Organizing a budget gorilla trekking safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park congo

To organize a budget gorilla trekking safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park, you must book a gorilla permit first. Having a gorilla permit is the only confirmation to taking part in this African primate safari. Kahuzi Biega National Park is located in Eastern D.R.Congo and home to some of the lowland gorillas.

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The political unrest in the eastern part if D.R.Congo is affecting the conservation of their gorillas. By the 1990s, the population of lowland gorillas was estimated to be about 17000 gorillas but because of the unstable political environment, the number of lowland gorillas reduced to about half.

To book a budget gorilla trekking tour to Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need to book basic accommodation although there are limited options of facilities. The slow growth and development of accommodation facilities within the Kahuzi Biega National Park is attributed to the unstable political atmosphere of this area.

D.R.Congo offers some of the cheapest gorilla permits for a budget gorilla trekking safari in Africa.

Securing transport to use during the gorilla trekking safari is important too. For Road transport, you need to secure a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition as this area has a poor road network. It is best to use the service of a professional and experienced driver guide so as not to get lost in the thick jungle.

What is the cost price of a Budget Gorilla Trekking Tour to Kahuzi Biega National Park?

The cost price for the budget gorilla trekking safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park is proceeded by the gorilla permit cost. At the moment, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park is about $450 for international nonresidents, $250 for international residents and $25 for local Congolese.

Some other items that make up cost of the budget gorilla trekking package for Kahuzi Biega National Park include number of people travelling, number of days on safari, time of booking the safari and others.

You can work with our tour consultant to tailor a gorilla trekking safari package for Kahuzi Biega National Park inclusive of your budget, needs and interests according to your time on holiday.

When and How To Book Gorilla Trekking Safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Even though Kahuzi Biega National Park is open for gorilla trekking experience all year, the dry season which is June to September and December to Early February attracts more bookings. This too is the peak tourism period. 

It is best to book in advance the gorilla trekking permits for this season to avoid last minute panic. To book gorilla permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need to select a date when you wish to do the trek and number of permits. This saves you from last minute panic when they sell out. Lowland gorilla permits are limited.

Our tour consultant checks gorilla permit availability from Virunga Tourism Authority. To be sure of a secured gorilla permit for the lowland gorillas, you need to make at least a deposit. 

During the high season, gorilla permits sell out in advance and chances of finding last minute permits may be challenging. Most people book the gorilla trekking permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park at least 90 days before the date of the trek.

Do not shy away from the wet period for the gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega National Park as this opens more chances to less disturbance since fewer tourists are booked. For those on a budget gorilla trekking plan, the low season may open more chances for an upgrade from logistics providers since they may be trying to break even.

What Accommodation To Book For Budget Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

A few options for Budget accommodation to book during gorilla trekking adventure in Kahuzi Biega National Park include Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Lake Side Hotel Bukavu, Exodus Bukavu, Hotel Begonias Bukavu and others. it is best to secure accommodation as soon as you book a gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park. This is to reduce in chances of mission out on room availability.

It is best to spend the night within or closer to Kahuzi Biega National Park because briefing and other formalities before the gorilla trek start early. Missing briefing may amount to getting disqualified from engaging in gorilla trekking as this is a very sensitive adventure.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park Safe?

Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is in a politically unstable area of Eastern D.R.Congo. The rebel activities in this area are some of the hindrances to fast development of this tourism destination. During the briefing, some of the tactics you can use to safe while on a gorilla safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park are taught.

While searching for the lowland gorillas, you need to keep your voices low in order not to disturb the peace in the forest. Never walk in the forest without an escorting ranger guide because you may land in the hands of the wrong company. 

Carry and wear the right gorilla trekking gear in order not to hurt yourself while in the forest searching for the gorillas.

Is It Difficult To Do Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is quite challenging because you have to walk through the tough jungle. At times the gorillas spend their day in the deeper ends of the forest making it challenging to locate them. 

During the wet season, the trails in this forest are wet and slippery because there is less sunlight let in through the dense canopy to the ground. The thick undergrowth that covers the trails of Kahuzi Biega National Park sometimes makes it challenging to get to the gorilla family. 

The tropical dense forest of Kahuzi Biega National Park provides a difficult environment for taking photos and filming especially during the severe wet season. it is best to carry waterproof jackets for your cameras.

You need to bear some level of fitness to complete the gorilla trek even though these are lowland gorillas. Even the ranger guide with a machete uses it to trim the path to create a way while on the search for the gorillas.

Are Children Allowed To Do Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park 

Children aged 15 and over can do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park. as the walk in this forest has some challenges which a person below this age may not be in a position to withstand. The jungle has some rough surfaces and challenging terrain especially during the wet season which may not be comfortable to a child below 15 years.

At a glance, the look in the in the face of the mountain gorillas is intimidating which may scare a child below 15 years. During briefing, tourists are advised not to show signs of freight when with the gorillas as this looks suspicious before the gorillas.

Time of locating the gorillas is hard to determine but requires some level of patience which may be quite challenging for a child below 15 years. You need to bear some level of fitness in order not to get tired so quickly before locating the gorillas children below 15 years may not comply with this.

How To Get To Kahuzi Biega National Park 

By Road

D.R.Congo is a vast country but you can get to its eastern side through its neighbors that is Uganda or Rwanda.

From Kigali in Rwanda, you drive to Gisenyi to then Bukavu where you head to Kahuzi Biega National Park

From Uganda, Entebbe Airport, drive west wards to Goma then head to Bukavu and Kahuzi Biega National Park.

By air

From Entebbe or Kigali you may fly to Goma International Airport and then drive for approximately 6 hours to Bukavu. Because of the insecurity of this area, planes may also not be safe as they can be shit down by the rebels.

How Much Time Does Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park Take

The duration of the gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park may take about 2 hours to more depending on the location of these primates. When you start the search for these lowland gorillas, the ranger guide follows the trail leading where the gorillas may have spent the night. The gorillas do not normally move very far from their previous location because of their bulky bodies.

Instead of getting bored before finding the lowland gorillas, look out for other interesting features in the wilderness like stunning views, unique tree species and others.

Help the ranger guide to trace the gorillas by following the clues left behind by these primates like fresh dung, leftover foliage, footprints, and others. You may hear the gorillas murmur before finding them so keep your voices low as you approach them.

Upon finding the lowland gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them so that they can be left alone to go about there day today activities. The presence of humans interferes with the running of the daily life of the lowland gorillas as they have to find food, groom their infants, procreate, play, nap and much more. Some of these they cannot do with interruptions of humans. This is why time of gorilla trekking is minimized to only one hour.

As you get away from the gorillas, do it stealthily so as not to cause any alarm as the gorilla families are sensitive to intruders in their vicinity.

The less time in the forest the less chances of trampling on the vegetation on which these primates feed. Lowland gorillas feed entirely on foliage despite their massive body structure. They have to feed on vegetation to support their bodies through the day and night.

Are low land gorillas dangerous?

Lowland gorillas are not aggressive but calm primates even though their outlook is quite intimidating. They have a huge body covered with fur and walk by knuckle locomotion which may be mistaken for having a temper.

This doesn’t mean that these primates do not charge when provoked. They thump hard their chests, hoot, grab grass around them and much more drams. Every time you witness this behavior doesn’t mean you are in trouble with their primates. Sometimes they are trying to tease you, having family disagreements, are under attack from another gorilla family and much more.

Wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause of the matter and follow his example in order not to escalate the situation.

What are the rules of Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

• Wear a clean facemask when you find the gorillas and sanitize your safari boots before entering the Kahuzi Biega National Park. This was adopted after the COVID-19 pandemic so as to prevent any chances of spreading these germs to the mountain gorillas.
• Never surround the lowland gorillas when you locate them. Remain in a tight group so that they do not feel ambushed by your presence.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This is another preventive measure for you not to spread any infection to these primates.
• Using flash photography is forbidden as it may scare the gorillas. 
• Never smoke or eat 200 meters from the lowland gorillas because they may grab it and yet they are wild animal that must search for their own food and not depend on human provision.
• Burry all human fecal materials after in a hole of about 30 centimeters. Burry beyond recognition because the forest dwellers may exhume it.
• Spitting on vegetation contaminates it so keep the food for the gorillas safe by not spitting on it.
• Only people aged 15 and above are allowed to do gorilla trekking because of the huddles surrounding it at times like the time of locating the lowland gorillas is not known.
• Try not to make loud noise when with the gorillas so that they do not feel unsafe by your presence.
• Littering the forest is not a great idea because it alters nature where the lowland gorillas live. The gorillas feed entirely on foliage like soft stems, bamboo, fruits and others.
• Only an hour is allowed with the gorillas when you locate them. They have been habituated for this. Ensure that you exhaust everything like watching the gorillas, taking photographs and others.

Contact our team to plan your safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park.