Is It Possible To Trek Lowland Gorillas In Kahuzi Biega National Park Twice?

It is possible to trek gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park twice as long as you purchase a gorilla permit for each day. Kahuzi Biega National Park is home to the eastern lowland gorillas some of the endangered primates in the world. This species of gorilla has a larger body compared to other gorilla species with shorter far, especially on the head area.

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Kahuzi Biega National Park is a pristine rain forest located in the eastern part of D.R.Congo and home to the eastern lowland gorillas scientifically called Gorilla Beringei Graueri. At the moment Kahuzi Biega National Park has 5 gorilla trekking families including Nganwa, chimanuka, Mpungwe, Bonniani, and Mugahuka.

In this forest, there are other primates like chimpanzees, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, bongos, owl-faced monkeys, eastern needle-crawled galago, and others. In the forest, there is a long list of birds that are recorded as residents of Kahuzi Biega National Park including Albertine rift endemics.

To get a better understanding of the eastern lowland gorillas a second gorilla trek is worth taking. Note that you must attend a briefing for every gorilla trek you take in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

How To Plan Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park Twice

Day 1: Depart For Kahuzi Biega National Park

Wake up early for breakfast and your driver guide will pick you up from your overnight hotel. The driver will go through the rolling hills of the countryside shaded with evergreen vegetation. Enjoy the stunning view in the countryside coupled with a cool breeze.

Kahuzi Biega National Park is incredibly stunning and home to the eastern lowland gorillas some of the endangered gorilla species in the world. The existence of the eastern lowland gorillas in D.R.Congo is affected by the unstable political atmosphere of eastern D.R.Congo sometimes. At the moment, Kahuzi Biega National Park has additional security from other D.R.Congo security organs that are in place to keep law and order in and around the forest.

Arrive in the park ready for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Take breakfast early morning and transfer to the ranger station for briefing. Do not forget to carry gorilla trekking gear and a clean mask because this a compulsory for every tourist as a precaution taken after the out of COVID-19. You can hire a porter at this point to help carry your belongings while you walk in the jungle searching for the eastern lowland gorillas.

The trek to find the eastern lowland gorillas may be quite challenging because the jungle is quite rough yet these primates move freely in the jungle. It is sometimes hard to locate the gorillas as finding them depends on factors prevailing in the forest. Keep your mind open to see other features in the forest like the Tshibati Falls, a dense network of rivers, stunning views, and other primates and birds.

Finally, upon finding the gorillas, watch them go about their daily life and take as many photos as you can to keep them as memories for future reference. Retreat to your lodge to relax

Day 3 Second gorilla Trek in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Rise early for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing. Do not forget to wear your gorilla trekking gear and carry a packed lunch because the return time for the gorilla tour is hard to determine. Follow the ranger guides as they lead the way using the trail toward where the eastern lowland gorillas were last seen the previous day.

 Look out for other forest dwellers to keep your eyes glued and still focused on the excitement of finding the eastern lowland gorillas. The forest is rich with flora and fauna to look out for.

Finally, when you locate the gorillas, take your time to absorb the life of these primates and learn more about their behavior. Only one hour is allocated in the company of these primates as human presence disturbs the running of the life of the gorillas.

Day 4 Departure

After the double gorilla trek, depart from Kahuzi Biega National Park to catch up with your flight back home

How to book gorilla permits for the double gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Choose dates when you wish to do the gorilla treks in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Know the number of people hopping to travel with so that you can check permit availability. When enquiring about this gorilla safari, you may also select the safari package category you wish to travel.

Upon receiving your inquiry at Encounter Africa Safaris, our safari consultants have to check for gorilla permit availability from the Virunga Tourism Office.

As soon as we confirm positive gorilla permit availability, our tour consultant will get back to you in the shortest time possible. This is because the gorilla permit status changes at times without warning.

We advise clients to secure the gorilla permits as soon as they can to avoid losing them because of the high demand for them. No gorilla permit can be secured without payment and they sell out fast, especially during the peak season.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Permits For Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Currently, the cost of gorilla permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park is $450 for international nonresidents, $250 for foreign residents, and $25 for local Congolese.

The number of gorilla permits opened to the public is restricted to a maximum of 8 gorilla permits per gorilla family per day. No gorilla permit is booked without payment.

The cost of a gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park includes park entrance fees, one hour with the gorillas, a ranger guide fee, gorilla conservation support, and much more.

Exclusions in the cost of a gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega include accommodation, transport, porter hire, and other personal expenses.

Is Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Safe?

At the moment, there is political stability in Eastern D.R.Congo because on the ground are other local security bodies who work closely with the ranger guides of this park to protect the park and its inhabitants.

For some time, the eastern part of D.R.Congo has been politically unstable because of the rebel activities in this park, illegal mining, lumbering, and smuggling, and many atrocities. This instability has been affecting the growth of tourism in this area including the conservation of the gorillas.

Before tourists start the gorilla trek on Kahuzi Biega National Park, they must report to the ranger station for briefing. They are given in detail the guidelines expected to be followed during the gorilla trek. Later, the tourists are allocated to different gorilla families but must follow the ranger guide. In case something odd happens in the forest, the ranger guides have weapons they can use to protect the tourists. In case the need for backup arises, the rangers have a radio call service to alert those on the ground.

At a personal level, tourists must not walk into the forest without an escorting ranger guide or they may fall prey to unhabituated forest dwellers or vanish.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park Difficult?

The trek to see the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park may be in a lowland area but the jungle is rough. The gorillas also at times move into the deeper forest ends which may prolong the search.

In the forest are some biting nettles and stinging insects that may hurt you on the way to find the gorillas. You need to carry and apply some insect repellants and wear a long-sleeved shirt and trousers to protect your body.

Kahuzi Biega National Park has survived for so many years and collected a long list of fauna that has culminated over time and may require trimming for you to get through.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

The time to take on the gorilla trek to locate the eastern lowland gorillas is hard to determine because this is influenced by factors prevailing in the forest. When walking in the forest to search for the lowland gorillas, open your mind to seeing other forest inhabitants just not to get bored in case time is prolonged. The time taken to locate the lowland gorillas may be 2 hours to more depending on where the gorillas may be spending the day.

Before starting the gorilla trek, you need to do pre-tour exercises to keep fit and be capable of withstanding the time in the forest. Look out for other forest dwellers that may be living in the forest.

 Finally, when you locate the lowland gorillas only one hour is allowed with the gorillas.

Which Is The Best Time To Book Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Kahuzi Biega National Park is open all year for gorilla trekking and other activities however the dry season is most preferred. The dry season is normally from June, July, August, September, December, and January and it is the peak tourism season too.

The gorillas and other forest dwellers of Kahuzi Biega National Park normally move freely in the forest searching for what to eat as there is scarcity in the forest in this season. Note that the demand for gorilla permits is high in this season creating scarcity for last-minute bookings.

It is best to secure the Kahuzi Biega National Park gorilla permits and accommodation for your safari in advance because options run out in advance.

The wet season which is March, April, May, and November which is the low season too attracts less demand for gorilla permits and opens better opportunities to find permits at the last minute. If you are budget-conscious the low season may open more chances to discounted prices on logistics like accommodation and others.

Which accommodation to book on the Gorilla Trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park

The accommodation to book on gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park is categorized into upmarket, mid-range, and budget. Although there are limited options for accommodations in and around Kahuzi Biega National Park, booking is necessary to prevent panic at the last minute.

 Accommodation for Kahuzi Biega National Park: Orchid Safari Club, Coco Lodge Bukavu, Hotel Begonais Bukavu, Panorama Hotel, Exodus Hotel, Hotel Elizabeth.

During the peak season, the demand for gorilla permits and other logistics that support this safari increases.

Packing list for gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

• Rainproof gears in case it falls without warning
• Safari boots to wear while in the jungle as the ground is so boggy and may have pricking items.
• Safari clothes in colors that a wilderness friendly
•  Extra batteries in case one runs low
•  A camera to take memories of what conspired during gorilla trekking safari in D.R.Congo
• Garden gloves to wear in case you have to hold a tighter grip on a creeper in the forest
• Pajamas warm enough for the extremely cold nights
• A torch for lighting in the night when lights go off
• Some hard cash to change into local currency in case you need to purchase something during a gorilla trekking safari. Credit cards are rarely used because getting money from them takes a long time.
• A foldable safari hat with a wide brim to protect your hair from dripping water off the tree leaves.
• Insect repellant to smear the body with to keep away insects.
• A pair of binoculars to get a clearer view of far-ranging features
• Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t provide them or if you are not comfortable using them
• Backpack to carry with the gorilla safari gears and hand them to a porter where required.
• A travel adapter and charger in case you need to recharge your electronic gadgets
• Sunscreen in case you visit another pack and you have to bask under the sun by the poolside.
• A pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from buzzing insects in the wilderness.
• Snacks to munch on when you get hungry while gorilla trekking
• Bug spray in case your room may contain them
•  Warmers because this area receives cold conditions in the early morning after afternoons.

Contact our team for more information.