Chimpanzee Trekking & Habituation in Congo

Chimpanzees in Congo are majorly found in Virunga National Park & Lwiro Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Canter.

Chimpanzee Trekking & Habituation in Virunga National Park

Virunga National park is the main hub for both Chimpanzee trekking & habituation in Congo. These chimpanzees  are protected in the Rumangabo sector of Mahura sector, giving a chance to travelers staying in Mikeno Lodge & Bukima Tented Camp, to be able to habituate them.

Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga National Park is done 2 times, each day, with the first session in the morning, while the other in the afternoon.

Yet, for habituation, chimpanzees are trained by the researchers to get familiar with humans, as they go through their daily chores, such as: building their nests, young ones jumping from 1 tree to another, parents grooming young ones among others.

Chimpanzee habituation in Virunga National Park starts at 0430hrs, when the rangers set off to look for the chimpanzees in the lush forest of the Park, thereafter, clients  follow them at 0600hrs  to meet with the rangers at the position where the chimpanzees have been located.  Each chimpanzee habituation spot, allows at most 4 people per day, which includes the 1 hour of close interaction with them, in their natural home.

Visiting Chimpanzees at Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a rehabilitation center for chimpanzees & Monkeys. The world’s third most important site for Eastern Chimpanzee conservation, is a rehabilitation center for orphaned & rescued chimpanzees and monkeys in order to protect them from poaching, however, it now has more than 90 chimpanzees, over 100 monkeys.

Apart form Conservation & rehabilitation activities, Lwiro also promotes ecotourism development, as well as partnering with both local & international organizations, according to Lwiro Rehabilitation centers.

Aside from trekking chimpanzees Virunga National park, and visiting them in Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary,  Congo also protects myriads of species like Mountain Gorillas, Kobs, Lions, African bush elephants, Hippos, duikers, red river hog, giant forest hog, Topis, waterbuck, reptiles, numerous birds, amphibians, mammal species, red tailed monkeys, Olive baboons, grey-checked Mangabey among others.

How to get to Virunga National Park

Getting to Virunga National Park is by road or Air/Flight from Uganda & Rwanda and by water from Bukavu port to Goma Port.With Necessary documents (passports, Visa & Congo gorilla trekking permit), Visitors can easily get to Virunga National Park.

Virunga National Park is situated 15 minutes by road from  Goma, and 3 ¼ hours from  Rwanda’s Kigali international Airport.All visitors getting to Virunga National Park often fly into Kigali international Airport, then after opt to either use road or flight to Goma.

Best Time To visit Virunga national Park

The best time to Visit Virunga National Park is in the dry season from June-September and December to February, yet, the park can be visited for all activities at anytime during the year.  The dry months of June, July, August, September, December, January & February are recommended, because  of little or no rainfall, navigable terrains,  and dry roads leading to the Park.