How many days do I need to organize a gorilla trek to Kahuzi Biega National Park from Kigali?

The least number of days one can spend on a gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park from Kigali in Rwanda is three days. To prepare for the gorilla trekking experience to Kahuzi Biega, you may book a permit as early as 90 days before the trekking date. You need to ensure that all the necessary logistics that support your safari in this park are fully pre-booked to prevent last-minute disappointment.

Most Popular Safaris

3 Day fly in Safari

5 Day Rwanda Chimp & Congo Eastern Lowland gorillas safari

3 Day fly in safari to Murchison Falls National Park

3 Day fly in gorilla habituation tour

7 Day Nyungwe Forest National Park & Kahuzi Biega National Park

4 Day Murchison falls fly in safari

2 Days DRC Eastern lowland gorilla safari

5 Days gorilla and game fly in safari

3 Days DRC Eastern lowland gorillas

8 Days Kidepo & Murchison game fly in safari

5 Days gorilla and chimp fly in safari

Kahuzi Biega National Park is home to the eastern lowland gorillas the largest gorilla species compared to other gorillas. These gorillas live in large families under the leadership of a dominant silverback most of whom possess autocratic behavior as one of the means to keep the large gorilla family under his watch.

To confirm a gorilla safari, one needs to buy a gorilla permit from the Virunga tourism office and it is safer to reserve one in advance. In case you hope to travel in the high season that is June to September, December to early February when demand for safaris is overwhelmingly high, and yet permit availability is maximized to 8 per day per family. Finding last-minute gorilla permits in this season is challenging.

At the moment, Kahuzi Biega National Park has about 5 fully habituated gorilla families that are open to the public. The political instability in Eastern D.R.Congo is a hindrance to the progress of expanding the number of gorilla trekking families in this park. 

During the low season which is March to May and November, there is less demand for gorilla permits which may create a chance for those who seek them at the last minute but not a guarantee all the time. Even those with a limited budget may take advantage of the low season to do gorilla trekking since there may be chances for discounted costs on logistics that support this adventure.

How To Plan A gorilla Trekking Safari To Kahuzi Biega National Park from Kigali.

Book a Gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park 

The only entrance ticket to go gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is the permit. To book the gorilla permit, you need to note the date and number of people traveling. These details help not to move back and forth with checking gorilla permit availability.

At Encounter Africa Safaris when you contact us about wishing to do gorilla trekking in this park, our tour consultant checks availability as per your choice of dates. The Virunga tourism office sells gorilla permits per day and only a maximum of 8 permits per gorilla family are opened to the public.

Upon finding the availability of the lowland gorilla permits, we advise clients to purchase fully or deposit the gorilla permits as a sign of commitment. The only way to be sure of owning the gorilla permit is when you purchase it else a first come first served basis is applied. During the high season gorilla permits sell out early creating scarcity for latecomers. 

Later forward some personal details like the full names, nationality, and date of birth as they are used for identification purposes.

Book Accommodation To Use During Gorilla Safari In Kahuzi Biega National Park

Accommodations in and out of Kahuzi Biega National Park options are limited. It is best to book your accommodation in advance as a great night is part of the great experience of the gorilla trekking safari. A few accommodations you can book for the gorilla safari in Kahuzi Biega include Orchid Safari Club, Coco Lodge Bukavu, Hotel Begonais Bukavu, Panorama Hotel, Exodus Hotel, Hotel Elizabeth and others.

Organize Transport To Use During Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park

Road transport is the most common means of transport to use during a safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Kahuzi Biega National Park is a remote park with a poor road network but you need to book the most suitable means.

When booking a vehicle to use during a gorilla safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need a 4x4 wheel drive in good condition with a professional and experienced driver guide. 

From Kigali, drive to Gisenyi then cross the Cyangugu border at Lake Kivu to move into D.R.Congo then transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Charter flight arrangements can be made from Kigali International Airport to Kamembe Airstrip at Risizi Border Point then transfer by road to Kahuzi Biega National Park. 

3-day Gorilla Trekking Safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Day 1 Depart Kigali for Kahuzi Biega National Park

Early morning, our safari guide will pick you up from your overnight hotel and drive to Kahuzi Biega National Park. En route, you may break the journey to stop at the Ethnographic Museum in Huye or the former King Place.

Continue the drive into D.R.Congo via Cyangugu Border and drive to Bukavu town where Kahusi Biega National Park is located.

Check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.

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

 Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Wake up for breakfast and report to the ranger station for briefing. Don't forget to carry your gorilla trekking gear and pack lunch because you are not sure of the return time. Breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time in the forest.

Gather at the ranger station for briefing before starting the gorilla's trek. You may hire a porter to carry some of your belongings so that you are not weighed down by them. The ranger guide allocated to your gorilla group leads the way following the trails heading where the gorilla family was last spotted the previous day.

The time of finding the gorillas is quite hard to determine as this is influenced by factors happening in the wilderness. To keep up with the excitement of gorilla trekking, open your mind to seeing other forest dwellers along the way. Sometimes the gorillas love spending their time in the deeper ends of the forest but you need to keep glued to finding them.

You may hear the gorillas murmur before seeing the gorillas as this is one of the ways they keep in constant communication with fellows. When finally face to face with the gorilla family, wait for the ranger guide to establish the mood of the family then start taking photos. 

Watch the gorilla family carry on with their daily activities but since one hour is allowed with the gorillas, concurrently watch as you take photos. Ensure you keep a distance of 8 meters from the gorillas to avoid the chances of passing any germs to these primates.

After one hour, get away from the gorillas to get back to your lodge.

Day 3 Depart from Kahuzi Biega National Park

After spending time on the gorilla safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park, drive back to Kigali Airport to catch up with your flight back home.

When Is The Best Time To Do the Gorilla Trekking Safari In Kahuzi Biega National Park

Even though gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is all year the dry season is most demanded as this is the peak season too. The peak tourist season is June to September and December to early February. During this time, life in the forest is exciting to watch as the gorillas feed closer to the ground. Even other forest dwellers like birds, primates, and butterflies freely move through the forest.

The trails heading where the gorillas may be are dry and the dense network of rivers is more controlled in this season. There is more sunlight let into the ground reducing the amount of precipitation in the forest. The dry season also provides a great environment to take photos and film the eastern lowland gorillas.

The high season attracts high demand for gorilla permits which is why it is best to secure your permit in advance as they sell out fast. 

Do not be afraid to use the opportunity of the low season to do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park as this favors those wishing to have less company while with the gorillas. In case you wish to enjoy unpaid solo time with the gorillas, the low season with less demand for gorilla permits may provide that opportunity.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Only one hour is allowed with the gorillas upon finding them but the time taken in the forest searching for these primates is hard to determine. The findings of the lowland gorillas are influenced by their feeding spot, in case of the death of a family member, weather conditions prevailing in the day, and other factors.

Although some tourists have located the lowland gorillas in about two hours others may have more time. With patience and a level of fitness, you may quickly or slightly delay finding the lowland gorillas. Don't get frustrated in case of a delay in finding the gorillas but look out for other features in the forest. Kahuzi Biega National Park is also home to primates like olive baboons, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, and others. Keen birders have a variety of species to see while on safari.

After spending your time with the gorillas retreat slowly so as not to cause any suspicion as the lowland gorillas are very sensitive to intruders in their vicinity.

How sure Can I be To See The Lowland Gorillas Of Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Be sure to see the gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park as there is tight security that accompanies tourists in the forest while in this forest. The gorilla families are first habituated for some time before opening them to the public a process that helps them to get used to the presence of humans without altering their nature.

The ranger guides coordinate security matters of Kahuzi Biega National Park with other security agencies of D.R.Congo.

Gorillas do not move fast in the forest so be sure to find them with the help of the clues they leave behind before the gorilla trek rangers lead tourists on the trail heading where the gorillas were last s[potted the previous day. The tourists are requested to help with locating the lowland gorillas by following some of the fresh clues they leave behind like footprints, and freshly chewed foliage, listening to the noise the gorillas make, and much more.

All these are some of the things that can help tourists locate the gorillas. Lowland gorillas are quicker to locate as the area they occupy is generally more leveled.

What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

• Extract fully charged batteries to exchange with if one runs low
• Garden gloves to cover your hands in case you need to secure a tighter grip.
• Safari Boots that can withstand water-logged conditions in the forest in case the rivers overflow.
• A foldable safari hat with a large brim that can protect your hair from water dripping off the tree leaves
• Safari long shirt and trousers that can withstand forest conditions. They must be in colors like Tan or Khaki to camouflage dirt.
• A raincoat in case it rains while in the jungle as this area is known to receive downpours any time without warning.
• First Aid kit with emergency items especially if you have a non-communicable infection that may require urgent medical care.
• Medicated Insect repellent to keep away stinging insects in the wilderness
• A camera to capture highlights of the gorilla trekking tour for memories of your safari.
• A pair of binoculars to bring close the far-ranging items of your interest
• Toiletries especially if your skin is sensitive to certain types of body chemicals.
• Energy bites to snack on when hungry and keep you going.
•  Shoe bag to keep in your dirty shoes especially when you have no time to clean them up after the trek.
• Hard cash to change into local currency in case you need to purchase certain items like souvenirs. In Africa, credit cards are rarely used because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them.

Contact our team of readily available safari consultants for more information.