What to wear for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo

Gorilla trekking requires some special attires that protect your body from the rough surfaces in the jungle. For a great gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega National Park, wearing the right gear protects you from the rough surfaces in the jungle. On the packing list to do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, some of the most essential items to pack include safari boots, insect repellant, convertible trousers and shirt and others.

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Kahuzi Biege National Park is located in Eastern D.R.Congo and is home to the lowland gorillas. Although the number of these primates was fairly higher compared to the mountain gorillas in the past, their population has progressively dwindled. This is attributed to many factors happening in the natural tropical rain forest like rebel activities, human encroachment, climate change, poaching as some tribes in D.R.Congo hunt and feed on primate meat.

More effort is required to protect the eastern lowland gorillas and their habitat through ventures like selling gorilla permits, grants and much more. Before traveling for a gorilla safari, you must purchase a permit from the Kahuzi Biega National Park or through the assistance of a professional tour company like Encounter Africa Safaris.

Packing list For Gorilla Trekking Safari in Kahuzi National Park

• Camera: Protecting memories of your encounter with the eastern lowland gorillas is best done with a camera. Note that when taking photographs of the gorillas, no flashlight is allowed, and it must be soundproof. Gorillas are agitated by unfamiliar sounds in their vicinity.
• Safari foldable hat: While in the jungle, you need to cover your head from buzzing insects that may fly around. Some of these insects may cause you harm. Carry a safari hat to save you from this.
• Raincoat or poncho: In the tropical rainforest, it may rain without warning so pack a raincoat or poncho just in case. Sometimes the rains fall all day.
• Fleece or sweater: While in Kahuzi Biega National Park, it is very cold especially in the mornings and late afternoons so you need to protect yourself from getting cold.
• Garden gloves: While searching for the gorillas, you may encounter some rough surfaces onto which you need to grip tightly but some are stinging nettles that may hurt your palms.
• Waterproof backpack: Before handing your gorilla trekking gears to the porter, it is best to have them in one pack. This protects them from scattering and getting wet.
• A pair of stockings to tack in your clothes to keep away creeping insects.
• Safari boots: The nature of the gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega National Park includes walking in the jungle however, waterproof and comfortable shoes protect you from the rough conditions of the jungle.
• Sunglasses: There are buzzing insects in the jungle that may fall into your eyes or when you are bypassing the creepers that hang down the ridges or tree branches.
• A torch: Solar power is the main source of power in Kahuzi Biega National Park but at times batteries run out of power causing darkness at the lodge so you need a torch.
• Insect repellant: The jungle has stinging insects that may reach out to hurt you so applying insect repellant saves your skin
• Extra fully charged batteries
• In case one runs out of power, you can exchange it with another.
• Travel adapter and charger 
• In case you have to recharge your gadgets, you need these items.
• Some hard cash
• Credit cards are not a common means of exchange in Africa because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them. Direct cash is required for any on ground purchases or payments.
• Toiletries : In case your skin is sensitive, you need to carry your own toiletries.
• Flip flops: After a day in the jungle, you wish to change into more light footwear which are flip flops.
• First aid kit: The jungle has other dangerous inhabitants that may hurt you or may tripe and fall so you need emergency treatment.

• Convertible trousers and shirt: To walk in the jungle, you need to cover up your body in order to give extra protection from harsh jungle surfaces.
• Snacks: Breakfast is taken too early to last the entire day so you need some refreshments to you moving.
• Foldable water bottle: You need to quench your thirst while on the search for the gorillas because you may take much time in the jungle before finding the gorillas.
• A pair of Binoculars: Some interesting features in the jungle are far ranging so you need a pair of Binoculars to capture a better view.
• Wifi source: In case you need to post some photos while on a gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need Wifi as some lodges may not offer some of this.
• Duffel bag: Having the gorilla safari gear in just a few bags that you can lift even by yourself even though you get no assistance is important. You do not need to over pack but have what is just relevant for your experience.
• Shoe light bag: After the gorilla trek, the shoes are dirty and may mess up the rest of your belongings in case you get no time to wash and dry them.
• Book International flights in advance: Last minute bookings for international flights may cost you this lifetime African safari so it is best to book your flight in advance. You also need to re-confirm these flights just in case there is a slight change.
• Extra safari wear: Gorilla trekking involves getting down and dirty so after cleaning up, you can change into more fresh wear.
• Travel book : Keen birders can use this double opportunity to spot some birds during the gorilla trekking adventure

When is the best time to do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Even though gorilla trekking is all year in Kahuzi Biega National Park, the dry season which is June to September and December to early February is most exciting. The tropical rainforest in Eastern D.R.Congo receives rain regularly but the dry season rains are less.

 The dry season allows tourists to walk on the trails of the forest with less difficulty since more sunlight is let into the ground. The lowland gorillas have to search for a meal that can support their bodies in the day and night. Other resident primates, birds, wild animals may come into view during the dry season.

Note that demand for gorilla permits this season is high too yet supply is limited to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family.

The dry season also presents a better atmosphere for filming and taking quality photographs of the eastern lowland gorillas. The dry season is the peak tourism season too.

Do not give up doing gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park during the wet season as this presents better opportunities to walk alone as tourists to see the gorillas. The more the merrier but a crowd creates obstruction. Even when you have a limited budget, you can use opportunities of the low-season discounts on logistics that support this safari to book the gorilla trek.

No matter the season, you travel for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, the feeling of being just meters away from these primates melts your heart.

How much is the cost of Gorilla Trekking Tour to Kahuzi Biega National Park?

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package gorilla tours according to up-scale, mid-range and budget but the gorilla permit cost is a compulsory cost for every tourist. At the moment, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit for Lowland gorillas is $450 for international nonresidents, $250 for foreign residents, and $25 for local Congolese.

Other gorilla trekking safari costs are based on transport, accommodation, number of days on safari, number of people traveling with, time of booking the gorilla safari, additional activities to combine with the gorilla trek and others.

Enquire from us about your gorilla trekking safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park and our professional safari consultants will be ready to assist where necessary.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park safe?

The security is Kahuzi Biega National Park is affected by rebel activities. This is the reason why progress to habituated more gorilla families is also quite hard. Despite this political condition, gorilla trekking happens in this park.

As a tourist, you must attend briefing at the ranger station where guidelines on how to behave while with the gorillas are given.

 For personal safety. You must not walk alone in eh jungle but have an escorting range guide. In case of an emergency and he or she needs backup, the ranger guides have radio calls that they use to communicate with those on ground.

Contact our team of experts for more information.

What Is The Age Limit For Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

15 years and above is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park. the walk to find the mountain gorillas is not easy because you have to bypass some rough surfaces that children below this age may not withstand.

Even staring into the eyes of the mountain gorillas for the first time may stimulate some adrenaline but you must keep it together which may be hard for children below 15 years.

Is gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Difficult?

Gorilla trekking is tiring as you may have to walk for some time before locating the lowland gorillas. Bypassing the thick creepers. At times you have to walk passed the vegetation covered trails to find where the gorilla family may be spending the day.

It is best to prepare yourself for this search for the lowland gorillas by keeping fit. Even during the rainy season when the environment in the forest is quite chilled and trails are soggy, keep focused on the trophy to find the gorillas. That hour when you stand before these primates is a dream come true.

Request for a walking stick to give extra support in case you need it during the gorilla trek.

How Fast Can You Find The Lowland Gorillas In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Finding the gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park depends on factors prevailing in the forest like the location of food there source, weather conditions of the day, in case the mountain gorillas have a hard fight with each other and others.

In order not to get bored while searching for the gorillas look out for other forest occupants.

What Are The Rules Of Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

• Provoking the gorillas is forbidden and may cause them to rage in case you act in a way that may be unbearable to the gorilla family.
• Eating or smoking before the lowland gorillas is forbidden. Do this at least 200 meters away from them so that they are not enticed to pull what you are eating from you. They are wild animals that must search for their food.
• Only children 15 and above are allowed to do gorilla trekking because of the nature of the gorilla trekking environment. 
• Spitting on the soil or vegetation may spread germs to the lowland gorillas so it is forbidden. Lowland gorillas can easily catch human infectious diseases like COVID-19, cough, flu, and cholera.
• In case you have a communicable infection volunteer to stay behind and protect the lowland gorillas from such infectious diseases. The extent to which this disease may spread and kill the lowland gorillas is unknown.
• Wearing a clean mask before the lowland gorillas as is one of the preventive measures adopted to prevent spreading covid-19 virus to the lowland gorillas and other germs.
• Keep a gap of at least 8 meters from the lowland gorillas when you locate them to prevent the spreading of any infection.
• Only one hour is allowed with the gorillas when you locate them during gorilla trekking.
• Loud noise is forbidden in the forest because this may scare the lowland gorillas. They are very sensitive to unfamiliar noise in their presence. 
• Even using flash photography is prohibited because the lowland gorillas may go into hiding because of unfamiliar light.

To know more information about what to pack and how to plan for your gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega National Park, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.