History of Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo
History of Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo
History of Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo : The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is located on the eastern side of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near Bukavu town, on the western bank of Lake Kivu, near the Rwanda border. The park was founded in 1970 by Adrien Deschryver, a Belgian conservationist and photographer, and takes its name from two dormant volcanoes, Mount Kahuzi (3,308M) and Mount Biega (2,790M), and covers an area of 6,000 square kilometers, making it one of Congo’s largest national parks with both lowland and mountainous terrain.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 for its unique richness of rain forest environment and for being home to the critically endangered lowland gorillas (Gorilla Beringei Graueri). The park is divided into two halves, one mountainous and one lowland.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is among the most significant places in the Albertine Rift Valley, as well as one of the most biologically diverse areas in Africa and the globe, with extraordinary plant and mammal richness (flora & fauna). It is one of the few places in Sub-Saharan Africa where the transition from lowland to highland vegetation is clearly visible, with six distinct primary vegetation types: swamp and peat bog, swamp forest, high-altitude rainforest, mountain rainforest, bamboo forest, and subalpine heather, as well as the endemic plant Senecio kahuzicus found on the summits of Mount Kahuzi and Biega at altitudes above 2,600 meters.
The park has a natural habitat for 136 animals, including lowland gorillas, which are exclusive to the area, as well as 349 bird species, 42 of which are also indigenous! Other primates include Chimpanzees and Colubus bai, as well as relatively uncommon residents of the Eastern Congo woods like as the huge forest genet and the aquatic genet. Other animals found in the region include bush elephants, buffalo, and hyloche. Kahuzi-Biega National Park is also a hotspot of plant and vertebrate endemism due to its various terrain and habitat types.
What to do during your visit to Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Trek Eastern Lowland Gorillas
The biggest of the four gorilla subspecies is the eastern lowland gorilla, commonly known as Grauer’s gorilla. Its stocky build, huge hands, and short nose set it apart from other gorillas. Despite their size, eastern lowland gorillas, like other gorilla subspecies, live primarily on fruit and other herbaceous materials.
Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park in Congo is an encounter with the rare remaining eastern Lowland Gorillas, which will provide you with a clear contrast between Mountain & Lowland Gorillas in Africa. However, just two Gorilla Families have been preserved and are available for Gorilla Trekking by those who choose to walk into the jungle. We discovered that Explore Rwanda Tours is the leading travel operator providing Lowland Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Congo and Congo Safari Tours to Kahuzi Biega National Park.
It is possible to combine Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park with Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park in Congo and a tour of Kigali city in Rwanda. To go gorilla trekking in Congo, you must first obtain a Gorilla Permit, which costs USD 400, and then spend your Safari Holiday seeing several Gorilla Families.
Chimpanzee Habituation at Lwiro
Tourists in Kahuzi-Biega National Park 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.
Hiking Kahuzi and Biega Mountains.
For any tourist visiting the national park, the Mitumba Mountain ranges provide an outstanding location for trekking adventure safaris. Hiking through the forest vegetation allows visitors to discover the park’s stunning beauty and fauna. Tourists on vacation in the park may also climb to the Kibatu waterfalls for USD 25 per person, while mountain ascents of Kahuzi or Biega would cost US$ 100 per person thus History of Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo.
Boat Cruise on Lake Kivu.
Visitors to the park may take a boat tour on Lake Kivu, which is shared by Congo and Rwanda. This activity is best done after hiking gorillas in the national park and costs US$ 50 per person.
Birding
Visitors who enjoy bird watching will find the 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.
Getting to Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Travel By Road
Kahuzi Biega National Park is located 30 kilometers from Bukavu Town and it takes one and a half hours to drive into the National Park. It can be accessed by road and by air, but travelers must understand that from Kavumu airport, take a left at Miti and continue straight until you reach the visitor center.
The majority of journeys to Kahuzi-Biega National Park begin in Rwanda, with pick-ups in Kigali or Gisenyi. Other travelers may decide to fly into Goma International Airport, where our company guide will be waiting for you. The Rusizi I route takes around 6-7 hours to get from Kigali City to Kamembe in Cyangugu town. Travelers will need to drive for around 112 hours to reach the national park after passing the borders at Goma and Bukavu.
Travel By Air
Alternatively, travellers can take a flight from Kigali Airport to Goma Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is a highly handy means of transportation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Travelers may reach the national park by driving 230 kilometers from Goma.
Travel By Ferry
Arrive in Goma and board the fastest ferry available from Goma to Bukavu, covering a distance of 100 kilometers in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The ferry runs twice a day (7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and costs $50.
