Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo

The eastern lowland gorillas whose scientific name is Gorilla Beringei Graueri live in the eastern part of the central part of Africa. The eastern lowland gorilla differs from other gorillas because of its unique physical appearance that is the larger hands, short muzzle, stocky bodies, and others. These eastern lowland gorillas live in Kahuzi Biega National Park in Lwiro Province Eastern D.R.Congo.

The population of these mountain gorillas according to a census by the early 1990s was about 17,000 gorillas but with human factors like poaching, encroachment, habitat loss, and infections, the number of these gorillas has since reduced to about 50% of this total. Even the civil unrest that has affected D.R.Congo over the years has affected these gorillas

The local people in D.R.Congo also hunt down primates in the forests of this country for wild meat and these eastern Lowland gorillas are not exceptional. Rebel activities in the forests of D.R.Congo are affecting the survival of these gorillas. Even the different mining groups are affecting their habitat too.

In Nature, Eastern lowland gorillas weigh about 440 kilograms for a fully grown male but despite this weight, these primates entirely feed on foliage for survival. They need much food to support their bodies through the day and night but with human interference including deforestation, much of their habitat is now under threat.

Some local and international bodies like the World Wildlife Fund are working closely with the Congolese Wildlife Authority ( ICCN) to try and protect these vulnerable primates.

When is the best time to go Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park in Congo?

Although Kahuzi Biega National Park is known for its all-year-round cold conditions, the dry season offers a better opportunity for gorilla trekking.  Gorilla trekking is an adventure where a limited number of tourists are allowed to be before a fully habituated gorilla family for at least an hour. The amount of time allowed with the gorillas is minimized to one hour for conservation reasons. The presence of humans disturbs the daily routine of the gorillas.

During gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, the ranger guide leads the way but with another escorting security operative just in case of any trouble. The ground is drier and the gorillas are full of life which enables you to traverse various parts of the park in search of the Eastern lowland gorillas.

Although Kahuzi forest has a dense network of rivers that flood especially during heavy rains, the dry season Rivers flow within normal course. More sunlight is let into the ground through the dense forest canopy providing a better environment for taking photographs.

Other than the Eastern Lowland gorillas, the forest hosts other interesting wildlife like black and white colobus, olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, and an array of birds including Albertine endemics.

At the moment only one gorilla trekking family of Eastern lowland mountain gorillas is open to public booking creating a high demand for gorilla permits, especially during the high season.

The wet season however may be a great opportunity for those wishing to do gorilla trekking with less disturbance. Usually less people are booked in this season. The low season which is normally March, April, May, and November may attract less demand for the Kahuzi Biega National Park permits.

How to book gorilla trekking permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park?

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we help our clients book gorilla trekking permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park. We need you to provide some personal details for us to book this adventure that as the date of the gorilla trek, the number of people traveling with and their age.

Our tour consultant checks for availability from the Kahuzi Biega National Park to make the reservation later.

Alternatively, you can directly book the gorilla trekking permit for the Eastern lowland gorilla safari directly with Kahuzi Biega National Park.

How much is the cost of Gorilla permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Although prices may change at any time without warning, at the moment, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit for Eastern lowland gorilla trekking is:

$ 450 for international nonresidents

$250 for East African residents

$25 for Congolese Nationals.

How Long is Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

The time taken to gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is quite hard to determine. The search time for these lowland gorillas depends on factors prevailing in the wilderness like the proximity of their feeding point, weather conditions of the day, case of an internal fight, death of a gorilla family member, human interference, and much more.

As tourists, having some level of patience and being fit helps with completing the gorilla trekking experience. Open your mind to other interesting features in the forest like birds, other primates, different unique tree species, and much more.

When you finally locate the gorilla family, only one hour is allowed with them so that these gorillas can be allowed to go on with the running of their day-to-day life.

Is It Safe To Do Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega Forest?

For some time, there has been unrest in the eastern part of D.R.Congo but sometimes there is peace. It is best to enquire about the political condition of Kahuzi Biega forest before traveling for gorilla trekking. This is to ensure that security is availed to you during the gorilla trek.

Is gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Difficult?

Generally, walking through the jungle in search of the gorillas is quite challenging. Sometimes there are rough conditions in the jungle so you need to wear the right attire for gorilla trekking. Every tourist is requested to stay closer to the people trekking with so that nobody is forgotten in this ginormous forest although the ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker.

During the severe rainy seasons, the trails in the forest are slippery and soggy from the regular rains that fall which is quite challenging to walk through but you need a supporting stick for extra support.

The ranger guide with a machete uses it to trim the vegetation that obstructs the way to the gorillas. you are requested to follow the same path so that you do not create so many trails in the forest as this is one way to degrade the environment that feeds these gorillas.

Are Eastern Lowland Gorillas Dangerous?

Lowland gorillas are not dangerous although their outlook is quite scary because of their hairy bodies and huge body size. In nature, gorillas are shy primates and calm too. This doesn’t mean try the patience of these primates so do not try to provoke them.

When angered, the lowland gorillas may react by hooting, thumping their chests, pulling grass around them, and much more. Whenever you witness this, doesn’t mean you are in the wrong. Sometimes the gorillas try to tease visitors, have family issues, play with each other, and much more.

 Wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause of the matter because any miscalculated move may through all the lowland gorillas into a stampede.

Following the guidelines of gorilla trekking helps you to complete the entire experience without trouble. Gorillas are highly sensitive primates to intruders in their vicinity so ensure you are in line with the guidelines given at briefing.

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

The age limit for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is 15 years and over. This is because gorilla trekking is an adventure that requires walking for an unknown time but children below this age may not be in a position to bear this time.

At a glance, gorillas seem intimidating which is quite hard to contain for children below 15 years and any suspicious reaction may lead the gorillas to run into hiding. 

Is It Worth Doing Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

In case you wish to find the difference between the famous mountain gorillas and the eastern Lowland gorillas, doing a double gorilla safari adventure in D.R.Congo in Uganda or Rwanda gives you this opportunity.

Walking through the jungle in search of these gorillas gives you a chance to see more wildlife that is hard to spot on the outside. 

Purchasing the gorilla permits is one people to support the sustainable existence of these highly endangered primates. More funds are still required to support the work of gorilla conservation and their habitats. 

By hiring a porter to help you with the gorilla trekking gear, you contribute to the lives of the local people. It is one way to directly give back to the local community.

Can I do Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park without a Permit?

Every permit must secure a gorilla permit before heading for this adventure. This helps to minimize the number of people walking into the forest in search of these primates as when many people walk into the forest, they exert pressure on the foliage on which these primates feed.

Gorilla permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park are obtained on the ground because of the uncertain political environment of Eastern Congo but you can also do booking.

The gorilla permit is the only assurance to a gorilla trekking safari and so make all necessary arrangements in advance.

Can I find Lowland gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda?

In Uganda and Rwanda, only mountain gorillas are living in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and Volcanoes National Park. These mountain gorillas can only survive in these mountains and nowhere else in the world.

 D.R.Congo has mountain gorillas living in Virunga National Park which is part of the protected area of the Virunga area. Due to the political unrest in the Eastern Part of D.R.Congo, even the mountain gorillas are not popular in this country. At the moment Virunga National Park is hosting about 6 mountain gorilla trekking families

What is the difference between mountain Gorillas and eastern Lowland gorillas?

The mountain gorillas are residents of the Volcanocally affected Virunga area and can survive in only this area while the lowland gorillas live in the Kahuzi Biega National Park which is in a lower area.

Only three countries in the world are hosting the mountain gorillas that is Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R.Congo but the lowland gorillas can be found elsewhere in Central Africa other than D.R.Congo.

In nature, lowland gorillas have a larger hand compared to the hands of mountain gorillas.

The low-land gorillas have a brown shade on their upper body while the mountain gorillas' bodies are covered in dark black hairs from head to toe.

What are the rules for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the lowland gorillas when you locate them. This is to prevent chances of passing an infection to these primates, as they are highly susceptible to communicable diseases like flu, cough, COVID-19, and others.
• In case you are sick with a communicable infection, volunteer to stay behind so as not to pass it to the endangered lowland gorillas.
• If you want to eat or drink while before the lowland gorillas, do it at least 200 meters away from them. They are wild animals that must search for their food.
• The age limit for gorilla safari is 15 years and beyond. This is because the way to locate the gorillas has rugged topography which requires you to hike sometimes to find the lowland gorillas.
• Never go into the forest without an escorting ranger guide. Although the lowland gorillas are fully habituated to human presence, some forest dwellers are not and may be dangerous to you alone.
• When you need to defecate, ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you at least 30 centimeters deep and cover well beyond recognition.
• Try to stay in a tight group when with the lowland gorillas because surrounding them may cause them to feel ambushed.
• Don’t attempt to provoke the lowland gorillas because they are wild animals that even though habituated to human presence. They still possess wild behaviors 
• When taking photos, do it with a flash-less camera in order not to scare the lowland gorillas, they are often scared by unfamiliar occurrences in their presence.
• When tracking the lowland gorillas, keep your voices low so as not to scare the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers that may be interesting to add to your wildlife photo collection.
• Never dump garbage in the wilderness as this alters the nature of the forest where lowland gorillas live.

Spending time with the lowland gorillas is an unforgettable experience. Contact us to plan your safari today.