Kahuzi Biega National park
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Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi Biega National Park is recognized as the second most important tourist attraction in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly noted for its species diversity. This park serves as a habitat for the Eastern Lowland Gorillas and is also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the Eastern Lowland Gorillas, Kahuzi-Biega National Park represents one of their few remaining sanctuaries.
The premier location for gorilla trekking in East and Central Africa is the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Are you planning to have an unforgettable experience with the Eastern Lowland Gorillas? This article offers a comprehensive guide to gorilla trekking, including information on how to arrange a gorilla trek, appropriate gorilla viewing etiquette, what items to bring, the best times to see gorillas, and additional details.
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Situated in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, lies Kahuzi Biega a well-preserved national park that borders the town of Bukavu. The park, which is 6,000 square kilometres in size, is made up of tropical woods with dense rainforest, undulating hills, and two large extinct volcanoes called Kahuzi and Biega, from which the park gets its name.
The park is one of the most significant locations in the Albertine Rift Valley, which is one of the most ecologically rich areas in Africa and the world. It is home to a remarkable variety of plants and animals. The property’s mosaic of habitats is especially used by the biggest population of eastern lowland (also known as Grauer’s) gorillas in the world. These gorillas are endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and are categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
The well-known mountain gorillas’ closest relatives are the eastern lowland gorillas. They belong to the Eastern gorilla’s subspecies. In two protected regions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they are recognized as roving primates. These are the lesser-known Maiko National Park and the Kahuzi Biega Mountains.
Blessed with abundant natural resources, Kahuzi Biega National Park is home to several attractions. More than 136 animal species and about 23 primate species can be found in the park. They include owl-faced monkeys, colobus bai, eastern chimpanzees, leopards, the African climbing mouse of Mount Kahuzi, bush buffaloes, elephants, and forest pigs.
Grauer’s Gorillas
Being the only habitat for the eastern lowland gorillas, which are only found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo worldwide, Kahuzi Biega National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to it being a habitat one of Africa’s few surviving eastern lowland gorillas.
The well-known mountain gorillas that live in the Bwindi and Virunga forests are the closest relatives of the eastern lowland gorillas.
Other Fauna
A sizable number of wildlife species are protected at Kahuzi-Biega National Park. some of these species include Dent's mona monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, eastern needle-clawed galagos, Rwenzori least otter shrews, Kahuzi climbing mice, red-tailed monkeys, leopards, hippos, giant forest hogs, and the rare Eastern Lowland gorillas/Grauer's gorillas are among them.
Mountains
The eastern sector, which spans 75,000 hectares, is wholly mountainous. The massif is a component of the Mitumba Mountain range, which is the western range of the Great Rift Valley. Mount Kahuzi (3,308 m) and Mount Biega (2,790 m) are extinct volcanoes, and the massif is believed to have originated in the late Tertiary or early Quaternary.
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Activities to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Eastern Low Gorilla Trekking
The most popular activity that draws visitors to the park is gorilla trekking. The Eastern Lowland gorillas can be observed on foot within the park. Daily treks are conducted to observe the Grauer's gorillas, which are also known as Eastern lowland gorillas.
There are more things to do on safaris in this amazing protected area than just lowland gorilla trekking. You can even hike its volcanoes. There are two inactive volcano mountains in the middle of this park where hikers can go on adventures. Kahuzi.
Bird watching
Kahuzi Biega National Park offers refuge to more than 342 birds, 42 of which are endemic to the park. It is birders paradise! The birds to spot include African green broad bill, yellow crested helmet shrike, Congo peacock and Rockefeller’s.
Nature Walks
There are several trails within the forest that are all leading to distinct tourism sites. They also lead to Tshibati waterfalls and then to 3 waterfalls within the park. With your skilled tour guide, you will be sighting at the lush vegetation zones and wildlife and listen.
Chimpanzee Trekking
Beyond gorillas, Kahuzi-Biéga is inhabited by a rich community of primates that includes chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and l'Hoest's monkeys, among others. Guided tracking excursions take visitors through the forest
The park sits within a culturally rich landscape shaped by the traditions of the Twa pygmy people, one of the oldest indigenous forest-dwelling communities in Central Africa. Visit ans learn more about their cultures through story telling.
The best time to go on a holiday safari in Kahuzi-Biega National Park is during the dry season or the drier months of the year. That is from late May to early October, or from late December to early February. If you want to go trekking with lowland gorillas or climbing volcanoes in Kahuzi-Biega, these are the best months to do so.
The best time to go to Kahuzi Biega National Park is from January to February and from the end of May to October. The ground is drier during these months than it is in November, March, and April, when it normally rains more. The dry season doesn’t mean that it won’t rain in the park, though.
Since it’s a tropical rain forest, it’s best to be ready for rain at any time. The dry season is the greatest time to see the many different animals in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. From late May to early October or December to February, these are fun times to go on Grauer’s gorilla trekking safari.
The park is situated on Lake Kivu’s western side and the Rwandan border. The park is roughly 30 kilometres from Bukavu town, and it only takes one to two hours to go there by car. From Goma airport, it takes about 45 minutes to get there by air. It is located in South Kivu province, which is in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Just 50 kilometres from Bukavu town, one of the DRC’s largest business districts, and Rwanda’s Rusizi, a major economic hub and popular beach vacation spot on the banks of Lake Kivu, the park is situated in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Access to the DRC’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park is possible easily from Rwanda or Uganda. Safari travelers can drive from Bukavu to Kahuzi-Biega in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in one and a half hours. If you intend to depart from Kigali, Rwanda, you can either arrange flights from Kigali Airport to Kavumu Airport and then travel to Kahuzi-Biega’s offices, or you can enter the park through the border crossing at Rusizi.
The 40-kilometer drive from Bukavu to Kahuzi-Biega, the destination of the Lowland Gorilla Safari, takes approximately one and a half hours. If you go through Cyangugu city from Kigali, it takes about six to seven hours. You can drive an hour and a half to Kahuzi-Biega via Bukavu Town after flying up to Kamembe Airport.