Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park from Congo

To do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park from Congo, you need to note that the distance from the international Airport may be far or may take at least two or more days. There are alternative routes to Kahuzi Biega National Park available via Uganda and Rwanda.

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Through Uganda, you can get into the Eastern part of D.R.Congo via Goma to Kahuzi Biege National Park

From Rwanda, you can enter the Eastern part of D.R.Congo via Bukavu to Kahuzi Biega National Park

Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is unique for its eastern lowland gorillas. This unique gorilla species in the past had a population amounting to about 15000 gorillas but due to political unrest, human encroachment, and others, the numbers are slowly dwindling to so far about half this population. This tremendous decline has put the lowland gorillas on the list of endangered primates of the world.

 To do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need to purchase a gorilla permit through the Virunga Tourism office. You may also make use of the assistance of an accredited tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris to help secure the gorilla permits on your behalf.

During gorilla trekking, maximum 8 tourists after briefing are led by a ranger guide into the forest to search for the gorillas. Every tourist is requested to follow the instructions given by the ranger guides at a briefing in order not to fall out with the gorillas. Gorillas are sensitive primates, especially with unfamiliar faces in their vicinity.

Note that sometimes the political atmosphere around the Eastern part of D.R.Congo is unstable so do follow the guidelines of this particular gorilla trek in order not to disturb the peace of the forest at that moment. Ensure you are always up to date with the current affairs of the Eastern part of Congo.

When Is The Best Time To Do Lowland Gorilla Trekking In D.R. Congo?

Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park to see the Eastern Low land gorillas is all year round all factors are kept constant. The gorillas occupy a particular location for some time until a genuine reason is proved for the members to move.

The dry season of this forest is normally June to September, and December to early February when there is reduced precipitation in the wilderness. The gorillas and other inhabitants are full of life and maybe quicker to spot. Even trails leading to different locations in the wilderness are more quicker to navigate. 

When taking photographs of the gorillas and other forest dwellers, the dry season provides a better environment to take quality photos. This however is the peak tourism season so demand for gorilla permits is high yet supply is limited.

This is why you must book the gorilla permit for the Lowland gorillas in advance at least with a deposit as a way of confirming your desire to do the gorilla trek this season.

The wet season is May to May and November is associated with the low season but it may be an opportunity for you to take an unprepared solo gorilla trek. There are fewer people booked to do the gorilla trek so expect less obstruction from fellow tourists as you watch the gorillas. You have all the 60 minutes allowed with the lowland gorillas to yourself.

How safe is Kahuzi Biega Nations Part for a Gorilla Trek?

Kahuzi Biega National Park is situated in a politically unstable area of Eastern D.R.Congo but not all the time. The rebel activities in this area are affecting even the conservation bodies of this area which is why few gorilla families are habituated.

But this should not stop you from engaging in gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Just keep up to date with the current affairs of this area. Being just meters away from the gentle primate giants yet fierce on the outside the eastern lowland gorillas are remarkable.

For personal security, do not walk in the forest without an escorting ranger guide just to be safe.

How Much Time Does Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega Forest Take?

The time frame for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park depends on factors prevailing in the forest. From the starting point of the search, the ranger guide follows the trail leading to where the gorillas were last seen the previous day. Even the clues of the possible way about of the gorilla family given by the early patrolling team are used. 

To find the gorillas, some of the determinants include food supply source, in case of a fight with another gorilla family, weather conditions of the day, pace of fellow tourists, and others. All tourists are requested to have some level of patience before finding the gorillas to still keep all hopes high. 

Try to focus your mind on other interesting features in the forest like other primates like olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus, and others. There are stunning landforms in the forest and different fully-grown natural trees that are rarely seen elsewhere.

Finally, when you get to see the lowland gorillas, ensure you follow the instructions given at the briefing because gorillas are very sensitive primates especially when it comes to intruders. Only one hour is allowed with the lowland gorillas when you locate them.

Are Eastern Lowland gorillas dangerous?

No, gorillas are not dangerous despite their furred bodies and huge body sizes. They are calm primates and serene. Before opening the gorilla family to the public, it is first habituated to a process where a wild gorilla family is followed by researchers for over 2 years until proven ready for public visits. These gorillas’ nature is untampered with during this process. 

Only one hour is allowed with the gorillas to reduce the chances of agitating the lowland gorillas and also allow them to carry out their day-to-day activities like grooming, feeding, disciplining, and much more.

The gorillas can also charge when agitated by hooting, pulling grass around them, and much more. This doesn’t mean that whenever you witness such behaviors, you must reach out. Wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause of the matter. Sometimes the gorillas are having fun, having a family feud, being attacked by another gorilla's family, and much more. Follow instructions given by the ranger guide as a way to show loyalty to the gorillas. 

How Much Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is packaged according to luxury, mid-range, and basic however, the gorilla permit price is the collective cost. At the moment, the gorilla trekking cost for the lowland gorillas is $450 per person. This gorilla permit cost covers park entrance fees, the hour with the gorillas, ranger guide fees, and others.

Some additional items to consider as part of the cost of the gorilla trekking package of Kahuzi Biega National Park include transport, accommodation, number of people traveling, the day on safari, additional activities to combine with gorilla trekking, and others.

When you contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris, about the gorilla trekking adventure to Kahuzi Biega National Park, our tour consultants are ready to work with you to plan this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We aim to give value for money and help you make everlasting African Safari holiday memories.

Why Do Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Doing Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is an opportunity where you may visit both lowland and mountain gorillas in the eastern part of D.R.Congo. mountain gorillas of D.R.Congo are residents of Virunga National Park and all these parks are situated in the eastern part of this country.

Making the difference out of this experience is what makes it a special trip that is between the lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas. That chance to be just meters away from a few lowland gorillas is special as many adventure seekers have this event on their bucket list.

Purchasing the gorilla permit is one way to contribute to the conservation of the gorillas. These primates are endangered and more funds are still needed to continue with this work. A portion of the annual funds collected from the sale of gorilla permits is given to the local community to support their projects. This is one way of encouraging them to engage in protecting these primates and their habitats. Note that D.R.Congo is one of the countries where primates are hunted for wild meat.

When you hire a porter to carry your gorilla trekking gear, you contribute to their livelihood. This is one of the ways to continue sensitizing the community about the importance of the gorillas in their midst. Conservation cannot be effective without the local community involvement.

What is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

15 years and over is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park. The first glance at the huge size of the gorillas may stimulate some adrenaline but you must be in a position to stay calm. A child below 15 years old may not withstand this causing suspension.

Since the time of locating the gorillas is quite hard to determine some patience is necessary which a child below 15 years may not be in a position to bear.

The jungle has some harsh surfaces that a child below 15 years may not be in a position to bear. 

Does Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Require Fitness?

Yes, although the topography of Kahuzi Biega National Park is not steep and these are lowland gorillas, to walk successfully in this natural forest, you need to be fit. It is quite hard to determine the time when you hope to find the gorillas but you need to keep moving.

Sometimes the gorillas move deep into the forest especially when food is exhausted from their usual location. This requires persistence just in case you have to move further than usual.

How Sure Can I Be To See the Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

 Be sure to see the gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park as long as this area is stable. The gorilla families occupy a particular area for some time until food is proved insufficient for the entire group. This is why the ranger guides leading tourists normally follow the trail leading to where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day. 

Each day a team of ranger guides patrols the forest earlier to monitor the possible way about of the gorilla family. These are some of the clues that ranger guides leading tourists use to trace the lowland gorillas.

 As a tourist, you are requested to help with tracing the lowland gorillas using the clues they live behind like footprints, fresh dung, freshly chewed foliage, and much more. follow the guidelines of gorilla trekking as taught during the briefing so as not to push the gorillas into the deeper forest.

Rules Of Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park

• 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. The time of locating the 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 lowland gorillas from such infectious diseases. The extent to which this disease may spread and kill the mountain gorillas is unknown.
• Wearing a clean mask before the Lowland gorillas is one of the preventive measures adopted to prevent spreading covid-19 virus to the mountain gorillas and other germs.
• Keep a gap of at least 8 meters from the gorillas when you locate them to prevent the spreading of any infection.
• 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.

Contact us to purchase your gorilla permit and help organize your safari today.