Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo, Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega Park Congo, Gorilla Trekking Safaris Tours to Kahuzi Biega & Virunga National Park Congo

Kahuzi Biega National Park is a protected area in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo near the Bukavu town and also situated near the western bank of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border.

The National park was gazetted in 1970 by a conservationist and the Belgian photographer Adrien Deschryver and is named after the two dormant volcanoes that is mount Biega and Mount Kahuzi which are found within its limits.

Kahuzi Biega National park being set in both mountainous and lowland terrain is one of the biggest national parks in the country with an area of 6,000 square kilometers and also one of the last refuges of the rare endangered species of Eastern lowland gorilla.

In 1980 the National park was made a UNESCO world Heritage site due to its unique biodiversity of rainforest habitat and its eastern lowland gorillas.

A small part of Kahuzi Biega National park is in Mitumba mountain range of the Albertine Rift in the Great Rift valley and the larger part is in the lowland terrain and creates a 7.4km width corridor which joins the mountainous and lowland terrain.

Congo Safari Attractions in Kahuzi Biega National park

Wildlife as a Congo Safari Attraction in Kahuzi Biega National park

Kahuzi Biega is a home to over 136 species of mammals and they include the eastern lowland gorilla which is the most prominent and the park is the last refuge of this rare endangered species.

The other primates within the National park do include cercopithecinae, owl faced monkey and colobinae.

The park also is a habitat to mammal species such as the bush buffalo, bush elephant, hylochere and bongo, eastern needle-clawed galago, Aquatic civet, Maclaud’s horseshoe bat, Alexander’s bush squirrel and Ruwenzori least otter shrew.

The Eastern Lowland Gorilla as a Congo Safari Attraction in Kahuzi Biega National park

Kahuzi Biega National park is a home to the greatest number of the Eastern gorillas which is the top attraction of the park.

The National park accommodates two eastern lowland gorilla families which are 98% closely related with human beings which have been fully habituated and also ready for trekking.

Lwiro Chimpanzee sanctuary as a Congo Safari Attraction in Kahuzi Biega National park

The Lwiro Chimpanzee sanctuary is a primate rehabilitation and rescue facility which is located 10kilometers from Kahuzi Biega National park and also 50kilometers in the south of Lake Bukavu in the former prison of Mobutu.

This facility is a home to the orphaned and isolated chimpanzees but also it houses other species such as the baboons and the monkeys.

Birdlife as a Congo Safari Attraction in Kahuzi Biega National park.

The park is also a home to over 350 bird species which include Yellow crested helmet shrike, hornbills’ species, trogons, Ruwenzori Turacos, Congo peas fowl and sunbirds among others.

Vegetation as a Congo Safari Attraction in Kahuzi Biega National parks

Kahuzi Biega National park consists of riparian forests, bogs and swamps on the hydromorphic ground. The mountainous sector in the east of the National park includes the continuous forest vegetation from 600m to over 2,600m which is one of the rare sites in sub Saharan Africa demonstrating all stages of the low to highland transition while the lowland sector in the west of the National park is being dominated by the dense guineo Congolian wet equatorial rainforest having between 1,200m and 1,500m area of the transition forest.

The park has six primary vegetation types such as the swamp forest vegetation, swamp and peat bog, high altitude rainforest, bamboo forest which grows between 2,350m and 2,600m, subalpine heather and the mountain rainforest.

Mounts Kahuzi and Biega summits is dominated by dry savannah, endemic plants and grasslands. Kahuzi Biega National park provides protection to over 1,178 species of plant in the mountainous region of the park.

Congo Safari Activities in Kahuzi Biega National park

Gorilla trekking as a Congo Safari Activity in Kahuzi Biega National park

Kahuzi Biega National park is a home to over 125 Eastern lowland gorillas and through the gorilla tracking activity, the National park has two large sized gorilla families which have been habituated for trekking hence providing great encounters with these large size gorillas of eastern lowland gorillas.

Bird watching as a Congo Safari Activity in Kahuzi Biega National park

Kahuzi Biega National park is a home to a variety of different birds and bird species like the Ruwenzori Turacos, Congo peas fowl, Rockefellers, trogons, Yellow crested helmet shrike, and sun birds and so many other species can be spotted during the bird watching activity.

The forest walks, volcano climbing, and the cultural tours are also other activities that can be done or carried out.

Tshiabati waterfalls trail as a Congo Safari Activity in Kahuzi Biega National park

The waterfalls trail follows a demarcated and well-defined foot path which is made up of various steps that one strolls on his way to and from the waterfalls runs very close to the two rivers hence providing a clear and spectacular view of the waterfalls and this trail requires wearing assorted hiking boots and shoes that are up to this task.

Accessibility of Kahuzi Biega National park

Kahuzi Biega National park can be accessed by air via Kigali international airport and crossing over the Rubavu border and the National park is about 30 kilometers by road from the Bukavu town and the entire National park is approximately about 232 kilometers which is about 3-4 hours’ drive.

Where to stay in Kahuzi Biega National park

Here, Kahuzi Biega National park is surrounded by different accommodation facilities that ranges from Luxury, mid-range, and budget all these providing first class and excellent food and affordable sleeping services.   which do include;

L’orchids Safari club

This is a luxury accommodation establishment which surrounds Lake Kivu and the hotel offers a mix of contemporary and traditional African style. L’orchids Safari club has facilities that include;

• A bar
• Restaurant
• A lounge
• A Flower gardens

Hotel Begonians Bukavu

This is also a luxury accommodation built around an impressive lush green courtyard. The hotel is among the top facilities in Bukavu and it has,

• A swimming pool,
• Sauna
• Relaxation & spacious rooms.
• A well-equipped gym and Pilates studio in African life style and
• A free WIFI and it also has
• Restaurant and cocktail and
• A well-stocked bar.

Coco lodge

Coco lodge is a mid-range accommodation facility in Kahuzi Biega National park. The lodge features;

• 8 rooms with Bathrooms having showers and toilets
• A satellite Tv
• Free Wi-Fi
• A fire place
• A bar
• A lounge
• A restaurant

Exodus Bukavu

Exodus Bukavu is among the best budget accommodation places located in Bukavu center in Kahuzi Biega National park. The lodge has the following facilities;

• A bar
• A satellite Tv
• A restaurant
• Rooms with fan and telephone

Lake side Hotel Bukavu

It is located 4kilometers from south Kivu parliament and 6km from the center of Bukavu town. The hotel is located on Lake Kivu with a landscaped garden around.

The hotel features the following facilities;

• 10 bright rooms
• A seating area and
• A safety deposit box
• A fan
• A private bathroom.
• A bar
• A restaurant
• A satellite TV
• A conference room
• Shuttle service