Combining a lowland gorilla trek with a visit to the Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary

Organizing a combo of gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park and the Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary visit is a double opportunity to distinguish between the gorillas and chimpanzees. Most people are still not clear about the two primates because of their resemblance to big primates.

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Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park close to Bukavu town is a chance to see the Eastern lowland gorillas. These gorillas are scientifically called Gorilla Beringei Graueri. They have shorter fur compared to the other four gorilla species. The eastern lowland gorillas have a larger body compared to other gorilla species. The political unrest in eastern D.R.Congo is a hindrance to gorilla trekking and the conservation of these primates.

The Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary which was opened in 2002 is home to rescued chimpanzees and other primates from snares, poachers, abandoned, and cannot get back to their communities. This is a rehabilitation center for these primates located in Bukavu town which is southeast of D.R. Congo. This center is at a distance of about 4 kilometers from Kahuzi Biega National Park. This center is under the supervision of the Congolese Institute For Nature Conservation and the National Center for Research in Natural Sciences.

For gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need to book a gorilla permit. This document allows tourists one hour with the gorillas. The time with the eastern Lowland gorillas is minimized to one hour to reduce the effect of mass tourism on the fragile environment where these primates survive.

How to Plan Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary Visit?

Day 1 Drive to Kahuzi Biega National Park

Early morning, our driver guide will pick you up from your overnight hotel and start the drive to Kahuzi Biega National Park in D.R.Congo. From Rwanda, the approximately 7-hour drive from Kigali passes Gisenyi to cross the Border into Eastern D.R.Congo via the Rusizi border. Drive until Bukavu town and continue to Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Check into your lodge to relax

Accommodations: Orchid Safari Club, Coco Lodge Bukavu, Hotel Begonais Bukavu, Panorama Hotel, Exodus Hotel, Hotel Elizabeth

Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Rise for breakfast, carry a packed lunch, and your gorilla trekking gear, and head to the ranger station for briefing. Do not forget to wear a clear mask and a spare one to change into upon finding the gorillas. this is the time you may hire a porter to help you carry the gears. A porter is a registered local person who can assist you carry your belongings while searching for the gorillas at a small fee. 

Although the time of finding the gorillas is hard to determine, you can keep your mind open to seeing other forest dwellers like the black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons, and others.

When you locate the gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons. Get back to the lodge to relax

Day 3 Drive To Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary?

Rise for breakfast and drive to Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary to spend time with some of the disadvantaged primates. Because of the political unrest in eastern D.R.Congo, some of the primates are left orphans, some are rescued from their abductors, and others are rejected by their communities.

The Lwiro sanctuary provides a second home for these primates but more funds are still required to support this noble cause. While at the sanctuary, tourists may participate in feeding these primates, chimpanzees up close, and much more. All these require booking so that all necessary arrangements are made.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 4 Departure day

This primates safari is exciting to be part of but after enjoying this experience, drive to the airport to catch up with your flight back home.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking Safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park And Visit To Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary?

The cost of the gorilla trekking safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park and the visit to Lwiro National Park varies with the safari package. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our safaris according to upmarket, midrange, and basic. The safari cost that cuts across all budgets is the gorilla permit cost which is currently $450 for international nonresidents, $250 for foreign residents, and $25 for Local Congolese.

Each safari package includes other logistics like accommodation, transport, driver guide, and optional safari activities. The cost of gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is also influenced by the number of people traveling, the number of days on safari, additional safari activities, and much more.

Our safari consultants are always on the ground to work with you to tailor the most suitable itinerary that suits your needs, interests, and budget. Contact us for all your safari needs.

How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park And Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary?

Although the eastern part of D.R.Congo is known for being politically unstable, the deployment of other Congolese and other international security agencies has tremendously created some moments of peace in this area. Gorilla trekking to see the Eastern lowland gorillas is going on but each group of tourists must be in the company of ranger guides and other security personnel.

Before walking into the forest, all tourists must attend a briefing where the guidelines of gorilla trekking are explained in detail plus other security measures to be followed. No group of tourists is allowed into Kahuzi Biega forest without an escorting ranger guide.

When in the forest searching for the gorillas, tourists have to keep their voices low in order not to scare the gorillas and other forest dwellers or even cause them to charge.

While packing for gorilla trekking, include a first aid kit with prescribed medication that can be used in case of an emergency, insect repellants, and wear the right safari attire as a way to also mind personal safety.

What is the return time from Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

The time taken to find and return from gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is hard to determine as it is influenced by factors prevailing in the forest. From the starting time of the gorilla trek, the ranger guide follows the trail leading to where the gorilla was last seen the previous day, they also use clues given by ranger guides who wake up early to trace where the gorilla family might have nested or possibly hung out spot.

Some level of fitness is necessary and some level of tolerance before finding the gorillas. Look out for other forest dwellers to enrich the list of what you see in this biosphere reserve. 

When you finally find the gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them. As you get away, do it stealthily so as not to loot suspicious before these primates.

How sure can I be to see the Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Primates of Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary?

The gorillas of Kahuzi Biega National Park are a must-see as these primates are first habituated to help them get used to human presence at least for an hour.  Gorilla habituation is a process by which a wild gorilla family is helped to get used to humans by researchers who also document its details without altering their nature.

Each gorilla family conquers a particular area and feeds until food is insufficient to support the entire family. The gorilla family relocated to another area but may not move far from their previous location. This is why the ranger guides follow the trail leading to where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day.

As a way to also engage in the search for the gorillas, tourists are asked to use the clues these primates leave behind to find the gorillas. Some of the fresh clues may include dung, footprints, listening to their murmurs, and much more. with these, the gorillas are traced. 

Are Eastern Lowland Gorillas And Chimpanzees In Lwiro Aggressive?

Be sure that these primates are not going to pounce on you while on gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park and chimpanzee sanctuary visit. The gorillas are calm and serene even though their outlook is intimidating.

Although the gorillas and chimpanzees are habituated they bear a characteristic of being shy, they can charge if provoked. When agitated, these primates hoot, pull grass around them, throw anything they get their hands to at you, and much more drama.

Which Is The Best Time To Plan A Combo Of Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park And Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary Visit?

The dry season which is June to September and December to early February creates a favorable environment to see so much of these primates in action. There is generally high demand for gorilla permits and to find an opportunity to visit the Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary even though the number of tourists is minimized. The gorillas are full of life, other primates and birds may be quicker to trace.

The trails in the forest are drier in this season since less rains fall and more sunlight penetrates through the dense canopy to the ground. For better photography and filming, the dry season creates a better environment to capture the best images.

This being the peak tourism season, demand for gorilla permits is high yet supply is restricted to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family. To be on the safe side, it is best to purchase the gorilla permit to see the eastern lowland gorillas at least 90 days in advance. Even other logistics like accommodation options run out early in the peak season creating scarcity at the last minute.

The wet season which serves as the low season may attract fewer bookings to do gorilla trekking but it is a great opportunity for those wishing to have less or no company of strangers. Even those with a limited budget but wish to do gorilla trekking may get an upgrade in the low season when some service providers may offer some discounts.

Can Children Do Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega and Visit Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary?

The age limit for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is 15 years and over. This age was set because gorilla trekking includes walking, facing the intimidating gorillas, and much more which children below this age may not endure.

The children may be allowed to visit the Lwiro Chimpanzee sanctuary but the activities they can engage in while in this sanctuary are limited and restricted.

What Are The Guidelines For Gorilla Trekking And Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary Visit?

• Eating or smoking before the eastern 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. The time of locating the eastern lowland gorillas is unknown because of their movement.
• Spitting on the soil or vegetation may spread germs to the mountain 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 eastern lowland gorillas from such infectious diseases. The extent to which this disease may spread and kill the gorillas is unknown.
• Wearing a clean mask before the eastern lowland gorillas is one of the preventive measures adopted to prevent spreading covid-19 virus to the eastern lowland gorillas and other germs.
• Keep a gap of at least 8 meters from the eastern gorillas when you locate them to prevent the spreading of any infection.
• Loud noise is forbidden in the forest because this may scare the Eastern gorillas. They are very sensitive to unfamiliar noise in their presence. 
• Even using flash photography is prohibited because the eastern lowland gorillas may go into hiding because of unfamiliar light.

Combining gorilla trekking and chimpanzees gives you an opportunity to know the difference between gorillas and chimpanzees. Contact our team to plan your safari today.