The gorilla trekking adventure takes visitors through thick tropical rainforests with the main aim of meeting the wild gorillas. The Democratic Republic of Congo has plenty of thick tropical rainforests and is blessed to harbour high numbers of primates including lowland gorillas. These can be encountered in forests in the Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Kahuzi Biega National Park is a conservation area lying in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is perched close to the western banks of Lake Kivu which is adjacent to Rwanda. This National Park occupies an area of approximately 6000 square kilometres that is made up of mostly thick tropical rainforests and bushes that form a favourable habitat for the lowland gorillas.
The National Park is dominated by two extinct volcanoes Kahuzi and Biega from where it gets its name. The lowland gorillas inhabit the lower slopes of these volcanoes in the thick rainforests where they feed, relax and recreate in their various home ranges.
Kahuzi Biega National Park was established in 1970 by the government of Congo to help protect the endangered wild species living therein especially the lowland gorillas and other primates alongside the beautiful flora species that have plenty of medicinal purposes. Kahuzi Biega National Park is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site that was inscribed based on the abundant flora and fauna species it harbours.
Lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Lowland gorillas are categorized into two that is to say the western and eastern lowland gorillas. Eastern lowland gorillas are also known as Grauer’s gorillas, they are critically endangered according to the IUCN reports of conservation.
The males of eastern lowland gorillas can grow up to a maximum weight of 210 kilograms. It is important to note that there are fewer than 6000 individuals of the eastern lowland gorillas left in the world today and they can be found in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Western lowland gorillas on the other hand too are critically endangered. They inhabit the forests in central Africa and some parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kahuzi Biega National Park. It is worth noting that there are fewer than 150,000 individuals of this species left in the wild today.
Trekking experience of lowland gorillas, How it is conducted.
The trekking activities for the families of the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park commence early in the morning with a briefing with the Rangers of the park who brief the travellers about the rules and guidelines of the trek and how one can have the best of the adventure.
Upon completion of the briefing, the visitors are then accompanied to the jungle by professional tourist guides to trek the gorillas. When the gorilla families are encountered, visitors are allowed to spend a maximum of an hour with them as they watch them interact and enjoy their untouched habitat.
Visitors embarking on this exciting trek move through thick shrubs and hike through highlands, lowlands and thick rainforests before they get to meet the families of the gentle giants. The trek usually lasts for five to six hours and the time spent on the move usually depends on the location of the gorilla family, its movement and feeding patterns.
Price for trekking and booking permits for lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
It is important to note that for one to have a chance to trek the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park, they are required to present a valid permit which is a receipt of payment to engage in the activity. The gorilla trekking permits in the Democratic Republic of Congo cost $400.00 per person per permit. Booking of the gorilla trekking permits is done through registered operators who help the travellers make the payments and obtain the permits easily.
What is the best time to go for lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?
The dry seasons stand out as the very best times when travellers can indulge in the lowland gorilla trekking activities in the magnificent Kahuzi Biega National Park. The dry seasons present an interrupted experience to the travelers since they are characterized by low rainfall and steady grounds enabling the travelers to traverse through the thick rainforests with limited hurdles.
The dry seasons usually occur twice in a year that is to say the long dry season that runs from early June to September and the short dry season that runs from December to early February.
