Introduction
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo near the border with Rwanda. This park was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1980 as it harbors a variety of flora and fauna including the eastern lowland gorillas. The lowland gorillas are an endangered and rare primate species only located in a few places in the world. Kahuzi-Biega also hosts several other wildlife species including birds, other primates and mammals, the volcanic mountains of Kahuzi, and Biega.
The Eastern lowland gorillas also known as Grauer’s gorillas, are the largest species of gorillas. Adult males can weigh up to 210 kilograms and are said to be very peaceful compared to mountain gorillas. Eastern lowland gorillas have a very long temper even when interrupted. They will bark and hit their chest to give warnings.
They spend most of their time on the ground because they are not easily attacked by predators. Their body weight is also very heavy which doesn’t allow them to comfortably stay in the trees. The eastern lowland gorillas can easily be encountered since they spend most of their time on the ground playing, sleeping, nurturing, and grooming young ones.
Like the mountain gorillas, the eastern lowland gorillas have a dominant male called a silverback. This alpha male leads the group and gives it direction on where to go. It also gives protection to the group. However, young females tend to leave their original group and go look for a loner male or join another group to avoid interbreeding. The young males known as blackbacks always stay in the group as they look forward to succeeding their fathers. However, some match away and start a new gorilla family or invade another family and take over its leadership.
There are 9 gorilla families in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and of these only 5 are habituated and available for trekking. The habituated gorilla families in Kahuzi-Biega National Park include the Mpungwe gorilla family, the Chimanuka gorilla family, the Mugahuka gorilla family, the Nganwa gorilla family, and the Bonnani gorilla family. Tracking lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega starts with a briefing at 7 am at the Tshivanga visitor center, the park headquarters.
During the briefing, visitors are informed about the rules and regulations of trekking and the expected code of conduct. The ranger guide then groups you and the visitors in groups of 8 trekkers and allocates you a gorilla family to track. The ranger guide then leads you through the thick forests on a search for the allocated gorilla family. This may take you about 1-5 hours including an hour you are given to spend with the gorillas upon locating them.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is home to other wildlife species for example monkeys, baboons, forest elephants, buffaloes, and bush pigs. The park is also famous for hosting over 400 bird species of which over 40 birds are endemic to the park. This makes Kahuzi-Biega a birders’ paradise. Encountering other wildlife species like birds, mammals, and other smaller primates has greatly increased the value of Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi-Biega National Park?
A lowland gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi-Biega National Park costs about USD 400 for foreign non-residents and USD 200 for East Africans. You can only book a gorilla permit through a trusted tour operator who will help you purchase the permit. A local tour operator can also organize your entire safari trip to Kahuzi-Biega from purchasing the permit to accommodation, meals, transport, and other activities. Be sure to encounter these gentle giants in their natural environment when you embark you this incredible safari tour.
What is the best time to track the Eastern Lowland gorillas?
Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega can be done throughout the year. However, it is always better to track gorillas in the dry season from June to September and December to February. This is because the tracking trails in the park are dry thus easing navigation. The park records little or no rainfall levels during this period. This period presents the peak season for tourism in Kahuzi-Biega with huge numbers of travelers. However, traveling to Kahuzi-Biega for gorilla trekking in the wet season also has its advantages. The park is also spacious with no congestion due to the low turn-up of travelers. There are always discounts on facilities like accommodation and also trekking permits thus a huge chance for visitors traveling on budget.