The Democratic Republic of Congo is among those few destinations on the African continent where you should ‘expect the unexpected’. The country prides in a diversity of different landscapes that include beautiful mountain ranges, verdant forests, waterfalls, rivers and lakes. There are various safari activities you can engage in here among which are tracking of the endangered mountain gorillas, canoeing, hiking to mention just a few.
Why Choose the DRC For Your Tour
The Democratic Republic of the Congo offers Africa’s most biologically significant and logistically demanding wildlife experiences: eastern lowland gorilla tracking with the world’s largest gorilla subspecies in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, mountain gorilla tracking in Virunga National Park at fees below those of Rwanda and Uganda, the world’s only known wild bonobo populations accessible through Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary near Kinshasa, the active Nyiragongo volcano with its permanent lava lake, and the extraordinary colonial- and art-deco architecture of Kinshasa, the world’s second-largest Francophone city. Mountain gorilla tracking in Virunga costs approximately $400 per permit. The DRC covers 2,344,858 square kilometres, making it Africa’s second-largest country, bordered by nine countries including Republic of Congo, CAR, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, and South Sudan, with a population of approximately 100 million people.
Critical safety note for 2026: The eastern DRC has been affected by ongoing armed conflict, particularly in North Kivu and South Kivu around Goma and the Virunga National Park area. The security situation is dynamic and has deteriorated in some areas in recent years. Check current government travel advisories very carefully for each specific region of any DRC itinerary. Virunga National Park was closed to tourists for several years due to security issues and has reopened for tracked visits with armed escorts; confirm the current status with specialist operators. Western DRC including Kinshasa and the bonobo sanctuary is generally more accessible.
Where To Go in the DRC
Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park (1925), covers 7,800 square kilometres and holds mountain gorillas (shared with Uganda and Rwanda), chimpanzees, okapi (a rainforest giraffe relative found only in DRC), and the extraordinary Nyiragongo Volcano with its permanent lava lake. Mountain gorilla permits cost approximately $400 per person (significantly lower than Rwanda’s $1,500). The Nyiragongo summit trek (two days with an overnight at the crater rim camp overlooking the lava lake) is one of Africa’s most dramatic experiences. Access is from Goma on Lake Kivu. Security conditions at Virunga must be confirmed immediately before travel; the park has had periods of closure due to armed group activity.
Kinshasa
Kinshasa, the world’s second-largest French-speaking city, is a metropolis of 12 million people with extraordinary colonial-era architecture, the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the famous Kin la Belle (Beautiful Kinshasa) music scene that produced Congolese rumba, one of Africa’s most globally influential musical exports. Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary near Kinshasa is the world’s only bonobo sanctuary, caring for orphaned bonobos before reintroduction. Bonobos, found only in the DRC, are humanity’s closest living relatives alongside chimpanzees. Guided sanctuary visits cost approximately $25 per person and are the only practical way to observe wild-type bonobo behaviour in a natural forest environment.
Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
Kahuzi-Biéga National Park near Bukavu holds the world’s only population of habituated eastern lowland gorillas (Grauer’s gorillas), the largest gorilla subspecies. The subspecies is critically endangered and the habituated groups at Kahuzi-Biéga provide one of the rarest wildlife encounters in Africa. Access from Bukavu requires current security assessment. Gorilla tracking permits cost approximately $200 per person.
What is the Average Cost of a Tour to the DRC
Virunga gorilla tracking permits: approximately $400 per person. Nyiragongo two-day trek: approximately $300 to $400 per person. Mid-range guesthouses in Goma: approximately $60 to $120 per night. Kinshasa international hotels: $100 to $200 per night. A DRC visa costs approximately $100 to $150 USD for most nationalities; apply at DRC embassies before travel.
Check current government travel advisories for the specific
Check current government travel advisories for the specific regions of your DRC itinerary the week before departure. Use only operators with active, current DRC security intelligence and established Goma and Virunga field contacts. All eastern DRC travel requires armed escort arrangements confirmed through official channels. Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency medical evacuation is essential.
What To Expect From DRC Tours
N’Djili International Airport (FIH) in Kinshasa and Goma International Airport (GOM) are the main gateways. French is the official language; Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba, and Kikongo are the main national languages. The Congolese Franc (CDF) is the official currency; USD is widely used.
The DRC’s combination of mountain gorillas, the only permanent lava lake accessible to tourists, the world’s rarest gorilla subspecies, and the only wild bonobos observable by visitors represents Africa’s most extraordinary single-country wildlife portfolio, locked behind logistics and security complexity that ensures it remains genuinely wild and genuinely exclusive.