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Congo Safaris

A safari in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is not a typical wildlife holiday. It’s an off-the-beaten-path adventure that offers some of the most raw and primal encounters on Earth, especially with endangered gorillas, but it’s crucial to go in with your eyes open about the significant challenges.

This is a guide to the main safari destinations in the DRC and what you need to know before planning your trip

Top Safari Experiences

1. Virunga National Park: The Classic Gorilla & Volcano Adventure

This is the most famous park in the DRC and Africa’s oldest national park. However, the security situation here is highly volatile, and much of the park is currently inaccessible due to ongoing conflict .

  • The Main Attraction: Mountain gorilla trekking. You can trek habituated families in the forested slopes of the Virunga Massif .

  • The Unique Experience: Hiking Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano with the world’s largest lava lake. The overnight hike to the summit to see the bubbling lava at night is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (when it’s open and safe) .

  • Key Wildlife: Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and forest elephants .

  • Getting There: Most people fly into Kigali, Rwanda, and drive to the border crossing at Gisenyi/Goma .

2. Kahuzi-Biega National Park: The Home of the Eastern Lowland Gorilla

Located in eastern DRC, this UNESCO World Heritage site is the last stronghold for the critically endangered Eastern Lowland (Grauer’s) gorilla .

  • The Main Attraction: Trekking Eastern Lowland gorillas. This is the only place in the world to see this specific subspecies, which is larger than its mountain cousin.

  • The Experience: Hiking through lush, high-altitude rainforest with a dedicated team of rangers to spend an hour with a gorilla family .

  • Key Wildlife: Grauer’s gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants (rare), and a rich variety of other primates and birds .

  • Crucial Note: This park is also in the conflict zone, and the 2025 Conservation Outlook report lists its status as “Critical” due to armed militia presence and poaching . Always check the latest security situation.

3. Salonga National Park: The Untamed Rainforest

For the ultimate off-grid expedition, Salonga is Africa’s largest tropical rainforest reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is incredibly remote and only accessible by river .

  • The Main Attraction: Pristine, untouched wilderness. This is not a typical safari with high wildlife density. It’s for seasoned travelers and researchers who want a true jungle exploration.

  • The Unique Experience: Multi-day pirogue (dugout canoe) trips along rivers to track wildlife and experience the sheer scale of the Congo Basin .

  • Key Wildlife: The Bonobo (only found in the DRC), forest elephants, slender-snouted crocodiles, and the Congo peafowl .

  • Consideration: Logistically challenging and expensive, far removed from any tourism infrastructure.

Safety: The Most Important Consideration

You cannot discuss a DRC safari without addressing the security situation. Both the Canadian and Australian travel advisories for 2026 recommend “Do not travel” to most of the country, especially the eastern provinces where all the major safari parks are located .

  • The Situation: There is ongoing conflict between government forces and over 130 armed groups in the east. This includes the areas around Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks . The situation can change with little to no warning.

  • The Risks: Kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and civil unrest are all high risks in these regions .

  • Travel Advisories: Goma and Bukavu, the main gateway cities to the parks, are currently reported to be under the control of armed groups, and their airports have no flights