The French name for Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Parc National Du Kahuzi-Biega. Located in Bukavu Town, the national park is a distinctive tourist destination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A Belgian photographer and activist named Adrien Deschryver first established the national park as a protected area in 1970.
Kahuzi and Biega, two dormant volcanic mountains, are the names of the national park. Kahuzi-Biega Park is comprised of Mount Kahuzi, which is 3,308 meters tall, and Mount Biega, which is 2,790 meters tall.
The Kahuzi-Biega park borders Rwanda and Burundi as well as the Congo River basin near Itebero-Utu in the northwest of Bukavu. One of the largest national parks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the park currently has a total surface area of 6,000km2.
Up until later in 1975, the national park only included the areas surrounding Mount Kahuzi. After that, Mount Biega and its surrounding territories were included. One of the few remaining habitats for eastern lowland gorillas is Kahuzi-Biega Park; the others can be found in West African nations including Gabon, the Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
The eastern lowland gorillas, also known as “Gorilla Beringei Graueri,” were put under protection in 1937 when the Zoological Reserve of Mount Kahuzi was established. This reserve was only 750 km2 in size.
The reserve was downsized to 600 square kilometers and renamed Kahuzi-Biega Park later in 1970. Later, in 1975, the national park’s area was increased to 6,000 km2.
Kahuzi-Biega was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, nevertheless. The national park is made up of a sizable rainforest, a diverse range of plant and animal life, as well as rare mammal species such east lowland gorillas.
Following the significant threats and dangers brought on by local political unrest, poaching, encroachment on private property, illegal logging, burning, and mining in Kahuzi-Biega, the national park was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 1997.
At least 136 mammal species, 349 bird species, 1,178 plant species, and roughly 250 eastern lowland gorillas live in Kahuzi-Biega.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park activities.
Visitors to Kahuzi-Biega can partake in a wide range of activities, including boat tours, birding, hiking trips, and both mountain and eastern lowland gorilla trekking.
Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi-Biega:
In Kahuzi-Biega park, visitors interested in gorilla trekking safaris in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can search for both mountain and eastern lowland gorillas. The Chimanuka and Mpungwe gorilla groups are two habituated populations of eastern lowland gorillas that may be found in the national park. In Kahuzi-Biega, a gorilla trekking permit costs USD $400 per person.
The first subspecies of gorillas that tourists who visited the national park tracked were the eastern lowland gorillas. Gorilla trekking operations in Kahuzi-Biega began as early as the 1970s.
Chimpanzee Habituation at Lwiro Sanctuary:
Visitors to Kahuzi-Biega can observe habituated chimpanzees at the Lwiro Sanctuary for just $40 per person. Visitors to the primate rehabilitation center are given a tour of the facility’s history and conservation efforts.
Camping Safaris in Kahuzi-Biega National Park:
The national park also provides camping for visitors. Camping activities are available for purchase for visitors who enjoy being in nature and who want to explore the outdoors in Kahuzi-Biega. The fee of camping in Kahuzi-Biega is $50 per person per day, which includes meals and a park guide. But visitors who want to camp in the park must bring their own tent and sleeping bag or rent them from the park for USD $5 per person per night, for each.
Community/Cultural Tours:
Visitors to Kahuzi-Biega Park have the option of taking a cultural tour of the nearby native settlements inside and outside the national park. Visitors can enjoy a quick tour of the neighborhood, talk to residents, hear about their daily routines, and see entertaining performances by the local dance groups, including dances, storytelling, singing traditional songs, and playing traditional games.
Bird Watching:
Given that Kahuzi-Biega National Park is home to over 349 kinds of birds, those who enjoy watching birds will find it to be the perfect location to engage in birding activities. Visitors taking a birding safari in the national park stand a good chance of seeing species like the trogon, Ruwenzori Turaco, and Congo pea fowl, among others.
Hiking Mountains Kahuzi and Biega:
For visitors to Kahuzi-Biega Park, the Mitumba Mountain ranges offer the most famous location for hiking safaris. Hiking through the forest vegetation allows visitors to explore the park’s stunning landscape and abundant wildlife. While climbing the mountains of Kahuzi or Biega will cost US$100 per person, tourists on vacation in Kahuzi Biega park can go to the Kibatu waterfalls for US$25 per person.
Boat cruise on Lake Kivu:
Visitors to Kahuzi-Biega Park have the option of taking a launch cruise over Lake Kivu. It is recommended to complete this activity after going gorilla trekking in the national park, which costs $50 per person.
Accommodation in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Congo.
The Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Hotel Begonias, Lodge Coco, Orchids Safari Club, Lakeside Hotel Bukavu, and Hotel Exodus Bukavu are among the housing options available to visitors to Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
How to get to Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Rwandan citizens can travel to Kahuzi-Biega. route travelers from Rwanda will need to take the Rusizi I route from Kigali City to Kamembe in Cyangugu town, which will take them about 6-7 hours total. To reach Kahuzi-Biega National Park, tourists must drive for around 112 hours after passing through the borders at Goma and Bukavu. Visitors also have the option of taking a flight from Kigali Airport to Goma Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To get to the DRC, this is a fairly practical means of transportation. Travelers can drive 230 kilometres to Kahuzi-Biega national park from Goma.