular sight.
The wildlife in Virunga National Park is one of the most varied in the region. It is not clear how badly poaching has affected animal populations in recent years, but the Rwindi plains had extensive savannah game and the highest hippo population in Africa.
Garamba in the far north eastern corner is a forgotten but spectacular park. It is the last refuge of the northern white rhino in Africa. Although poaching has reduced the numbers, it is thought that the rhino still survives. Garamba is also the home of the first African elephants that were domesticated in the early 1900's and riding elephants on safari used to be one of the main attractions.
The Okapi is a doe-eyed creature resembling a cross between a zebra and a giraffe lives around Epulu and is a very unusual animal. This area is also the home of the Efe pygmies who continue to hunt in their traditional way. Pygmy communities can also be seen around Mount Hoyo.
Chimpanzees can be seen in the Tongo sanctuary just north of Nyamulagira volcano.
