Best Time to Visit Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Best Time to Visit Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park: The best time to visit DRC is from May to September, during the lengthy dry season, with July being the driest month, followed by June. During these months, the temperature also dips somewhat. January and February have a shorter dry season. But don’t expect sunlight and bright sky; the DRC, like much of Central Africa, is often cloudy and damp. The higher elevations of Virunga and Nyiragongo Volcanoes will give welcome reprieve from the suffocation. Of course, you won’t have to worry about missing ‘peak tourist season’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo because the crowds haven’t yet arrived.
If you enjoy long summer days, magnificent sunsets, and ideal sunbathing conditions, Congo is most likely the greatest spot for your next vacation. The Republic of Congo is well-known for its tropical weather due to its location directly on the equator. Here is the best time to visit lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega national park and what to anticipate throughout the year, depending on your travel schedule.
Daily temperatures in Congo, for example, can range between 20 and 30°C, however it is significantly cooler during the lengthy dry season in the middle of the year, making it more preferable to go then. However, further north, the seasons are reversed, with the wettest months often falling between April and October.
In general, the calendar year is divided into four seasons, which may be used as a basic guideline when organizing your trip. If visiting Congo and the southern portions of the nation, visit during the long dry season between May and September, whereas the north is best visited during the short dry season between January and February. The Congo climate is typically tropical and constant; however there are certain differences to be aware of between the northern and southern areas.
About Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park- Congo.
Kahuzi Biega national park is one of the biggest protected areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located near Bukavu town on the Rwandan border. Kahuzi Biega national park is a one-of-a-kind gorilla attraction because it is home to eastern lowland gorillas, which are larger and have shorter fur than mountain gorillas.
In Africa, only Kahuzi Biega national park is home to eastern lowland gorillas. Gorilla trekking at Kahuzi Biega National Park begins in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters, following which visitors are divided into groups of eight and assigned a guide who will accompany them on the journey and speak about the gorillas.
The Kahuzi Biega national park is home to 12 gorilla families, five of which have been habituated for trekking and are thus available on a daily basis: Mpungwe, Chimanuka, Bonnani, Mugaruka, and Nganwa.
Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park takes about 2 to 6 hours and is a short and adventurous hike for visitors who do not like long hikes. Visitors will be able to spend one hour with the gorilla families taking photos, learning about their habits and behaviors, watching the females nursing the young ones, juveniles playing to entertain the group, and the silverbacks looking out for any danger, making it an amazing activity with breathtaking experiences.
Cost of a lowland gorilla permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
A gorilla trekking permit is a legal document that allows people above the age of fifteen to hike gorillas in either Kahuzi Biega or Virunga national parks. A single gorilla trekking permit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo costs $400 for foreign residents and is the lowest permit compared to other locations; in Uganda, it costs $700. However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the only nation that gives $200 gorilla trekking permits during the low season.
A gorilla trekking permit in Virunga and Kahuzi Biega national park is good for one day and permits you to trek one gorilla family for one hour. The permit covers the services of a park guide, park ranger, and park admission cost, but not the porter or gratuities.
How to book your gorilla trekking permit in Congo.
A gorilla trekking permit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can be booked directly from the Virunga tourist office in Goma by email or phone calls. You may also book via Explore Rwanda Tours, a reputable tour operator that will not only acquire your gorilla trekking permit but will also organise Congo safari tours to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other places in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
When booking via Explore Rwanda Tours, you will contact us with the names, dates, months, and years you wish to engage in gorilla trekking in DRC, and we will verify permit availability and ask you to make a deposit.
Where to stay when trekking lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park?
Among the hotels in Kahuzi Biega National Park are the Coco Lodge Bukavu, Hotel Begonias, Exodus Hotel, Lake Side Hotel, L’orchids Safari Club, and Mount Kahuzi Hotel. The accommodation facilities provide comfortable shelter, quality meals, free internet in some public places, a favourable environment for relaxation after a gorilla trekking activity, beautiful scenic views of the forest, primates, and bird species, among other things, making you feel at home while on your lowland gorilla trekking safari in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
