Where to Stay In Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo

The accommodations to use on a visit to Kahuzi Biega National Park are categorized into upscale, Mid-range, and budget facilities. Kahuzi Biega National Park lies in eastern D.R.Congo and is home to mainly the eastern lowland gorillas. This park gets its name from two distinctive mountains that is Biega in the eastern part and Mountain Kahuzi in the western part of the park. The infrastructural development of eastern D.R.Congo is still underdeveloped because of political unrest in this area.

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Kahuzi Biega National Park is a tropical rainforested park situated in eastern D.R.Congo and home to the Eastern lowland gorillas scientifically called Gorilla Beringei Grauer. World over, the eastern lowland gorillas have a larger physical body compared to the other four gorilla species. At the moment, 9 gorilla families are living in Kahuzi Biega National Park with 5 fully habituated gorilla families open to the public. Some of the gorilla families living in Kahuzi Biega National Park include Nganwa, chimanuka, Mpungwe, Bonnianai, and others.

Before traveling to do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you must book a gorilla permit. The number of gorilla trekking permits is restricted to a maximum of 8 per day per gorilla family. It is best to book your gorilla permits in advance especially when wishing to attend this adventure in the peak season that is June to September or December to early February.

Kahuzi Biega National Park Accommodation

L’Orchids Safari Club

For a luxury safari experience in Kahuzi Biega National Park, booking the L’Orchids Safari Club is a great choice. To enjoy a spacious and well-aerated space while on safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park, L’Orchid Safari Club is open for your bookings.

This luxury lodge is situated closer to Lake Kivu, and each room is watched by the cool breeze from this lake. The rooms of this lodge have a great ambiance and great views which you can enjoy from your room. The decoration in the interior of each room is eye-captivating, self-contained, and relaxing. It is a home away from home.

The menu of L’Orchid Safari Club is rich with a variety of cuisines including local and world over.

Hotel Begonais

Hotel Begonais is situated in Bukavu Town and it is a mid-range facility. The rooms in this hotel are spacious and comfortable. They are self-contained and present a great ambiance to enjoy while on holiday.

From this hotel, you can enjoy a swim to relax after a long day to cool off the day’s fatigue.

Coco Lodge

The Coco Lodge in Bukavu Town is a mid-range facility with a great ambiance and spacious. You have a great time while at this lodge and great services. At the moment, the lodge has about 8 ensuite rooms that are beautifully positioned to provide you with a clear view of the surroundings. Its interior is well designed with a mix of African materials with a modern touch. The lodge has hot water and room service when requested.

Lake Side Hotel

Situated in Bukavu town is Hotel Lake Side where you can wind and unwind from the hassle of the day. The hotel is midrange with great rooms that are well-kept. They offer room service in case you request it. The rooms have a great view and are beautifully placed to provide you with a comfortable moment.

You feel the cool breeze from the surroundings that aerates your room. The great flower gardens that are beautifully placed on the outside are eye-captivating and welcoming to those who spend their day at this hotel.

Panorama Hotel

The stunning Panorama Hotel is a home away from home giving a comfortable stay to many who choose to spend holiday time in this hotel. The rooms are spacious and well-furnished with ensuite bathrooms. The hotel has a bar and restaurant where you can order from their rich menu serving both local and international cuisines.

Hotel Elizabeth

If you are budget-conscious, Hotel Elizabeth has some services you can enjoy. While at the hotel, you may have to share some facilities like bathrooms and toilets.

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

The best time to book accommodation for Kahuzi Biega National Park is any time of the year but the peak season attracts more people the world over. In case you wish to go gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park after securing the gorilla permit, booking accommodation is the next. This is because during the high season demand for gorilla permits escalates and so is accommodation demand.

The wet season that is March, April, May, and November provides a great time for those wishing to have less company while on safari. The low season also provides a chance for those wishing to travel on a budget as there are more chances for service providers to discount their costs.

Is Kahuzi Biega National Park safe?

The safety of Kahuzi Biega National Park lies in limbo at the moment as on the ground are some D.R.Congo security agencies to keep law and order together with the ranger guides. The eastern side of D.R.Congo has for a long time been politically unstable because of rebel activities and much more.

For this reason, the growth of tourism has been affected but is currently growing. Before starting any safari activity in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you must attend a briefing where the guidelines of this safari are explained in detail. No person is allowed to walk into the forest without an escorting ranger guide just in case you encounter some unhabituated forest dwellers.

All tourists are advised to walk on the trails constructed by regular visitors in the park so as not to create new paths or walk into rough spots in the park.

What Activities to Do In Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking tops the list of activities to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park of activities to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park. You must have a gorilla permit to be allowed to visit the family of lowland gorillas in this park.

Each day maximum of 8 gorilla permits are open to the public per family yet at the moment 5 gorilla trekking families are living in this park out of the 9 gorilla families so far identified in the park. it is best to pack the right attire to wear on the gorilla trek that will be comfortable while on the search for the gorillas in the jungle.

Chimpanzee activities in Lwiro sanctuary

The Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary is the second home for rescued chimpanzees and other primates. The political instability of the eastern D.R.Congo plus the way of living of the locals who eat primates has left so many of these animals orphans. The Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is acting as a second home for these affected primates. When at the sanctuary, tourists engage in activities like chimpanzees up close, keeping for the days, chimpanzee viewing, and much more at a friendly price.

Birding in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Kahuzi Biega National Park is a birding haven hosting more than 349 bird species including Albertine rift endemics. You need a professional birding guide in your company however most of the local guides are French-speaking so special arrangements for an English-speaking guide have to be made in advance.

Some birds you may spot in Kahuzi Biega National Park include African Black Swift, Long-crested Eagles, Bush Shrike, Brown-chested alethe, African Hill Babblers, Ethiopian Crimsonwing, Red-faced Cisticola

Nature walks in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Guided nature walks in Kahuzi Biega National Park may provide you an opportunity to see other primates like a bongo, Hamlyn’s monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, black and white colobus plus others. The sparkling waterfalls you may encounter like the Tshibati Falls are amazing to pass by. The dense network of rivers that flow within the park creates a water catchment area for the surrounding communities.

The long list of fauna including some of the more than 136 mammal species living in this park may also be seen.

Hiking Mountain Biega and Kahuzi

These two beautiful mountains Biega and Kahuzi are located in the eastern and western parts of Kahuzi Biega National Park. It is from these mountains that the park gets its name Kahuzi Biega. One can take a guided excursion on these forested mountains to their summit on a return trip of approximately 8 hours.

One needs to have some level of fitness to complete the trek up these mountains and return. The slopes of these mountains have varying vegetation zones that cannot easily be seen while on the ground unless you engage in the hike.  In order not to get so tired, it is best to start the hike up any of these mountains early morning before the sun is too bright.

How to book a gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park?

To book the gorilla permits for Kahuzi Biega National Park, you must secure a date and know the number of people traveling with you.

Check for gorilla permit availability from the Virunga tourism office or use assistance from a tour company like Encounter Africa Safaris. Our safari consultants are always ready to work with you throughout the entire planning and implementation. We can assist book all necessary logistics including accommodation, transport, driver guides, and others.

Because of the limited number of gorilla permits opened to the public and yet demand increases in the high season, it is best to secure your gorilla permit as soon as you get availability. The status of the gorilla permits for Kahuzi Biega changes any time without warning yet a first come first served basis is used.

No gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park is booked without payment.

After confirming the gorilla permit, forward some personal details like your full name as presented on the passport, date of birth, nationality, and much more.

What Is The Age Limit For Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park

15 years and beyond is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park. This adventure involves walking in the forest which is quite scary for tourists below this age. For every gorilla trek, you must attend the briefing and maintain some patience before finding the gorillas. This may be quite hard to abide by for children below this age.

What are the rules for Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?

• No going for gorilla trekking in case you catch a communicable infection like the flu. Cough, coronavirus, and others. Eastern lowland gorillas are highly susceptible to human infections. You may not know the extent to which this infection may kill the gorillas. Conserving them has taken a lot of time and money to gain this achievement.
• Try not to surround the gorillas when you locate them because this makes them feel ambushed. They are very sensitive primates and you need to follow the advice given by the ranger guides to enjoy every moment.
• Wearing a clean mask before meeting the eastern lowland gorillas is compulsory after the outbreak of coronavirus. This is one of the preventive measures to reduce the chances of passing this infection to their endangered primate species.
• In case you wish to cough or sneeze, do it away from the gorillas or in a handkerchief to prevent the spreading of germs.
• Spitting on vegetation or soil is forbidden because it may contaminate the food on which the eastern lowland gorillas depend.
• The use of flash photography is forbidden because this may scare the gorillas. They are highly sensitive to new occurrences in their vicinity.
• In case you wish to take a long call, ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you at least 30 centimeters deep and cover everything well beyond recognition. This is to prevent forest dwellers from exhuming what you may have covered.
• Provoking the lowland gorillas is forbidden because they have moods too. They may get agitated and move into hiding in nature, they are shy and serene creatures but do not test their patience.
• Eating or smoking 200 meters from the gorillas may cause them to move and grab it from you. The mountain gorillas are wild animals that must search for their food and not depend on human provision.
• Tourists aged 15 and above are allowed to do gorilla trekking. This is because of the hardships that come with searching for the gorillas like the time of locating the gorillas is unknown, the way to the gorillas is sloppy, the provocative nature of the gorillas, and much more. A child below this age may not withstand such so in case they make noise they may cause a stampede in the forest.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the gorillas when you locate them. This is to reduce the chances of passing an infection to the lowland gorillas. They are highly susceptible to human infectious diseases. Even when they approach, try to stealthily move back.
• Littering the forest or dumping garbage in the forest is forbidden because this alters the nature of the forest where the lowland gorillas feed. They are vegetarian so when you dump indecomposable garbage, it may prevent the growth of plants on which the gorillas and other forest dwellers feed.
• Only one hour is allowed with the lowland gorillas when you locate them.

It is great to have a good and comfortable place to relax after doing gorilla trekking and many other activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Contact us to help you book the best accommodation for your safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park.