Gorilla Safari Information

Kahuzi Biega National Park was created in 1970 and occupying the area of 60000 and the first lowland gorilla trekking was done in 1973 in kahuzi biega and its among the reasons that it ranks high when it comes to eastern lowland gorilla trekking, in1975 the park was extended from an area of 60000 to 600000 ha,1980 it was just listed as a heritage centre ,  1997 its was listed on the world heritage sites in danger that concerned the Congo government and other conservation organization to try and conserve the lowland gorillas through campaigns and various park activities like 1 Day Gorilla Trek Congo.

In Congo Various Congo Safaris  tailored by the list of Congo Safari Companies to include Visiting Kahuzi Biega National Park for Eastern Lowland Gorillas  Watch and other Primates , Hike and Community visit.

Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Congo

The eastern lowland gorilla—also known as Grauer’s gorilla—is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. It is distinguished from other gorillas by its stocky body, large hands and short muzzle. Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other herbaceous materials, just like other gorilla subspecies.

Gorilla Trekking guide in kahuzi biega in congo is an encounter with the few remaining eastern Lowland Gorillas, which will reward you a clear comparsion of Mountain & Lowland Gorillas in Africa. However only two Gorilla Families are conserved and Open for Gorilla Trekking by Travelers that wish to adventure into the Jungle. We have realized that Congo Gorilla Safaris is the Leading tour Operator that is offering Lowland Gorilla Safaris & Tours to Congo. Wishing to trek the Lowland Gorillas in Congo, Select Congo Gorilla Safaris as your travel partner to ensure the memorable Experience to adventure into the Jungle on Guided Safari, Gorilla Trekking in Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo is Possible to join it with Kigali Visits. Go Gorilla trekking in congo requires securing the  Gorilla Permit, it costs USD 400 and enjoy the visit to various Gorilla Families on the Safari Holiday.

Getting there

Kahuzi Biega National Park is located 30 Kms from Bukavu Town and it takes one and Half Drive to enter into the National Park and its can be accessed by road and by air however travelers have to understand that from kavumu airport and at Miti, take left and keep going straight until you reach the visitor centre. Self Drive East Africa offers Reliable Car rental to Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi & DR congo for all transfers at affordable rates.

Park Security

Democratic republic of Congo is known to be a region full of mystery, and we have also come to realize that safety is also the primary concern for the tourists in the recent days and it’s also important to always stay updated on the internal issues which might affect travel in the democratic Republic of Congo. Since it’s not completely safe in all the parts of the DRC and it’s important to choose a tour operator who is knowledgeable about the local conditions. More than any other economic activity, Kahuzi Biega National Park Guides takes Care of Gorilla Trekkers and Hikers when in the park for Any Activity and never think of self drive Safaris to Congo.

What to Bring on Gorilla Trekking

The enjoyment of the amazing gorilla trekking experience to Democratic republic of congo starts with the packing list, clothes to wear and When Planning for Congo Gorilla tour in Kahuzi Biega National Park be mindful of what to bring for Gorilla Trekking in Congo, always pack the african clothing wear for memorable safari adventure.

For the Moment Visitors to Kahuzi biega national park should be a ware that there is no lodge or Accommodation that has been developed at the park but all lodges recommended are found in Bukavu  town the nearest town located south of lake kivu.But for budget travelers / visitors the park offers camping at the park headquarter in Lwiro.  Go gorilla trekking in congo to enjoy the true experience of watching the world’s largest primates called Eastern Lowland Gorilla.

Find the list of Accommodation and lodges that have the best services to offer for Congo Tourists.
When Visiting Congo for Gorilla Safari Holiday, it requires to buy the Gorilla permit which costs USD 400 to enjoy the Gorilla Trekking Experience in the Jungle of Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Congo Tourists Visa

Wishing to Visit Congo as a Tourist, Enjoy a Gorilla Safari Holiday in Congo by Entering Congo with a Cheap Tourists Visa sold to travelers that Explore Congo as Gorilla Watchers due to the Congo Tourism Potential Features found in the Country.

Don’t Hassle so much to book a Gorilla Safari in Congo, Find the reliable Safari Companies that can help you in organizing Gorilla Trekking Adventure for a life time Memory.

Kahuzi Biega National Park Directory has listed the best recommended Tour Operators that can help you in the Organization of the Gorilla Trekking Experience in Congo, check out on the 5 Days Gorilla Trek Africa in Congo.

Lowland Gorilla Trekking Rules

There are rules and Regulations that must be observed by Gorilla Trekkers in Congo in order to conserve the Lowland Gorillas in the Wild. Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulation, Find More Information about the Dos and Donts while on Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Hiking in Kahuzi Biega National Park are among the top best safari activity to be enjoyed by travelers that wish to hike, and camping is the available accommodation , Hike the Mount Kahuzi and Biega on a Congo Safari Holiday with any Tour Operator when you visit Congo. Also Don’t Miss to trek the Mountain Gorillas in Congo National Park of Virunga or Even in Uganda and Rwanda.

While in Kahuzi Biega National Park, besides visiting the Eastern Lowland gorillas, you can take a safari to visit the Mountain Gorillas in Virunga National Park, Maiko National Park, ituri forest, Upemba National Park & Okapi Wildlife Reserve  and other interesting tourist areas that are worth checking out like the Idjwi Island. 

In kahuzi biega national park the terrain is rough while accessing the areas mostly starting  from  Kahuzi Tourists Centre but a 4×4 Safari jeep will ensure you get to the destination on time to enjoy the gorilla trekking on  3 Days lowland Gorilla Tour.

1 A Gorilla Trek in Congo A trek through this, is among Africa’s most ancient rain forests, in search of the vulnerable Eastern Lowland Gorillas, ranks among one of the world’s premier Primate encounters and its a wonderful adventure to Mountain Gorillas  in Volcanoes national Park Rwanda , Big five Wildlife Tanzania Safari as multi country safari.

Where Else Can you see Eastern Lowland gorillas? After your gorilla tours in Congo, a visit to Maiko National Park is a great opportunity to see the other half of the remaining Eastern gorillas in the world. Visit the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda for Gorilla trekking or combine the Nyiragongo climbing tour on multi country adventure in Africa.Besides the mountain gorillas, check for Gorilla Trek Africa.   You can combine your Rwanda or Congo gorilla tour with climbing mount Nyiragongo.

Park Location

Kahuzi Biega National Park lies west of the Bukavu town in South Kivu Province that borders with Rwanda. A small part of the park is in Mitumba Mountain range of the Great Albertine and the larger part is in lowland terrain, a corridor of 7.4 kilometres (4.6 mi) width joins the mountainous and lowland terrain. The eastern part of the park is the smaller mountainous region measuring 600 square kilometres (230 sq mi); the larger part measures 5,400 square kilometres (2,100 sq mi) and consists mainly of lowland stretching from Bukavu to Kisangani, drained by the Luka and Lugulu rivers which flow into the Lualaba River. Two dormant volcanoes are set within the park’s limits and lend their names to it: Kahuzi (3,308 metres (10,853 ft) and Biéga (2,790 metres (9,150 ft)).

Management of the Park

The mission of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park Board is to conserve the biodiversity of this geographical area, in order to maintain its global value from an ecological, socio-economic and cultural perspective. And it established different bodies in the park to ensure the objectives like Ensure protection, sustainable and participatory management and of its influential zones, in order to maintain its integrity. These sections are listed here and they include Protection, Community Conservation, Gorilla Tourism, Research & Monitoring, and Administration & Finances

Conservation Status

Kahuzi Biega National Park is under the management of the Institute Congolese pour la Conservation de la Nature has a basic management and surveillance structure. However, the park’s 1975 expansion, which included inhabited lowland areas, resulted in forced evacuations with about 13,000 people of the tribal community of Shi, Tembo and Rega affected and refusing to leave.Cooperation by the communities living around the park and employment of the Twa people to enforce park protection was pursued by the park authorities. In 1999 a plan was developed to protect the people and the resources of the park and this played a key role in the conservation of the low land Gorillas (Eastern Lowland Gorillas) and other primates in the park like Monkey, Cercopithecinae, Common chimpanzee, Colobinae, Hamlyn’s monkey and many more.

An Eastern lowland gorilla Among the 136 species of mammals identified in the park, the eastern lowland gorilla is the most prominent. According to a 2008 status report of the DR of Congo, the park had 125 lowland gorillas, a marked reduction from the figure of 600 gorillas of the pre-1990’s conflict period, and consequently the species has been listed in the endangered list. The park is the last refuge of this rare species.[6] According to the census survey of eastern lowland gorillas reported by the Wildlife Conservation Society in April 2011, at least 181 guerrillas were recorded in the park.

Flora and fauna

The park has a rich diversity of flora and fauna and provides protection to 1,178 plant species in the mountainous region of the park, with some 136 species of mammals 349 species of birds, as of 2003,

Flora

The park’s swamps, bogs, marshland and riparian forests on hydromorphic ground at all altitudes are rare worldwide. The western lowland sector of the park is dominated by dense Guineo-Congolian wet equatorial rainforest. The eastern mountainous sector includes continuous forest vegetation from 600 metres (2,000 ft) to over 2,600 metres (8,500 ft), and is one of the rare sites in Sub-Saharan Africa which demonstrates all stages of the low to highland transition, including six distinguishable primary vegetation types: swamp and peat bog, swamp forest, high-altitude rainforest, mountain rainforest, bamboo forest and subalpine heather.

Getting There

How to Get to Kahuzi Biega, Transportation in Congo- Car hire Services.

International Airline Travel

Visitors to Kahuzi Biega National Park usually fly into Kigali international airport and take the 7  hour drive to the border crossing at Rusizi 1. International flights often arrive in the late afternoon or evening. For such arrivals, we recommend spending the night in Kigali and leaving for  Bukavu the following morning.

 Kahuzi Biega National Park is situated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), near Southern shores of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border and most of the visitors that travel to kahuzi biega national park come from Either Goma or Rwanda via Rusizi border . It consists of a smaller sector on the eastern side covering part of the Mitumba Mountains, and a larger western sector in the Congo central basin. The two zones are connected by a narrow corridor. The entrance to the park is at Tshivanga, on the eastern side.

Kahuzi Biega National Park can be accessed by various ways depending on the visitors interest but the most commonly used is the Road transport and it will require a 4×4 Fleet to enable you enjoy the gorilla trekking adventure.

By Road
The roads to kahuzi biega national park are rough and even it needs paying toll fees to connect from one province to another.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is located 40 km west of Bukavu. It takes approximately 1 to 1½ hours to drive from Bukavu to the entrance of the park. Follow the road heading towards Kavumu Airport and turn left at the intersection in the town of Miti. Keep driving straight until you reach the Tschivanga visitor centre. The easiest way to get around is by using one of Congo tour operators currently offering the Lowland Gorilla Safaris in Congo. The park can be accessed via the following routes.

1. Starting from Rwanda Side on Road it take 6 to 7 hours driving from Kigali town to the city of Cyangugu, also named Kamembe (station border of Ruzizi I). It’s the nearest town to Bukavu, after crossing the two borders, it takes an hour and half driving to reach the Park Headquarters and the nearest accommodations in the Park
2. Starting from Burundi side it takes 3 hours driving, you will have to cross Rwanda border of Ruwa then Ruzizi 1. It’s the shortest way to enter into the national Park from Burundi.
3. Starting from Uganda connecting to kahuzi Biega national Park is quite tiresome as the visitor may seek overnight stay in Musanze for the case of visitors that have crossed to rwanda via Cyanika Border and the next day early morning take a serious drive to reach Bukavu town .
4. Starting from Goma in Congo near Virunga National Park: there is a road connecting the two kivu town, it take 5 to 6 hours driving but its not safe and un recommended. The astonishing landscape and the company of the lac will give spectacular view.

By Water:

Visitors that have been in Goma for a Safari and wanna add up the extension of the safari to cover Kahuzi Biega National Park, there are ferries that ran from Goma to Bukavu passing through the Idjwi Island on Lake Kivu. The Drive on Speed boat takes about 3 Hours and the public boat takes around 4-5 hours. Then upon arrival at bukavu , you will take a drive in 4×4 Safari jeep to access the park. Special Hires of boats are available at the lake shores but enjoy the public transport boats for security reasons unless its organized by a Tour operator recommended:

If it’s a shared Boat the charge can be between USD 50-70 Speed Boats and special tickets are sold but we advise you to book in advance to avoid Disappointments and for slow boats it costs USD 35, Don’t miss the visit to Kahuzi Biega National park because of transport, Join the Boat from Goma to Bukavu.

By airlines

The park can also be accessed by Air where by the visitor may board a domestic charter flight from Kigali to Rusizi Border ( Kamembe airport ) and then cross to congo into Bukavu Town to embark into the safari jeep to drive to Kahuzi biega National park which is likely to take 1:30 Minutes drive.

How do you feel once you meet the Eastern Lowland gorillas of Kahuzi Biega National Park

These are also endangered species and are so exclusive to the Kahuzi Biega National park & Maiko National Park all located in  Democratic Republic of Congo, this is  the only country where the tourists get the chance to trek and see them at up close on a Congo gorilla Trekking . These species mostly live in the bamboo forests as well as vegetation in the lowland forests only found in central Africa.  These also mostly eat the bamboo shoot. These have got two habituated gorilla groups  with in Kahuzi Biega national park. The permits for trekking the Eastern Lowland Gorillas only cost $400 and there is always no limit to how many people can do this trek. There is also no age limit.