What is the best time of year to visit Congo for self-drive tours? The best time or months of the year to go self-driving in Congo is during the peak dry season. The peak dry months of the year to plan your self-drive tour to Congo fall in two phases. The first phase takes place from June, July, August to September.
The other phase which is regarded as the short dry season begins from December, January to February. The driest months in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is usually July.
Around January, the Eastern DRC usually experiences rainy season. The temperatures range from 24 to 30 degrees Celsius and also characterized by high humidity. This occurs, especially in areas dominated by tropical rainforests where rain is frequent and heavy.
During the rainy or wet season, some areas are not easier to have access to because the routes can be muddy. But it offers the best of birding or bird watching experience as well as great encounters of some primates while the vegetation can be stunning.
Why go self-driving in Congo?
The dry months are favorite months for self-driving in Congo thanks to the low rainfall amount they experience. Driving on the routes to your destinations is made easier and faster when you go self-driving around the dry months.
The dry season is characterized by warm and clear skies. With the low or no rainfall received, there is less disruption of outdoor activities or adventures like hiking. You can embark on gorilla trekking adventure in Virunga National Park/Kahuzi-Biega National Park and successfully return.
The vegetation is usually clear during the dry season making it the best for visitors to enjoy excellent views of gorillas or wildlife.
The peak dry season is also perfect for adventure seekers to enjoy hiking on the Nyiragongo Volcano. Mt. Nyiragongo is the most active stratovolcano of the all the Virunga Volcanoes. This powerful volcano has had over 40 eruptions with the most recent which occurred in May 2021.
Nyiragongo Volcano is accessible within 20km North of Goma and Lake Kivu. Interestingly, hiking adventures on Mount Nyiragongo can be combined with mountain gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park.
January –February; June-September
These dry months pose less risk of intense and prolonged downpours like it is the case with the rainy or wet season. Depending on the location, rains can occasionally fall, especially in the tropical rainforests.
Each season has influence on wildlife like mountain gorillas. The trekking mountain gorillas during the peak dry months for instance can render the adventure a bit longer. This is because, these apes are usually forced to move to higher altitudes or move long distances to search for what to feed on. As a result, visitors can spend longer hours climbing/hiking in search for the family of habituated gorillas.
The great advantage is that, the ground can be firm to walk through unlike the wet season when it can be muddy and steep slopes very slippery.
March-May; October-December
March, April, May, October, November and December mark the wet or rainy season of the year. These are preferred months of the year when visitors can easily enjoy discounted offers. There is abundant forage for wildlife to depend on and keep them around the lower altitudes. Considering availability of abundant forage and these apes kept at the lower slopes, gorilla trekkers can spend less hours or trek shorter distances to find a family of mountain gorillas or eastern lowland gorillas.
What to pack
Anyone on Congo tour whether on self-drive or guided safaris should consider packing right. Only essential items are needed and include among others waterproof hiking boots, cameras, toiletries, long-sleeved shirt, batteries for charging your cameras as well as other gargets, a pair of binoculars, backpack, insect repellent, long pants, a pair of gloves, anti-malaria tablets and many others.
Is it safe to visit Congo today?
Often, security alerts or warnings have been put forward on safety of Congo, especially by the western government. But what you need to know is that not the whole of DRC is affected by insecurities. Kinshasa city in the North is safe to visit for a holiday.
Areas that are affected by cases of civil wars include Goma where Virunga National Park lies also the prime mountain gorilla trekking park in Congo. But slowly by slowly peace and security is being regained thanks to collective efforts from different security organs that work together with the Congo army.
To be sure enough, you can consider consulting with the local tour operator on the ground or visit your embassy to have the current security updates of the destination you plan to visit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Avoid planning a trip on your own, talk to our team for guidance.
Travel advice
To have access to Congo, a valid visa (tourist visa), yellow-fever certificate are required. You can obtain the Congo visa for single entry at USD100 or single entry valid for two months at USD 135. Our team can guide you on how to obtain your visa.
How much is gorilla permit in Congo?
Gorilla permits for Congo can be booked at USD 400 per person and these provide opportunity for visitors to explore mountain gorillas or Eastern lowlands in the wild. Note, mountain gorillas in Congo are trekked in the Virunga National Park then lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
4×4 Rental Cars to hire for self-drive in Congo
Ideal self-drive rental cars in Congo include 4×4 Land Cruiser, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser LX, Mini Van rental and others.
