Tourist activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Visiting Kahuzi Biega National Park for a safari requires selecting from the long list of activities in this park of which gorilla trekking supersedes them all. Kahuzi Biega National Park is a biosphere reserve that hosts a wide range of wild animals. other than the rich primate list, Kahuzi Biega National Park is home to an array of birds including Albertine rift endemics, giant forest hogs, butterflies, a long list of natural plants including fully grown natural tree species, and others.

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 located in the eastern part of D.R.Congo close to Bukavu town near Lake Kivu. This park is home to the eastern lowland gorillas the largest of all the four gorilla species. The gorilla trekking experience in this park has been for long affected by the presence of rebel activities in this area. Currently some peace has been restored in D.R.Congo as on ground the ranger guides and other D.R.Congo security organs work closely to provide safety, keep law and order in this area.

Some of the tourist activities of Kahuzi Biega National Park require booking for better preparations. For gorilla trekking in this park, one must possess a gorilla permit from the Virunga Tourism office, a hiking permit and much more before gaining access to these safari activities.

What Tourist Activities To Do In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Gorilla trekking to find the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park is the foremost activity of this park. Kahuzi Biega National Park hosts about 5 gorilla trekking families of which some include Chimanuka, Bonnani, Mpungwe, Ngwanwa, Mugahuka are part of these gorilla families.

The gorilla trekking progress of this park has been affected by the political instability of this area, illegal mining activities, poaching, illegal lumbering and much more but of late the deployment of other security organs has created some moments of peace.

For Kahuzi Biega National Park gorilla trekking to happen, one must possess a gorilla permit from the Virunga office. Maximum 8 permits are opened to the public to book each day. Gorilla trekking requires one to pack particular items to complete to be safe while in the jungle.

It is best to book the gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park in advance as they sell out fast especially during the peak season which is normally June, July, August, September, December, and January. 

Birding in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Kahuzi Biega forest is a hot birding destination of D.R.Congo over 345 bird species have been proven as residents of this park. By taking the different trails in this forest, you have the opportunity to spot a wide range of birds including Albertine rift endemics. For a better birding experience in Kahuzi Biega forest, having a professional and experienced birding guide is important.

 Some of the bird species you may get to spot in Kahuzi Biega National Park include Western Green Tinkerbird, Rwenzori Batis, Mountain Masked Apalises, Chestnut throated Apalises, Collared Apalis, Cinnamon Chested Bee eater, Red faced Woodland Warbler, Cinnamon Chested Bee eater, masked Apalis, Archer’s Robbin chat and others.

Every tourist needs a number of days on birding safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park in order to get the best from your birding list.

Visit Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is home to rescued, abandoned chimpanzees and other primates that cannot return back to their original communities. This sanctuary was set up in 2002 with the aim of providing a second home to these disadvantaged primates. In D.R.Congo eating wild meat especially the primates is a delicacy.

From Kahuzi Biega National Park Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary is about 4 kilometers drive away. While at the sanctuary, you may encounter animals like chimpanzees, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, and others. To fund the work of conserving these primates, proceeds accumulated from the visitors to this place and much more support is still needed for this noble cause.

While at Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary you may engage in activities like chimpanzee up close, chimpanzee feeding, and much more.

Nature Walks In Kahuzi Biega National Park

Kahuzi Biega National Park is a biosphere reserve with plenty of beautiful spots worth viewing. A guided nature walk in this forest follows the trails constructed by regular visitors in this park. While in the forest, you may spot animals like chimpanzees, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, black and white colobus and others.

When standing at some points in Kahuzi Biega forest, you enjoy the stunning views of the park's surroundings. The sparkling waterfalls and dense network of rivers create a beautiful location to take unique photographs.

Hiking Mountain Biega And Mountain Kahuzi

Kahuzi Biega National Park gets its name from Mountain Biega in the eastern part of the park and Mountain Kahuzi in the western part. An excursion hike to these mountains is amazing providing great views of the surrounding.

Along the way, you may spot giant forest hogs, several monkey species like bongo, olive baboons, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, and others. The various vegetation zones along the slopes of these highlands are exceptional. The hike up Mountain Biega and Mountain Kahuzi may last about 4 hours to the top and approximately 3 hours return trip.

When Is The Best Time To Do A Safari In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

The best time for a safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park is the dry season when the environment favors these activities. The dry season is normally June to September and December to early February with less precipitation in the forest. Although Kahuzi Biega is a tropical rainforest that receives untimely rains, at times it falls without warning.

The gorillas and other forest dwellers may be quicker to spot in the forest as they traverse it in search for food. 

This is the peak tourism season too attracting high demand for gorilla permits yet there are limited gorilla families open to the public. To be on the safe side, most tourists purchase these gorilla trekking permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park in advance because availability gets scarce as the season opens.

Even the wet season still gives a chance to gorilla trekking and be sure to see the eastern lowland gorillas. This being the low tourism season it normally has fewer gorilla and other safari bookings so those who wish to have less company during the gorilla trek may use this season. 

How Much Is The Cost Of Safari To Kahuzi Biega National Park

The cost of a safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park varies with the safari activities you engage in. In case gorilla trekking is part of your safari activities choice, purchasing the gorilla permit is a must. At the moment, the cost of gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park is currently $ 450 for international nonresidents, $250 for international residents and $25 for local Congolese.

In case you wish to hike mountain Biega or Kahuzi, you must purchase the hiking permit which is about $100 per person. Other items that may be based on to cost the safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park may include number of days on safari, number of people travelling with, time of booking the safari, and much more.

Our safari consultants are available to help draft the most suitable itinerary for Kahuzi Biega National Park inclusive of your interests and fitting within your time on holiday.

Why Book a safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Kahuzi Biega National Park is located in a natural tropical forested area yet in the entire world a few destinations of its kind are still available. When you decide to do gorilla trekking to see the eastern lowland gorillas of this park it is an opportunity to be just meters away from the few gorillas living in the world. These primates may be kept in cases elsewhere but they live freely in this Kahuzi Biega forest.

Kahuzi Biega National Park hosts a variety of wildlife which all deserve to be conserved, to promote sustainable existence of the occupants of this forest, more funds are required. When you purchase the permits that allow you to be in this forest, it is one of the noble ways to support sustainable existence of this forest.

The number of people allowed in Kahuzi Biega National Park is regulated to minimize the effects of mass tourism to this park which is not done in some tourism destinations that are always crowded.

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

The gorillas of Kahuzi Biega National Park are first habituated to human presence which allows them to spend at least an hour with the humans. Gorilla habituation is a process by which a wild gorilla family is helped to get used to human presence for some time without altering their nature. This process takes some time until the gorilla family is confirmed ready to be with humans.

Gorillas live in families that occupy a particular area for some time until food is exhausted. This is why the gorilla family can be traced by ranger guides during the gorilla trek as the rangers follow the trail leading where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day.

As part of the experience, tourists are requested to help with tracing the gorillas by using the clues they live behind like fresh dung, footprints, freshly chewed foliage, and much more. listen to the sounds that these gorillas make.

Each day a team of ranger guides wakes up early to trace where the gorilla family may have spent the night and determine their possible go to location.

Can Children visit Kahuzi Biega National Park for a safari?

Kahuzi Biega National Park is open to all ages except for gorilla trekking where the age limit is 15 years and over. The nature of the activities in this park includes walking in the jungle which may be quite scaring to children below 15 years. 

As a rule, you must not show signs of being frightened to the gorillas as this looks suspicious to these highly sensitive primates to intruders in their vicinity. 

Some level of patience is required before locating the gorillas which children below 15 years may not withstand.

What are the Guidelines of safaris in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

• Provoking or mimicking the gorillas is forbidden as you may not know what you are communicating.
• When you locate the eastern lowland gorillas, do not surround them. This makes them feel ambushed.
• Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole of about 30 cm deep in case you wish to do a long call. You need to ever everything beyond recognition.
• One hour is allowed with the gorillas upon finding them so as to minimize the effects of human presence to the environment or reduce in chances of violating the rules of this adventure.
• The age limit for gorilla trekking in D.R.Congo is 15 years and over because the nature of gorilla trek which goes through rough surfaces yet the time of finding the mountain gorillas is hard to determine. This adventure is also quite tiring especially when the gorillas are feeding far. 
• Volunteer to stay behind in case you catch any communicable infection like coronavirus, flu, cough, or cholera. This is because the mountain gorillas can catch human infections easily. They have a DNA of about 96% to that of humans.
• When you locate the lowland gorillas keep a distance of about 8 meters from them. To reduce on the chances of passing a communicable infection to them.
• Never spit on the vegetation because it's food for the lowland gorillas. It is unhealthy and disgusting too.
• Wear a mask and hand sanitize as an after-coronavirus period precaution. You must change into a clean mask as you approach the Lowland gorillas.
• When with the Lowland gorillas, do not make noise and sudden movement because it may scare them. the gorillas are often scared of unfamiliar noise in their presence.

Contact us for more information.