Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park 2022-2023; Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity in Kahuzi Biega national park that involves tourists moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the endangered eastern lowland gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Kahuzi Biega national park is one of the largest protected areas in Congo located in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo near Rwandan border and the western bank of Lake Kivu. The national park was established in 1970 and it’s a home of different wildlife species including the endangered eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, mammals like bush elephants, buffaloes and different bird species.
Kahuzi Biega national park is a home of 9 gorilla families but only 5 of the families have been habituated and open for trekking on a daily basis including Mpungwe gorilla family, Mugahuka gorilla family, Chimanuka gorilla family, Bonnani gorilla family and Nganwa gorilla family. Gorilla trekking is the most famous activity carried out in Kahuzi Biega national park and it starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking.
After the briefing you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is conversant with gorilla trails in the jungle. Eastern low land trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located and during trekking you will be able to view other primate species, mammal species, birds among others. Once the lowland gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment which gives visitors a chance to learn more about their behaviors, lifestyle, watch gorillas feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, play, take photos and record the beautiful moments to show people back home after the safari.
Best time to go gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park
Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, august, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, the national park receives less rainfall therefore vegetation will be short which allows you to view the gorillas and other wildlife species clearly and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which make trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the gorilla trails are muddy and slippery hence making gorilla trekking difficult.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Kahuzi Biega national park
A gorilla trekking permit is a legal document that is issued to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family in Kahuzi Biega national park and spend one hour with the gorillas in their environment. A gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega national park costs 400 USD per person for foreign non residents and 200 USD per person for Congolese nationals.
Gorilla trekking permits in Kahuzi Biega national park can either be booked directly through Virunga tourism office by contacting the offices via email or telephone calls inquiring about availability of the permits. The gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park can also be accessed through a tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the dates, month and year when you wish to visit the eastern lowland gorillas. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available on your preferred date, you will be asked to make a deposit. Once we receive the payment, we will be able to purchase the permits on your behalf.
How to get to Kahuzi Biega national park
Kahuzi Biega national park is located in the eastern part of Democratic republic of Congo and can be accessed by road transport means whereby visitors will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to the park headquarters through Cyangugu border and then to Bukavu town and to Kahuzi Biega national park which takes about 7 hours’ drive, Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park 2022- 2023.
Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega national park
Kahuzi Beiga national park has a number of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari including Orchids safari club, Coco lodge, Exodus Bukavu, Hotel Begonias Bukavu, Lake Side Hotel Bukavu, Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Panorama Hotel, Hotel Mutudu among others.
What to pack or carry for your gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega national park
Kahuzi Biega national park offers other activities that you can engage in after gorilla trekking including guided nature walks, mountain climbing where you will hike Mount Kahuzi, bird watching, visiting the Lwiro primate rehabilitation Centre where you will be able to learn about the chimpanzees among others.
For more information about gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve global safaris or visit our website to book a gorilla trekking safari to Kahuzi Biega national park.
