What is included and excluded in Kahuzi Biega National Park gorilla permit?

What is included and excluded in Kahuzi Biega National Park gorilla permit?Some of the inclusions in the cost of the gorilla trekking permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park are ranger guide fees, one hour with the eastern lowland gorillas, park entrance fees, and others. at the moment, the cost of gorilla trekking permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park is $450 per person for international nonresidents, $250 for international residents, and $25 for local Congolese.

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A few exclusions in the cost of gorilla trekking permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park are tips, accommodation, transport and other personal expenses. 

Kahuzi Biega National Park is located in eastern D.R.Congo and home to the eastern lowland gorillas. This part of D.R.Congo is however politically unstable with rebel activities. Other activities are happening in the park like mining, deforestation, poaching as locals of this area eat primates as wild meat and much more.

At the moment Kahuzi Biega National Park has about 9 gorilla families of which about 5 gorilla families are fully habituated and open to the public. Some of these gorilla families in Kahuzi Biega National Park include Mugaruka, Mpungwe, Bonniani, Mugahuka. 

To get access to do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park you must book the gorilla permit first. One may directly book the gorilla permit or use the service of a tour operator. At Encounter Africa Safaris we help book gorilla permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park plus other related logistics.

How To Book a Gorilla Trekking Permit For Kahuzi Biega National Park

Choose a date when you hope to do Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park and the number of people traveling with you. You may also suggest the starting and ending date of the gorilla safari holiday so that a date for this adventure may be selected within this time. Send us your inquiry

Immediately we get your gorilla safari inquiry, our tour consultant looks for availability from the Virunga office. Our safari consultant get back to you as soon as he or she finds availability of the gorilla permit. To book the gorilla permit, you need to make at least a deposit as commitment to this adventure.

In case it is positive gorilla permit availability, we advise our clients to purchase their gorilla permits. the peak season gorilla trekking permits sell out fast that is June to September and December to early February. To be on the safe side, most tourists book the gorilla permit at least 90 days before the gorilla trek. The limited number of gorilla permits for this area makes it challenging for last-minute bookers.

For identification, we request clients forward us some personal details like full names, nationality, date of birth and others as these are used also for record purposes.

Why Book A Gorilla Trekking Safari To See The Eastern Lowland Gorillas Of Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Doing gorilla trekking is an opportunity to be just a few meters from the endangered eastern lowland primates in the world. A few people per day have the opportunity to be in the natural habitat of these primates in about 8 meters apart. 

Its one way to contribute to the conservation of these eastern lowland gorillas. The population of the Eastern lowland gorillas was about 17000 by the 1990s but the recent census indicated that their population is almost half this number. This is because of the unstable environment in the habitat where these primates live. Eastern lowland gorillas are now on the list of the most highly endangered primates in the world. Their vulnerable nature requires protection and more funds. By purchasing the gorilla permit, you contribute to the survival of these eastern lowland gorillas.

Community sensitization about the relevancy of the eastern lowland gorillas and their habitat is still lacking. Hiring porters to assist with carrying your gorilla safari gear and paying them something helps the locals to appreciate why they must conserve the gorillas and the forest where they live.

The cost of Eastern lowland gorilla trekking permit is cheaper compared to the cost of gorilla trekking permits for mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. In case you have a limited budget but craving to see the 

 When And How Can I Book A Gorilla Trekking Safari To Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Gorilla trekking for the lowland gorillas is open all year but the dry season which is June, July, August, September, December and January is most sought after. In this period, the Eastern lowland gorillas feed closer to the ground and maybe quicker to find. Even other forest dwellers like birds, other primates, other wild animals may also be quicker to spot. 

The trails to use in search for the Eastern lowland gorillas are drier as more sunray penetration is allowed through the dense canopy. Even though Kahuzi Biega is a tropical rainforest, there is less precipitation in the forest. 

The dry season also provides a more comfortable environment to take photos or film these elusive eastern lowland gorillas. Most people book their gorilla safaris at least before 90 days to the trekking date.

The dry season is however the peak tourism season when demand for gorilla permits is over the top. It is best to reserve gorilla permits for this season in advance. First come first served basis is used to reserve gorilla permits in this season.

Expect to share the gorilla trekking experience with other tourists during the dry season as maximum 8 people are allowed to visit each gorilla family.

The low tourism season that is March to May and November  may be the wet season too but because there is less demand for the gorilla permits during this season, chances to find permits at the last minute may be open. For those hoping to get exclusive time with the eastern lowland gorillas, the low season may offer this opportunity since there no or fewer people booking. 

If you have a limited budget but hope to do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, the low season may offer better opportunities. Some of the service providers at times discount their costs in order to break even and this chance may be present in the low season.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park Secure?

The eastern lowland gorillas of Kahuzi Biega National Park are in a politically unstable location because of the rebel activities in this area. Other than that, there is illegal mining, poaching and these are some of the hindrances to the conservation of the eastern lowland gorillas.

Before gorilla trekking, all tourists must attend briefing where information about how to live with the gorillas is given to tourists.  As you follow the gorillas, you need to stay closer to the people trekking with  so that you are not lost in the jungle. This is in order not to be lost in the jungle.

There are some moments of peace in Kahuzi Biega National Park and during this time gorilla trekking happens.

Each gorilla trek is led by a professional and experienced ranger guide but you must not walk into the forest without an escorting ranger guide.

What Time Do You Spend On Gorilla Trekking Safari?

From the starting time of the gorilla trek, finding the gorillas family may take about 2 hours to more. Finding the eastern lowland gorillas depends on factors happening in the wilderness like location of the food source, in case of a fight with another family, weather conditions of the day, pace of fellow tourists, and others. 

To successfully complete the gorilla trek you need to have some level of patience or instead of focusing on finding the lowland gorillas, look out to other forest dwellers. Kahuzi Biega National Park has other inhabitants like olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus, and others. 

 Finally, when you locate the eastern lowland gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons. The presence of humans disrupts daily life of the eastern lowland gorillas as these primates have to groom, feed, procreate but humans disturb their life for some time.

Is Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park Tiresome?

The walk to find the lowland gorillas is quite tiring because these primates are free to move anywhere in the wilderness with no restrictions as to where not to go. From the starting point of the trek, the ranger guide follows the trail leading to where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day.

Along the way, the trails are obstructed by overgrown vegetation that needs to be trimmed by the ranger guide with a machete. In case it rains, the trails in Kahuzi Biega National Park to see the eastern lowland gorillas get slippery and soggy from the rains that fall. At times the rains are prolonged at least for an entire day making it hard for fast movement.

There is limited sunray penetration to the ground which makes it hard to move fast even though it is not raining. Even finding the easiest gorilla family to trek is quite hard because the closest gorilla family the previous day may be the furthest the next day.

Pack some energy bites to keep you moving as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time of searching for the eastern lowland gorillas.

Are Eastern Lowland Hostile?

Eastern lowland gorillas are shy and serene primates even though they are portrayed as aggressive. Some people mistake the large bodies of the lowland gorillas, dark fur covering their bodies, brown sunken eyes for being aggressive. In nature the gorillas are calm and serene primates whose life depends on foliage through the night and day.

Even though the eastern lowland gorillas are calm, they can charge when provoked. When agitated, the gorillas hoot, thump their chests, walk on one leg, and much more drama. It is not all the time that they show these signs that the gorillas are angry with you therefore before causing any suspension, wait for the ranger guide to establish the cause of the matter.

At times the gorillas want to show off, tease you, are angry with fellow family members, have a fight with another gorilla family, and much more. Wait for the ranger guide to trace the cause of the matter and provide the possible solution as these gorillas are suspicious of any intruder in their vicinity.

What Are the Rules Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park

• Littering alters the natural habitat where these primates thrive. When you dump items like plastic, they do not decompose which alters the nature of the forest which is the habitat to these primates feed.
• Spitting on vegetation is forbidden because it contaminates the food for the eastern lowland gorillas 
• Stay in a tight group during gorilla because they feel ambushed when you surround them, and feel insecure and agitated. This may lead them to retreat into the deeper ends of the park.
• Using flash photography is not allowed because the lowland gorillas are scared of new occurrences in their environment.
• In case you catch any communicable infection like cholera, flu, cough, Corona Virus, volunteer to stay behind so that you don’t pass it to the gorillas. They are highly susceptible to human infections. The extent to which they may be affected may cause the so far conservation work done to go back to highly endangered.
• Eating or smoking 200 meters closer to the mountain gorillas is forbidden to prevent the chances of the gorillas grabbing it from you. They are wild animals that must search for their food and not depend on human provision.
•  Burry all fecal materials beyond recognition so that the animals in the forest cannot exhume it. Ask the ranger to dig a hole for you about 30 cm and cover well.
• In case you wish to sneeze or cough, do it away from the lowland gorillas and use your handkerchief or elbow.
• Try not to talk loudly or make noise when going on a gorilla trekking safari because you may also scare the other forest dwellers that may be interesting to see.
•  Wearing a clean mask before meeting the eastern lowland is one of the added rules for all primate safaris after the Corona Virus Lockdown.
• The age limit for gorilla habituation experience is 15 years and beyond 15 years for chimpanzee habituation experience because children below this age may not withstand the conditions in the forest. 
• When you locate eastern lowland gorillas only one hour is allowed with them. This is to allow the gorillas to go about their day-to-day activities. They have been habituated to be in the presence of humans for just those hours.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the lowland gorillas when you locate them. This is to reduce the chances of passing an infection to the primates.

Are you interested in trekking the lowland gorillas, Please contact us to book your permit and plan your safari to Kahuzi Biega National Park.