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Facts about Kahuzi Biega National park

22 Oct
Eastern Lowland gorillas

Facts about Kahuzi Biega National park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is the second top most  protected area in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo that hosts the eastern lowland gorillas and is open to tourists activities yet Maiko national park is not open for tourists.

Equatorial Forests of cover in congo hosts the world’s most endangered species that cant be found anywhere else except in the jungles of itombwe ranges and virunga massif not missing the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. Kahuzi Biega is located near the western bank of Lake Kivu.

Establishment and Conservation of Kahuzi Biega

Kahuzi Biega national park was established in 1970 by the Belgian photographer and conservationist Adrien Deschryver, the park is named after two dormant volcanoes, Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega which are within its limits.

Park Size

Kahuzi  Biega national park covers an area of 6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq mi), Kahuzi-Biega is one of the biggest national parks in the country. The Park is set in both mountainous and lowland terrain,kahuzi biega & Maiko are one of the last refuges of the rare species of Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei guerilla), an endangered category under the IUCN Red List The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1980 for its unique biodiversity of rain forest habitat and its eastern lowland gorillas. Few tour operators offer gorilla tours to Kahuzi Biega with the shortest being 3 day lowland gorillas.

How to Get to Kahuzi Biega National Park

During the Adventure in democratic republic of congo, we used the transportation services of  Car Rental Congo (www.Carrentalcongo.com) for the transfer from Bukavu town to the park headquarter.

Chimpanzee Tracking When you plan a gorilla trekking in congo, the holiday in congo is a true adventure , experienced driver & guide. The adventure drive in democratic republic of congo is an exception trip , congo forests and people not missing the roads are different from the style in the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.

Most online travel information showed us that kahuzi biega national park can easily be accessed through Kahuzi-Biega National Park is much easily accessed through Kigali Rwanda ( Recommended Airport of flight is Kigali International Airport) .
The Journey from Kigali to Democratic republic of congo ( Bukavu town) takes around 7 hours with a stop-over for lunch. Travelers are now recommended to check on the new lodge constructed at the park headquarter ( Tshivanga Lodge ). The new luxury lodge is open for travelers to book their overnight stay on the foothills of Kahuzi Biega National park ( feel the wilderness of Kahuzi biega).

Things to Do & See  in Kahuzi Biega – Congo Safari tour

  1. Eastern Lowland gorillas.The eastern lowland gorilla—also known as Grauer’s gorilla—is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. It is distinguished from other gorillas by its stocky body, large hands and short muzzle. Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other herbaceous materials, just like other gorilla subspecies. Eastern Lowland gorillas in the entire world, they are only found in Maiko national park & Kahuzi Biega national park located  in Democratic Republic of Congo have taken their toll on both the eastern lowland gorilla and the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.
    Rwanda Safari CompaniesThe eastern lowland gorilla makes its home in lowland tropical rain forests in the eastern DRC. Throughout the unrest, the gorillas have been vulnerable to poaching, even in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, home to the largest population of protected eastern lowland gorillas.  Many Tour operators & non governmental organizations have done tremendous job of conserving the primates in Kahuzi Biega.
  2. Gorilla Trekking of the Eastern lowland gorillas
    According to the official website of the park ( www.kahuzibieganationalpark.com) they state it clearly that gorilla trekking is done in the park. the park has 9 gorilla groups but only 6 gorilla families are open for habituation and trekking is open . Gorilla trekking in Congo required you to secure the gorilla permit at only USD 400 yet for gorilla habituation , it costs USD 700 valid for 3 hours with the endangered gorillas. Many specialist : gorilla safari companies offer the following as sample tour
    1 Day gorilla trekking congo
    2 Days gorilla trekking Kahuzi Biega
    3 Days Eastern lowland gorilla watching congo See more on the safari package page Read More Congo Safaris
  3. Visit to Lwiro Sanctuary:
    According to the official website ( www.lwiro.com) Chimpanzee feeding and watching in the lwiro is open for trekking and watching at a simple fee to enable them conserve the chimpanzee. Lwiro requires your contribution and donations towards the conservation of the Chimpanzees.

  4. Golden monkey & other primates
    When planning for visit to kahuzi biega national park , why miss the seeing the primates in the wilderness of the park on Congo Safari tour , we do list the top primates in the park include the Dwarf galago, Bosman’s potto, Red Tailed guenon, owl faced guenon, blue guenon, mona guenon, l hoest’s guenon, grey cheeked mangabey, Angolan black and white colobus, northern black colobus , western red colobus, Anubis baboon, chimpanzee and the Eastern lowland gorillas.

    Park Entrance Fees and Gorilla permits

    Among the cheapest gorilla permits , they are found in congo compared to other countries like Uganda and Rwanda that have the mountain gorillas, but in Democratic republic of congo hosts mountain gorillas & Eastern lowland gorillas yet the gorilla trekking permit is the same ( USD 400 per person).
    Unlike Rwanda’s gorilla trekking where the cost of the permit is uniform , in congo there is a special price for the nationals with expatriates and nationals of CEPGL, EAC and SADC member countries pay less for the gorilla permit.
    * Gorilla trekking: US$400
    * Mountain ascents (Mount Kahuzi, Mount Biega and Mount Bugulumiza): US$100
    * Hiking and waterfalls: US$35 plus Park entrance fee.
    * Lwiro sanctuary: US$30

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