Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Congo
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Congo is conducted in Kahuzi Biega National Park. As of the 2016 gorilla census, there are about 3,800 individuals left in the world. Eastern lowland gorillas are the largest of all gorilla subspecies and can easily be identified.
Cost of Trekking Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo.
A gorilla trekking permit cost 400 USD per person for any visitor who wants to track east lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Congo.
Number of People who can trek Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo.
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega national park in Congo is conducted in groups of a maximum of 8 people per gorilla group. The activity can only be done by visitors aged 15 years and above.
Is it Safe to Track Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo?
Travellers doing trekking of Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo have no reason to worry about their safety. It is totally safe for a visitor to go trekking east lowland gorillas in Kahuzi- Biega or Maiko National Parks. Visitors are always accompanied by armed and experienced park rangers.
When is the Best Time to go Tracking Eastern Lowland Gorillas?
Eastern Lowland Gorilla trekking is done all year round; however, it is best done in the dry seasons between May- August and November- January. Hiking trails leading to the location of the gorillas, are less slippery and much easier to navigate.
However given that these subspecies is located in a forested area, rain is expected at any time; therefore, trekkers should always pack a raincoat and good pair of hiking boots.
What to Wear When doing Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Congo.
Visitors planning to track eastern lowland Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park should wear the following;
- Light long trousers and long sleeved shirts.
- A good pair of hiking boots.
- A raincoat in case it rains while you are trekking.
- Water bottle or Mineral water.
- Face Mask.
- Your gorilla trekking permit.
- Packed lunch from your lodge.
How different are Eastern Lowland Gorillas from Mountain Gorillas.
Eastern lowland gorillas are larger than mountain gorillas in physic. They have larger hands and a short muzzle with reddish-brown hair. Eastern Lowland gorillas reach a height of 4- 5½ feet tall when standing on two feet and can weigh up to 440 pounds. Visitors tracking the subspecies won’t find it difficult to tell the two apart. Eastern lowland gorillas live in the lowland, Albertine Rift montane forests of Congo. Eastern Lowland gorillas reach a height of 4- 5½ feet tall when standing on two feet and can weigh up to 440 pounds. Visitors tracking the subspecies won’t find it difficult to tell the two apart.
How long does eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Congo take?
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Congo can take between 4 to 6 hours or more depending on how long it takes trekkers to locate a gorilla group. Visitors are always advised to pack lunch from your lodge on the day you are set to do eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park in Congo.
Accommodation in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
There are quite a number of accommodation facilities that a tourist can opt to stay at when on a gorilla trekking safari in the national park. These include; Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Lakeside Hotel Bukavu, Lodge Coco, Orchids Safari Club, Hotel Begonias, Exodus Bukavu and many more
Other activities offered to visitors trekking lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega national park.
Besides trekking eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, you can also take part in other activities offered in the park such as; birding, guide nature walks, boat cruise on Lake Kivu, Mountain climbing, cultural encounters, camping and chimpanzee habituation at Lwiro Sanctuary.
Facts about eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park
The eastern gorilla is a critically endangered species of the genus Gorilla, one of the most researched and, sadly, one of the most vulnerable in the world. They are still the world’s biggest living primates. These gorillas are apparently separated into two subspecies, eastern lowland gorillas and Grauer’s gorillas, with a total population of around 3,800 individuals.
As a result, two subspecies of eastern gorillas have been recognized: the mountain gorillas ‘Gorilla Beringei Beringei’ of the volcanic slopes of Uganda, Rwanda, and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and the eastern lowland gorillas ‘Gorilla Beringei Graueri’ found on Congo Safaris.
Facts about Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas are Herbivorous
Eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega national park, like all other gorilla species, are mostly herbivorous, which means they eat predominantly plants. They consume the entire plant, including the roots, leaves, fruit, stalks, flowers, bark, and even fungus like mushrooms. They will consume tiny ground plants and vines as well as forage in trees. This species will consume insects on occasion, although they are primarily herbivores.
Eastern Lowland Gorilla Habitats
These gorillas dwell in a very small region. They are endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which means they can only be found there. They are primarily found in the country’s eastern regions. The overall size of this area is only approximately 2,900 square miles. If you want to see eastern lowland gorillas in Congo, book a lowland gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega national park. The eastern lowland gorillas can also be found in Maiko National Park in DR Congo, the Tayna Gorilla Reserve and Itombwe Mountains.
This subspecies prefers highland tropical forests and lowland tropical forests, although it may also live in marshlands and regions with less thick vegetation.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas are the largest gorilla sub-species
They are a big hominid with a big head, lengthy limbs, and a big chest. Males are bigger and heavier than females; on average, an adult man stands 1.69 meters tall and weighs 163 kilograms, whilst mature females stand 1.60 meters tall and weigh little more than 81 kilos. The biggest eastern lowland gorillas, which may weigh more than 250 kg, live in zoos.
Physical Appearance of Eastern Lowland Gorillas
They have a sturdy skeleton, a large cranium in comparison to the rest of their body, a small nose, and a jawbone with teeth. Their arms are long and well-developed, with males having longer arms than females. Their thumbs are significantly longer than the rest of their fingers. They walk like other gorillas, resting their weight on their knuckles.
All gorillas have thick skin, and the eastern lowland gorilla is no exception. They have a deep layer called the dermis and an upper layer called the epidermis, as well as a layer of fat that helps them maintain a steady body temperature. Their black fur coat is shorter than that of the mountain gorilla, and they have no hair on their face, hands, feet, or ears.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas are generally calm creatures unless provoked
Gorillas are not territorial or violent. On the contrary, they are typically kind creatures. They spend their days sleeping, feeding, and socializing, although they spend the most of their time eating. They sleep in trees or on the ground in nests made of branches and leaves.
The social organization of the eastern lowland gorilla is arranged in family groups with a dominant male, known as the “silverback,” multiple females, and their children. Typically, these organizations include 2 to 30 members. It is extremely uncommon, but in certain circumstances, there are two leaders.
The dominating man has both a privileged position and a significant deal of responsibilities. He makes critical judgments about where to rest and dine; he has more food than the others and mates with sexually mature females. He should, however, be on the lookout for hazards and defend his family against invaders.
They are Polygamous
Because they are polygamous, males mate with multiple females in their group throughout their lives. Females achieve sexual maturity earlier than males, and following a gestation period of around 8.5 months, they frequently give birth to one child each delivery.
While the mother gorilla devotes herself to caring for and feeding her young, the “silverback” males do their share to defend them both. Infants normally sleep in the same nest as their mothers until they are three years old, at which point they progressively become independent. When both genders attain sexual maturity, they leave their birth group and form a new group or join another thus Facts about Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas are an endangered species.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, the Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla Beringei Graueri) is endangered. According to records, its population has decreased considerably over the previous 20 or 30 years: in the 1990s, there were around 17,000 people, but this figure has now likely been cut by half.
The greatest threats to this subspecies are poaching and the trafficking of its parts, habitat degradation and fragmentation, mining (which draws poachers and fosters social instability among people in the region), and military conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. War is a serious issue because it limits law enforcement and discourages the allocation of resources to gorilla conservation.
Cost of trekking Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega national Park
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park costs $400 for a gorilla permit in Congo. Visitors are advised to book your gorilla permits in Congo at least 6 months to your travel date. This will prevent you from getting any disappointments especially during the peak season when demand for gorilla trekking for gorilla trekking in Congo is high.
Contact info@kahuzibieganationalparkcongo.org for more information and tours to the park.
Conclusion: Tourists visiting Kahuzi Biega national park can always transfer to Virunga national park in Goma and track mountain gorillas in the park. Get in touch with our team at info@kahuzibeiganationalparkcongo.org and get the best offers on tour packages to Congo.