Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National park.

Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National park.

Eastern lowland gorilla trekking is an exhilarating and daring sport in which tourists explore the lowland regions of Kahuzi Biega National Park on foot in search of habituated eastern lowland gorilla families. Once identified, they spend an hour with the habituated groups in their natural habitat. One of the largest protected areas, Kahuzi Biego National Park is situated in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, south of Lake Kivu, not far from the Rwandan border. The endangered eastern lowland gorillas, as well as the volcanic mountains Mountain Kahuzi and Mountain Biega, are all found in the Kahuzi Biega national park, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

Eastern lowland gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega national park.

The largest of the four gorilla subspecies and the only one to be found in Kahuzi Biega National Park are the eastern lowland gorillas, also referred to as the Grauers gorilla. There are around 9 gorilla families in the national park, but only 2 of them have been habituated and are regularly accessible to tourists. Early in the morning, a training on the laws and regulations to adhere to while trekking is given before the trip to see the Eastern lowland gorillas begins.

Following the briefing, you will begin jungle hiking with a park ranger who is knowledgeable about the various trails. Other primates species, including red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, various bird species, and flora, among others, can be seen while hiking with the eastern lowland gorillas. Once the eastern low land gorillas have been located, you will be given an hour to spend with them in their natural environment. During this time, you will have the chance to watch them go about their daily routines, including feeding, nursing, playing, and grooming young ones. You will also have the chance to observe their behaviors, take photos, and record the breathtaking moments to share with others once the safari is over.

Cost of Eastern lowland gorilla trekking.

In the Kahuzi Biega national park, a gorilla trekking permit costs 400 USD per person for foreign non-residents, and during the shoulder seasons, the national parks give a gorilla trekking permit discount for 200 USD per person. In comparison to other places to see gorillas, such as Uganda, where a gorilla trekking permit costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, and Rwanda, where a gorilla trekking permit costs 1500 USD per person for foreign non residents, Kahuzi Biega national park offers the lowest gorilla trekking permits.
Because gorilla trekking permits in Kahuzi Biega national park sell out rapidly, especially during the high season in the months of June to September and December to February, it is advisable to make reservations three to four months prior to the trekking date.

Best time to go for Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park.

The greatest time to undertake eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. The national park experiences less rainfall during the dry season, making trekking paths more accessible than they are during the rainy season, when they are muddy and treacherous.

Where to stay during Eastern lowland trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park.

There are several lodging options in Kahuzi Biega National Park where you can stay while on a safari. Budget, midrange, and luxury lodging options are available, including Exodus Bukavu, Hotel Begonias Bukavu, and Hotel Bukavu on the lake. Among others, Coco Lodge, Mountain Kahuzi Hotel near Bukavu, and Orchids Safari Club.

How to get to Kahuzi Biega national park.

It takes around one and a half hours to drive to the park headquarters from the park’s location in the eastern portion of the Congo, which is accessible by road because it is 40 kilometers west of Bukavu town. The park can also be reached through a 6- to 7-hour journey from Kigali, Rwanda, via Cyangugu, which crosses the LeGrande Barrier to Goma, and then via Bukavu town and Kahuzi Biega national park.

A charter aircraft from the Kigali airport to Kamembe airport, followed by a connection to Bukavu town and the park headquarters, is another option for getting to Kahuzi Biega National Park.