All international tourists need a visa in order to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tourists can book visas through Virunga national park website when you purchase a package. For those traveling through Uganda and Rwanda, you will need to arrange for your visas separately visa their respective consulate websites.

All tourists must have a valid yellow fever vaccination card to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo. This vaccine must have been administered 10 days prior to entering the country.

The packages booked directly with Virunga include in country transport to, from and within the Park. The package price also includes accommodation, meals with the exception of Nyiragongo, laundry service during your stay in the park and important park permits. Not included in the package price are; gratuities, drinks, anything of personal nature including items from the gift shops. Backpacks with volcano gear, including food and a cook, are available for a fee for those having booked a volcano trek.

The majority of the tourism staff can speak English but Swahili and French are the languages spoken around the Park.

Camping is not permitted in Virunga National Park currently.

Kindly email info@virunga.org. For tourism linked questions, please email visit@virunga.org. At the Grand Barrier border crossing is where Virunga's tourism office in location in Goma.

In the park if paying with cash, only USD will be accepted and tourists should make sure that the notes are clean, there are no damaged or torn bills and that all bills are not older than 2009, as banks in the Democratic Republic of Congo will not accept currency notes printed prior to this date. Payments can be made with major debit or credit cards using our online booking system. Check with a member of our staff if you wish to make credit card payments for your extras within the Park.

Cell phone service is available throughout the Park. In order to avoid likely high international roaming rates, it advisable for international visitors to purchase a Congolese SIM card before arrival to the Park.

For tourists staying at the Mikeno lodgethe gorilla orphanage is openat no cost. The Virunga National Park works closely with other wildlife conservation organizations like the Gorilla Fund International and Gorilla doctors to raise funds.

Odzala-Kokoua is a malaria region, thus tourists should take the required preventive medicine given by a doctor. While taking anti-malarial treatment, it is still essential to take the appropriate steps to avoid being bitten (such as wearing long sleeves and pants in the nights and mornings).

Entry into Congo also requires a yellow fever immunization.

Tsetse flies can be a nuisance in some areas of the park. Tsetse flies are drawn to dark colors such as brilliant blue and black; therefore visitors should dress in khaki or lighter colors and apply insect repellents.

Please keep in mind that gorillas and humans are closely related, making them susceptible to many of the same ailments, especially respiratory infections. Visitors should notify hosts of any symptoms before leaving, especially if they are following gorillas.

It is 30 km from Bukavu town which will take you almost 1 and half hours to drive to reach Kahuzi Biega national park which is found in the eastern parts of Democratic Republic of Congo near the western bank of Kivu Lake, west of Bakavu town and Rwanda Border. It can be accessed by road and air. The roads are under good conditions and allow free movement of vehicles to the park. Chartered flights are organized for those who want to use air transport and they land at Kavuma and Miti airport. You will use a vehicle from these airports to reach the park.

A moderate level of fitness is suitable for most trekkers. During the pre-trekking briefing, travelers are reminded to disclose their physical fitness to travelers so they can be given gorilla families suitable for them. The park will provide porters that you can hire to assist you carry your stuff while you trek. A local walking stick is an excellent aid. Carry the necessary stuff for your trek. Tourists who are physically fit are so certain of smooth gorilla trekking tours without challenges since being fit is one of the main essentials for every successful gorilla trip. Physical fitness is accentuated to avoid challenges that come along with long hiking hours and in areas of high altitudes. Mountain gorillas live in areas of higher altitudes, which take trekkers several hours of trekking before meeting the endangered species.

The DRC has two rainy seasons with the short season staring from October to November while the long rainy season beings from mid-March to end of May. The rainy season in Congo happens to be the best time for visitors to track gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega national park as well as Virunga national park. However, many tourists choose to travel to Congo between June to September to February since in these months, the amount of rain has reduced and it's sunny in most of the destinations. December is one of the busiest months of the year in most national parks in DR Congo; hence it's advisable to book gorilla trekking permits in advances.

Travelers are reminded to carry enough drinking water and energy giving snacks to keep them strong during hiking. Other must carry essentials on a gorilla safari are hiking boots to ease movements in the slippery muddy grounds, rain jackets for the unpredictable forest weather, hand gloves to prevent being hurt by thorny bushes, sun glasses and a hat for protection from direct sun