Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking
Eastern Lowland Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking is an exciting and adventurous activity where visitors move on foot in lowland areas of Kahuzi Biega national park in search of the habituated eastern lowland gorilla families and once found spend one hour with them in their natural environment. Kahuzi Biega national park is one of the largest protected areas located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, south of Lake Kivu close to Rwanda border. Kahuzi Biega national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 due to its rich biodiversity which is comprised of the endangered eastern lowland gorillas, volcanic mountain which are Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega among others.
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega national park
Eastern lowland gorillas also known as the Grauers gorilla are the largest of the four gorilla subspecies and they are only found in Kahuzi Biega national park. The national park has over 9 gorilla families and only 2 gorilla families have been habituated and open for visitors on a daily basis. Trekking of the Eastern lowland gorillas starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the jungle with a park guide who is well conversant with different trails. During trekking of the eastern lowland gorillas you will be able to view other primate species such as red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, different bird species, plants among others. Once the eastern lowland gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities such as feeding, breastfeeding, playing, grooming young ones, observe their behaviors, take photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people back home after the safari.
Cost of eastern lowland gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega national park
A gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega national park costs 400USD per person for foreign non residents and during the low season the national parks offers a gorilla trekking permit discount which costs 200 USD per person. A gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega national park is the cheapest compared to other gorilla destinations like Uganda where a gorilla trekking permit costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents and 1,500USD per person for foreign non residents in Rwanda.
Gorilla trekking permits in Kahuzi Biega national park should be booked 3 to 4 months in advance before the trekking date because the gorilla trekking permits get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February.
Best time to go for eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park can be done anytime throughout the year though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season there is less rainfall in the national park therefore trekking trails will be passable compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.
Where to stay during Eastern lowland trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
Kahuzi Biega national park has a number of accommodation facilities where you can stay during the safari. The accommodations range from budget, mid-range and luxury including Exodus Bukavu, Hotel Begonias Bukavu, Lakeside Hotel Bukavu, Coco Lodge, Mount Kahuzi Hotel Bukavu, Orchids Safari Club among others.
How to get to Kahuzi Biega national park
Kahuzi Biega national park is located in the eastern part of Congo and can be accessed by road transport means in that it is located 40km west of Bukavu town and takes about one to one and a half hours drive to the park headquarters. The park can also be accessed from Kigali Rwanda which takes about 6 to 7 hours drive from Kigali city passing via Cyangugu crossing Le Grande Barrier to Goma and then drive to Bukavu town and later to Kahuzi Biega national park.
Kahuzi Biega national park can also be accessed by air transport means where by visitor will book charter flights from Kigali airport to Kamembe airport and then connect to Bukavu town and to the park headquarters.
