What else can one do in Kahuzi Biega National Park apart from gorilla trekking

Kahuzi Biega forest is home to the few leftover Eastern lowland gorillas. This is one of the gorilla species in the world but with the largest body compared to other gorilla species. Although gorilla trekking is the main activity in Kahuzi Biega National Park, this is a biosphere reserve park that has existed for so long time.

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

Other than gorilla trekking, while in Kahuzi Biega forest, you can engage in activities like birding, nature walks, community tours, Lwiro primate rescue sanctuary, and others. You may also make an arrangement to see the mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park, do a hike to the several highlands in this area, and others. Even though Kahuzi Biega National Park is less visited, it is a rich natural destination and home to some of the unique animals in the world.

This tropical rainforest park is located in Bukavu town south of Lake Kivu. Kahuzi Biega National Park is under the management of Congolese Institute of Conservation of Nature which the conjointly do with the support of the Congolese government and other international conservation bodies.

In order to engage in more safari activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need a well planned itinerary and ample time on your African holiday.

What to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Birding in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Kahuzi Biega forest is home to an array of birds including Albertine rift endemics. During the gorilla trek, you may get the double opportunity to spot a wide range of birds that find comfort in spending their day in this vast forest.

During a birding adventure in the Kahuzi Biega forest, you may encounter birds like the African Green Broadbill. Congo Peafowl, Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s Crimsonwing and others.  You need a professional and knowledgeable birding guide to take you through the birding safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

The presence of Kahuzi Biega forest provides a safe haven for a variety of birds to thrive.

Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center

A visit to the Lwiro primate rehabilitation center is an opportunity to spend time with the disadvantaged primates. This center is second home to rescued primates like chimpanzees, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, and olive baboons.

In D.R.Congo feasting on wild meat is part of their cuisine not excluding the primates. Some of the primates in this sanctuary were victims of poaching and so were left homeless and others cannot be returned to their communities.

This rehabilitation center is home to rescued, orphaned, saved from cages and many disadvantaged primates. A visit to this center helps create more awareness about the relevance of protecting the natural habitat of these primates to both the local community and other visitors.

From Kahuzi Biega National Park, it is a short walk to Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center.

Guided Nature walk

Kahuzi Biega National Park is a unique tropical rainforest and home a variety of primates, birds, other wild animals, and much more. You can take a guided primates to walk in this forest where you may get the opportunity to meet a variety of primates like the black and white colobus, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, a plethora of birds, different natural fully grown tree species and others.

Never walk into the forest with no escorting ranger guide for security purposes and prevent getting lost in this thick jungle.

Mountain Hiking In Kahuzi Biega National Park

Three mountains are situated in Kahuzi Biega National Park and with a guided walk, you can hike them. these mountains Include Mountain Bugulumiza, Mountain Kahuzi, and Mountain Biega. From the top of these highlands, you enjoy the stunning scenery composed of Bukavu town, Lake Kivu, green cover and much more. from Mountain Kahuzi, you enjoy the subalpine vegetation and bamboo.

The hikes on these mountains may take between 3 hours to 6 hours depending on the pace of the tourists.

Tshibati Waterfalls Hike

From the swampy area of the falls, you pass the swamp vegetation, bamboo, forest to the three stunning waterfalls. You may get the opportunity to encounter some chimpanzees, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, black and white colobus, and others.

By taking the Marais Musisi trail, you have better opportunities to enjoy a number of birds that spend time along this trail. 

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

If you wish to enjoy gorilla trekking to find the difference between the mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas. The Virunga National Park which also lies in the Eastern area in D.R.Congo is home to the mountain Gorillas. In the entire world, the just a few mountain gorillas are living approximately 1000 of them as per the recent population census D.R.Congo, Rwanda and Uganda are the only homes to these primates.

One needs a mountain gorilla trekking permit to get this opportunity to see these rare primates. 

When Is The Best Time To Book Safari In Kahuzi Biega National Park

Even though Kahuzi Biega National Park is open all year, the season is the busiest with more demand for safaris in this park. The forest being a tropical rainforest has a dense canopy that doesn’t allow much sunray penetration to the ground. This leaves the ground soggy and slippery from the water that logs making it hard for tourists to walk so fast.

The dry season is normally June, July, August, September, December, January and the forest activities are more exciting. The gorillas feed closer to the ground and other forest dwellers are more exciting like the rich avian life, numerous primates and much more.

For gorilla trekking experience, at the moment about 5 gorilla families are open for gorilla trekking and yet maximum 8 people are allowed to visit each gorilla family. This is a limited number of gorilla permits for the entire world to purchase. First come first served basis is used to reserve these gorilla permits but upon finding availability this doesn’t mean their status will remain the same for long as demand gets to its peak especially during the high season.

The trails in Kahuzi Biega forest are quicker to navigate in the dry season when there is less precipitation. The rains fall but are not so intense or may not last the entire day. There is more sun ray penetration to the ground providing better environment to take great photos and film the gorillas and other primates in this season. Even though you wish to engage in other safari activities in the Kahuzi Biega forest, you may find solace in the dry season.

Note that demand for safari activities gets high as season opens providing fewer opportunities for last minute bookings.

Those wishing to have less disturbance from fellow tourists may grab the opportunity from the low season. The low season that is March, April, May and November attracts less demand for gorilla permits opening an opportunity for those wishing to go gorilla trekking alone or with less company. 

Even those with a limited budget can use this opportunity to do gorilla trekking when some service providers may be expected to discount their costs to break even.

How to Book Safari To Kahuzi Biega National Park

You can do it yourself to book safari activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park and case gorilla trekking is part of what you wish to do, booking the gorilla permit is the only confirmation to this safari. Alternatively, with the help of a professional and experienced tour operator, all arrangements can be made.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we are ready to assist book the gorilla permits, make arrangements for other safari activities in and out of Kahuzi Biega National Park in case you enquire from us. Our team of tour consultants are ready to work with you in organizing every necessary detail of your safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

With your guidance, our safari consultant also makes logistical arrangements that will support you during the safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park. In Kahuzi Biega National Park, you may engage in activities like gorilla trekking, nature walks, birding, hiking, visits to the waterfalls, the primate sanctuary, and other interesting activities.

For gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you need a gorilla permit but must have a date before the permit is booked. Note the number of people traveling with to so that not to keep moving back and forth with checking gorilla permit availability.

Other safari activities in Kahuzi Biega require one to notify the park authorities in advance so that a ranger guide is reserved to accompany tourists during this adventure. 

Booking the accommodation to use during the safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park is important especially of you hope to travel for this safari in the high season. There are limited options for accommodation around Kahuzi Biega National Park. 

How Easy or tiresome is a safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

The walk-in Kahuzi Biega National Park in search of the interesting primates, birds, scenic viewing and other features may last unknown time. The Eastern lowland gorillas are very free primates and no restrictions on where not to go but this contributes to how fast or slow you get to find the gorillas.

Since at times Kahuzi Biega National Park receives fewer visitors, the vegetation along the trails over grows making it challenging to walk through the forest. The ranger at times has to use a machete to trim the vegetation.

As less sunray penetrates to the ground, it is often wet and when combined with the foliage that decomposes, the way gets slippery making it quite difficult to move fast. To be able to get the best from your day in Kahuzi Biega forest, some level of patience and determination is necessary. Having some level of fitness before starting a safari in Kahuzi Biega saves you from getting muscle pulls while on safari in this park. Even though the eastern lowland gorillas are known by these names, some hiking is done in the forest as there are several highlands to come over during the search for these primates.

Having some gorilla safari gear like insect repellants, garden gloves, safari hat protects you from the rough surfaces in the jungle.

What Packing List To Follow When Preparing For A Safari To Kahuzi Biega National Park

• Extract fully charged batteries to exchange with if one runs low because walking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is a once in lifetime adventure.
• 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 falls 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. This is the wilderness where all wild animals and rough surfaces may hurt you in case you are not well prepared.
• 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. There is poor visibility for some interesting features in the forest due to poor sunray penetration.
• 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 get 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 experts for more information.