Kahuzi-Biega National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is renowned for its population of Grauer’s gorillas, and gorilla trekking tours. But there is still more to enjoy here. Besides your guided gorilla trek in one of Africa’s most diverse ecosystems, consider the following activities as well.
Hike Mount. Biega
Start either at the Bukavu or Lwiro trails for a thrilling guided hiking adventure on this extinct volcano. The chances of encountering the eastern lowland gorillas are quite high while on this thrilling adventure. At least 3 gorilla groups live on this volcano, especially on the east side. Kahuzi-Biega NP has 136 mammal species, including forest elephants, eastern chimpanzees, blue monkeys, and owl-faced monkeys, etc, that you can spot here.
Hiking on Mount. Biega is another opportunity to sight over 349 bird species, of which 42 are endemic. Examples of the key bird species to see include the handsome francolin, tambourine dove, African swift, grey crowned crane, black kite, and Ross’s turaco, etc. Take as many photos using the serene greenery as a backdrop. At the summit, you will also have clear views of sub-alpine vegetation for you to take more photos from there.
Visit Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Situated just 4km from Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Bukavu, a tour to the Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers much more than just chimpanzees. This is a rehabilitation center for chimps orphaned due to several illegal things done to them. They have been rescued from ruthless poachers and traffickers. After their rehabilitation, some chimps are reintroduced to their natural homes to thrive. At the moment, Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary has over 129 chimps.
In addition, around 108 monkeys belonging to different species are cared for at the site. Other animal species to see here include blue monkeys, yellow baboons, L’hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, patas monkeys, tantalus monkeys, mona monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys etc. Other exciting animals to see in Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary include porcupines, turtles, and parrots, among others.
Visit Tshibati Waterfalls
A hike in the lovely trails of Kahuzi-Biega National Park offers an opportunity to witness the serene Tshibati Waterfalls. The landscapes on your way to the Tshibati Waterfalls are so marvellous and comprises bamboo and tropical forests and swamp etc. You might encounter a gorilla family that can be spotted on this part of Kahuzi-Biega NP. This is a great chance to see a Grauer’s gorilla without actually doing a gorilla trek.
While on the guided hike, you should not miss out on the plenty of rare bird and primate species that are easy to encounter on the way. Bird species to see include lemon dove, black kite, Senegal coucal, hadada ibis, and Ross’s turaco etc. There are plenty of other primate species besides the Grauer’s gorilla. These include eastern chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and olive baboons, among others.
Hike Mount Kahuzi
Hiking to the summit of Mount. Kahuzi (3,308m above sea level) offers a scenic adventure in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. At the summit, you will get panoramic views of various landscapes, including Lake Kivu. Mount. Kahuzi has a single lowland gorilla family that you may encounter. The guided hike on Mount. Kahuzi is another way of sighting mammals like bush buffalo, forest elephant, leopard and giant forest hog etc.
Birds to see include the crowned hornbill, Grauer’s broadbill, pied crow, regal sunbird, papyrus yellow warbler, common bulbul, African thrush, and common waxbill, etc. Afromontane vegetation can form a lovely backdrop for taking plenty of photos while hiking to the summit. The lush landscape is composed of bamboo forest, bog, lowland rainforest, and sub-alpine prairies. Take photos of the extinct volcano and learn about its formation and significance.
Visit the communities around.
With a diverse range of people living around Kahuzi-Biega National Park, you have plenty of options for your community tour here. One of the most interesting people you can encounter is the Batwa. These are the former dwellers of the forest who thrived here for centuries. Exploring them is an opportunity to gain deep knowledge about the strategies they employed to survive in the forest before their eviction.
They had unique sets of skills to hunt and gather food. They used different species of plants to treat different ailments. These and more will be offered to you by the welcoming Batwa. You will also be entertained by traditional singing and dancing. They use unique musical instruments to enhance their musical performances. They will also narrate to you their folktales for you to understand their strengths and fears, etc.
