Explore Kahuzi Biega National Park : Kahuzi Beige National Park is famously known as a home to Gorillas, situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo,Kahuzi has Gorilla trekking as a major activity carried out within the park to explore about the lowland gorilla species in Congo.
Gorilla trekking safaris in the Democratic Republic of Congo are such a remarkable experience for any tourist visiting the country. The gorilla trekking in Congo is not only cheap but also safe for visitors with security measures tightened by both the government and park management. Tourists get the opportunity to trek both mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas at the same time.
Kahuzi Biega National Park is one of the 9 national parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The national park is located in Bukavu town and it obtained its name from two dormant volcanoes that is mount kahuzi and mount Biega which form the national park. The national park was first established as a zoological reserve in 1937 before, it was later gazette into a national park in 1970. Originally the national park covered the parts of Mount Kahuzi and areas next to the mountain. In 1975, the park was expanded to cover mount Biega and its surrounding areas. The national park has an area cover of 6,000km2 and comprises of a large rainforest and a variety of flora and fauna species. In 1980, the national park was named under a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich bio-diversity especially the endangered species of mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas. The national park is a home to about 136 species of mammals, 34 bird species and 2,500 east lowland gorillas and over 1,178 plant species.
GORILLA TREKKING IN KAHUZI BIEGA NATIONAL PARK
Gorilla trekking safaris in kahuzi biega are increasing fast with tourists having the option to trek both the eastern lowland gorillas and the mountain gorillas or either of the two subspecies. However many tourists choose to trek the eastern lowland gorillas while on their safari in Congo.
In the early 1970s the eastern lowland gorillas, which are as well-known as gorilla beringei Graueri which were the first subspecies of gorillas to be tracked by tourists in the national park. There are two habituated gorilla groups in the national park that ia Chimanuka and Mpungwe. These gorilla groups were first habituated by a Belgian photographer and conservationist named Adrien Deschryver along with his team of well-trained Congolese staff. The above-mentioned gorilla groups were led by a dominant silverbacks called Casimir and Mushamuka. The silverback Casimir died in 1974 due to health problems.
There were 4 habituated gorilla groups within the national park by 1980 and these were led by silverbacks such as Mushamuka, Ninja, Maheshe and Mubalala. Gorilla trekking activities in the national park increased in 1988 after the release of the movie ‘Gorillas in the mist’. However all the four silverbacks with their members in the group died in the civil wars that occurred in Congo that started in the mid-1990s. These wars created a lot of political instability in the areas within and surrounding the national park which led to the decline in the tourism activities in the national park.
The political situation in Congo has greatly improved as well as in the national park. Currently, the national park has greatly improved thus making it safe for tourists to participate in the gorilla trekking activities as well as other activities. The second gorilla group under the leadership of a silverback Mpungwe has successfully been habituated and it consists of 17 members and tourists are free to trek it.
Gorilla trekking activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park is done into two groups of a maximum of 8 members per group. Each group is accompanied by an armed and well trained park ranger to ensure safety of both tourists and gorillas. Tourists that engage in the gorilla trekking should be aged 15 years and above. The gorilla trekking takes 2 hours to 6 hours depending on their location. Once they are found, you will spend an hour with them as you watch them carry out their daily activities.
COST OF GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS
Gorilla trekking permits in Kahuzi Biega National Park cost 400 USD per person. However during the low seasons in the park, the price can reduce as low as 200 USD per person.
