Kahuzi-Biega National Park is located in lowland rainforest hence making gorilla trekking generally less strenuous compared to mountain gorilla trekking. Kahuzi-Biega National Park covers a total land size of 6,000 square kilometers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo particularly in the west of Bukavu town in southern Kivu province. The park is home to the Eastern lowland gorilla and derives its name from two dormant volcanoes. These are Mount Kahuzi standing at an altitude of 3,308 meters above sea level and Mount Biega at 2,790 meters above sea level. Since the park is one of the few places where to find the Eastern lowland gorillas in the wild, this makes it a prime destination for Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking safaris.
Kahuzi-Biega is composed of at least 1178 species of flora including montane rainforests, wet equatorial rainforests, Congolian lowland forests, bamboo forests, and others. Much of the forests are characterized by unbroken vegetation from the higher altitude areas to the lowland regions. The vegetation mainly comprises swamp forests, peat bog vegetation, marshland, and riparian forests on hydromorphic ground. Kahuzi-Biega has myriad fauna species besides the Eastern Lowland gorilla. These include over 136 mammal species and approximately 349 bird species. Mammals include the elephant, chimpanzee, leopard, hippo, buffalo, olive baboon, and others. Birds comprise the Albertine owlet, Congo peafowl, African green broadbill, and the Rockefeller’s sunbird among others.
Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking at Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is the only place in the Democratic Republic of Congo where visitors are presented with the opportunity to track the Eastern Lowland gorillas in their natural habitat. The park has about 250 gorillas in 9 groups. Currently, there are 3 habituated gorilla families available for gorilla trekking safaris at Kahuzi-Biega National Park. An Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking permit here costs USD 400 per person per day. Trekking often commences as early as 7 am with a briefing at the park headquarters. Here is where visitors are placed in groups of 8 members. The guided hike in the jungles can take between 4-6 hours, or even more depending on the location of the gorillas as well as the trekker’s physical fitness.
Unlike other destinations where gorilla trekking safaris are also conducted, Kahuzi-Biega can accept relatively bigger numbers of trekkers, and gorilla permits are more readily available. Besides Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking safaris, Kahuzi-Biega offers various tourist activities such as chimpanzee habituation at Lwiro Sanctuary, camping safaris, cultural experiences with the Bashi people, birdwatching safaris, mountain hiking adventures, and others. Although these activities can be done throughout the year, the dry season is the best time to visit Kahuzi-Biega National Park. During this time, the park is relatively warmer and with relatively less rainfall compared to the rainy season. The dry season falls from December to February and June to August when the trails are relatively drier and less slippery compared to the wetter months. Additionally, the vegetation during these months is not fully grown, thus making gorilla sightings much easier.
Accessing Kahizi-Biega National Park for Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking
While the park is accessible, the less developed tourism infrastructure of the place makes transportation relatively challenging. Nevertheless, visitors on safaris to Kahizi-Biega National Park can start their journey from Rwanda with pickups from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Traveling to the park by road from Kigali can take a visitor 10-11 hours since it is about 392 kilometers from Kigali. Alternatively, a visitor can choose to fly from Kigali International Airport to Goma International Airport. Upon arrival, the visitor will go on a scenic but short 2½-hour drive to the park. This can be done by a reputable tour company capable of providing a 4X4 safari vehicle for your comfort.
Packing for Kahuzi-Biega National Park Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking safaris
Ensure to pack the appropriate dressing including long-sleeved trousers and shirts with dull clothes that can blend in with the jungle environment. Carry a hat/cap for the overhead sunlight. Carry a water bottle so that you keep yourself rehydrated during the hiking adventure. Pack some snacks or lunch to replenish your vitality during the physically demanding hiking adventures. Strong hiking boots are necessary for the rugged terrain while a raincoat or poncho is needed for unexpected rainfall. Other requirements include sunscreen, insect repellent cream, gorilla permit, camera, extra batteries, and travel documents among others.
Safety at Kahuzi-Biega National Park for Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking safaris
Although the Democratic Republic of Congo is known to be one of the most politically unstable places in Africa, the eastern province of the country is relatively safe. Security in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park is guaranteed for its visitors. Regardless, visitors are asked to be consistently informed about the political situation in the park and the Democratic Republic of Congo in general.
