Ethnic Tribes in Bukavu, Kahuzi Biega National Park

Ethnic Tribes in Bukavu: More than 250 ethnic groups have been recognized and named, with Bantu being the vast majority. The four main tribes – Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and Mangbetu-Azande – account for around 45 percent of the population. DR Congo now has 5,000 Belgians and 5,000 Greeks living there.

Bantu (80% of the population): Luba (18%), Mongo (17%), and Kongo (12%). Others: [needs reference] Ambala, Ambuun, Angba, Babindi, Baboma, Baholo, Balunda, Bangala, Bango, Batsamba, Bazombe, Bemba, Bembe, Bira, Bowa, Dikidiki, Dzing, Fuliru, Havu, Hema, Hima, Hunde, Iboko, Kanioka, Kaonde, Kuba, Kumu, Kwango, and Wakuti among others.

Central Sudanese/Ubangian tribes include: Ngbandi, Ngbaka, Manvu, Mbunja, Moru-Mangbetu, Zande, and Lugbara are all names. Peoples of Nilotic origin include: Alur, Kakwa, Bari, and Logo while Pygmy tribes include: Twa, Mbuti, Baka, and Babinga.

More than 600,000 pygmies, about 1% of the total population, are said to dwell in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, primarily in woods, where they survive by hunting wild animals and harvesting fruits.

Visit the Bushi in Bukavu-Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Bushi is primarily a traditional area and an African ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (previously Zaire), primarily in the South Kivu province. It is located along the Mitumba Mountains and contains the administrative areas of Walungu, Kabare, Kalehe, Mwenga, Idjwi, and Uvira, as well as the city of Bukavu. The Mashi or Shi language is spoken by around 7-12 million people in the area. The Bushi is also a monarchy divided into several locales or sub-chiefdoms.

The Shi, also known as Bashi, Banyabungo, or Banyindu, are immediate neighbors of the Lega; Fuliiro, Bavira, and Bembe people in the southern portion of South Kivu; the Banyarwanda/Barundi people in adjacent nations; and the Bahunde and Banyanga people in North Kivu province.

The Shi people live in Bushi, and their language is Shi (Mashi), a Central (Zone J) Bantu language. People in this chiefdom are primarily farmers, although there are an increasing number of renowned merchants, legislators, and other intellectuals from this major ethnic group of the South-Kivu area. The King of this people is Mwami Desire Kabare.

About Kahuzi Biega National Park.

The Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, a World Heritage Site and one of the two remaining habitats for the eastern lowland gorilla, is near to the city and may be reached by the route to Kavumu. Tshivanga, the park headquarters, is 31 kilometers from Bukavu.

Kahuzi Biega National Park has a geographical coverage of 6,000km2 and an elevation range of 700 to 3,300m. Ten percent of the national park’s landscape is made up of high mountains marked by extinct volcanoes such as Mount Biega and Mount Kahuzi, which also serve as the inspiration for the park’s name.

The Belgian colonial administration established the Kahuzi Biega National Park in 1937 as a Zoological Reserve on the slopes of Mount Kahuzi to safeguard the Eastern lowland gorillas. Prior to being expanded to its current size in 1975, the reserve was 750km in size and had even been reduced to 600km in 1970 when it was named a national park with around 300 eastern lowland gorillas thus Ethnic Tribes in Bukavu.

Weather and Climate in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Every year, there are two seasons in Kahuzi Biega National Park, with an annual rainfall of 1,200mm- 1,800mm. The rainy season lasts from April to May and from October to January, with temperatures ranging from 19 to 21 degrees Celsius.

What to do during your visit to Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Tracking Eastern Lowland Gorillas

Tourists interested in gorilla trekking adventure safaris in Congo can follow both mountain and eastern lowland gorillas at Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The Chimanuka and Mpungwe gorilla groups are two habituated populations of eastern lowland gorillas in the national park. In Kahuzi-Biega, a gorilla trekking permit costs USD $400 per person.

Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega began in the 1970s, with eastern lowland gorillas being the first subspecies of gorillas to be tracked by visitors visiting the national park.

Visit Lwiro Sanctuary

Tourists in Kahuzi-Biega may witness habituated Chimpanzees in the Lwiro Sanctuary for about US$ 40 per person. Tourists that visit the primate rehabilitation center are given a tour of the facility’s history and conservation efforts.

Bird Watching

Visitors who like bird watching will find Kahuzi-Biega national park to be a perfect location for birding activities, since the area is home to over 349 species of birds. Tourists on a bird viewing safari in the national park have a good possibility of seeing species such as the Congo pea fowl, Ruwenzori Turaco, and trogons, among others.

Camping

Tourists can also camp in the national park. Tourists who enjoy being in nature and want to explore the Kahuzi-Biega wilderness can pay for camping activities. Camping at Kahuzi-Biega costs USD $50 per person per day, which includes meals and a park guide. Tourists who want to camp in the park, on the other hand, must bring their own tent and sleeping bag, or rent them from the park for USD 5 per person per night.

Cultural/ Community Tours

Visitors to Kahuzi-Biega Park can take a cultural tour of the local indigenous villages, both inside and outside the national park. Visitors may take a quick tour of the town, engage with the locals, learn about their daily lives, and enjoy entertaining performances by local dance groups such as dances, storytelling, singing traditional songs, and playing traditional games.

Boat Cruise on Lake Kivu

Visitors to Kahuzi-Biega Park can take a Boat cruise across Lake Kivu. This activity is best done after hiking gorillas in the national park and costs US$ 50 per person.

In Summary, there are over 250 ethnic tribes living in the Democratic Republic of Congo making it a great destination for tourists interested in community cultural tours during your gorilla trekking safari in Congo.