Kahuzi-Biega National Park | Lowland Gorilla Tours Congo

Kahuzi-Biega National Park was created in 1970 by Adrien Deschryver, a Belgian photographer. It is named after Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega, two dormant volcanoes found in the park.

The park covers 6,000 square kilometers and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 because of its eastern lowland gorillas and forest landscapes. It is home to 136 types of mammals, 349 bird species, 1,178 plant species, 44 kinds of amphibians, and 69 species of reptiles.

Most popular safaris and gorilla trekking tours in Congo happen here.

The park protects the rare eastern lowland gorillas, which are listed as endangered by the IUCN. The area includes tropical forests, mountains, lowlands, grasslands, swamps, and rivers such as Luka and Lungulu. It also lies in the western mountains of the Great Rift Valley.

In the 1990s, the park had around 600 lowland gorillas. But by 2008, the number had dropped to only 125. A 2011 report showed that the population had grown again to at least 181.

Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega

Kahuzi Biega National Park gives tourists a chance to see the rare eastern lowland gorillas. These gorillas are different from mountain gorillas. They have shorter noses, bigger hands, and stronger bodies. This type of gorilla only lives in Congo.

Out of ten gorilla families in the park, only two are habituated and open for visitors, the Chimanuka family and the Mugaruka family.

These are the gorilla families tourists can visit:

Chimanuka Gorilla Family: This is the largest family, with 36 members. It is led by the silverback named Chimanuka. He took some members from the Mugaruka group. The family includes 18 infants, 17 females, and Chimanuka himself. It also has four sets of twins.
Mpungwe Gorilla Family: This is a newer group with 17 members. It is named after the river near where it was first seen. The leading silverback is called Mpungwe. He sometimes charges at people but rarely attacks.
Mugaruka, the Solitary Male: Mugaruka is the son of the late silverback Mushamuka. When his father died, Mugaruka took over the group. But Chimanuka challenged him and took the entire group, leaving Mugaruka alone. Mugaruka lost his right hand in 1997 due to a snare set by poachers, which may have made it hard for him to defend his family.

Wildlife Viewing and Bird Watching

The park is home to many animals, including forest elephants, giant forest genets, bongos, civets, leopards, bush buffaloes, aquatic genets, bushbucks, needle-clawed galagos, Alexander’s bush squirrels, dwarf galagos, and Macklaud’s horseshoe bats. Other primates include L’Hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys.

Kahuzi Biega National Park has 349 bird species, according to a 2003 list. Some of the birds you can see include the Ruwenzori turaco, Rockefeller’s sunbird, Shelley’s crimson wing, Grauer’s broadbill, and Grauer’s warbler.

Lwiro Sanctuary

Lwiro Sanctuary is located near the park’s main office. It was started in 2002 to care for orphaned chimpanzees and monkeys. The sanctuary also teaches both tourists and locals about wildlife protection. It works with the ICCN to keep the rescued animals safe. Entrance for foreign visitors costs $25.

Idjwi Island

Idjwi Island is found in Lake Kivu. It is the second-largest island in Africa, covering 370 square kilometers and stretching about 70 kilometers in length. Tourists can enjoy boat rides, fishing, swimming, and visiting pineapple farms to learn how pineapples are grown.

Visitors can also meet local people and learn about their culture. Bird watchers will enjoy spotting birds, and there are also different kinds of monkeys on the island.

Accommodation

Kahuzi Biega National Park itself has no hotels, only campsites. Visitors can stay in Bukavu, the nearest town. Some hotels there include L’Orchids Safari Club, Coco Lodge, Hotel Begonias Bukavu, Lakeside Hotel, and Exodus Hotel.

If you are coming for gorilla trekking, make sure to pack warm clothes, raincoats, energy snacks, drinking water, insect repellent, hiking boots, and sunscreen. Porters are available at the park entrance to help carry bags.

Getting to Kahuzi Biega National Park

The park is about 1.5 hours by road from Bukavu or 5 to 6 hours from Goma, near Virunga National Park. The easiest way to reach the park is from Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. It takes about 6 to 7 hours by road to reach the Congo border, and from there, it’s about 1 hour to the park.

The best time to visit is during the dry seasons; from June to September and from December to February.