Top activities to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Top activities to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Top activities to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park: are those activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park that travellers on a Congo safaris tour in this park particularly should not miss out. Kahuzi Biega National Park is a great Congo national park, one of the largest measuring up to 6000 square kilometres and most famous for hosting the endangered eastern lowland gorillas. Kahuzi Biega National Park has a number of other wildlife including primates, birds in Kahuzi Biega National Park, butterfly species and a variety of plant species. Kahuzi Biega National Park is also a host of Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega from which the park derived its name. Kahuzi Biega National Park has lush green vegetation, great mountainous landscape, a number of lakes and rivers making it a hotspot for a variety of wildlife and bird species.
With such amazing features and attractions in Kahuzi Biega National Park, there are a number of activities that travellers on Congo safaris tours visiting Kahuzi Biega National Park particularly can do to explore and appreciate all that that the park has to offer. Below are the very top things to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park that travellers visiting or intending to visit the park should do and consider doing to enjoy their time in the park to the maximum;
Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking
Kahuzi Biega National Park is one of the rare gorilla destinations in the world hosting two fully habituated eastern lowland gorilla families that travelers can encounter with an eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park adventure. Eastern lowland gorillas are the reason most travelers do visit Kahuzi Biega National Park in the very first place.
Eastern lowland gorillas are a subspecies of the Eastern gorilla (Gorilla Beringei), and are endemic to central Africa specifically to DR Congo. They are the largest of the four gorilla subspecies and live in low altitude areas of sub-montane forests. Eastern lowland gorillas are the largest living primates in the world with adult males weighing an average of 210 kg and adult female gorillas weighing about 169 kg. The maximum height of male eastern lowland gorillas is six feet, while females can reach an average height of 5.2 feet.
Eastern lowland gorillas are a rare taxa of gorillas only found in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Maiko National Park of the Congo. Most of the lowland gorillas in the park have been through devastating circumstances caused by poaching and civil wars, which negatively affected them especially in their interactions with humans. Although, the lowland gorilla groups that you will be trekking have been habituated, large groups of trekkers can easily spook a group of gorillas hence it is advisable to trek in small groups of 8 people. Eastern lowland gorillas have stocky bodies, large hands and short muzzles. The eastern lowland gorillas feed on fruits and other herbaceous items, and usually live in groups or families of 5-30 individuals with a silverback as the dominant or leader of each. They live in groups larger than those of Western gorilla species, with groups of eastern lowland gorillas reaching over 30 members. Their diet is mainly composed of fruits, leaves, stems and bark, however their diet also includes small insects like ants and termites.
To enjoy eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, travelers do need to pay for a gorilla permit, which costs only $400 per person per trek. Eastern lowland gorilla trekking is no different procedure is no different from mountain gorilla trekking, and have the same gorilla trekking rules and regulations.
Bird watching in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Bird watching is another of the top things to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park that travellers can enjoy while in the park. With over 342 bird species recorded in Kahuzi Biega National Park, travellers, especially birders can enjoy bird watching in the park with keen birders spotting even up to 100 bird species a day. Some of the birds in Kahuzi Biega National Park that could be spotted include but are not limited to the Congo peafowl, yellow crested helmet shrike Grauer’s warbler, Rockefeller’s, African green broadbill, the trogons, Grauer’s broadbill, Rwenzori Turaco, African broad bill, and the Rockefeller’s.
Bird watching in Kahuzi Biega national park is offered in two sessions that is morning session and evening session.
Mountain Climbing
Mountain climbing in Kahuzi Biega National Park is one of the most adventurous and thrilling activities that travellers can enjoy in the park. With two dormant volcanoes of Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega, travellers have options to choose from to climb and be rewarded with stunning views. Mount Kahuzi stands at an elevation of 3308 meters above sea level and Mount Biega has an elevation of only 2790 m above sea level, making it possible to even complete ascending and descending of the mountains in one day, to those experienced mountain climbers. While enjoying mountain climbing in Kahuzi Biega National Park, travellers are sure to be rewarded with stunning views of the park and the wildlife therein, neighbouring communities and so much more.
Kahuzi Biega National park animals
Kahuzi Biega National park has quite a number of animas that travellers visiting the park may encounter during their stay in the park. Kahuzi Biega National Park has over 136 species of mammals, and is thus considered as one of the places in the greater Albertine Rift region to have that much diversity. The eastern lowland gorillas are the main attraction indeed, but there are a number of other animals, including 13 primate species all of which make Kahuzi Biega National Park the best primate destination in the Congo, just like Kibale Forest National park is in Uganda, the Pear of Africa. Mammals like buffaloes, forest elephants, hippos, giant forest hogs, hippos, leopards, with primates like chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, olive baboons and so much more can all be found in the park and encountered during various activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Community Cultural Tours:
Community cultural tours in Kahuzi-Biega national park are ideal for visitors looking to interact with the friendly locals and learn more about the various indigenous cultures at are existent in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Visitors on community cultural tours in the park get to visit local communities staying within the national park; learn about their daily lifestyles and watch interesting performances like; dances, storytelling, singing traditional songs and playing traditional games which are performed by the local dance groups.
Nature walks
Nature walks are another of the top things to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park that travellers can enjoy in the park. Nature walks in Kahuzi Biega National Park give travellers an opportunity to explore the park extensively and learn of more that the park has to offer. With the guidance of park rangers, and park guides, you shall enjoy strolling and hiking through the various vegetation ranges of Kahuzi Biega National Park, learning of new attractions that you could have otherwise missed.
Boat cruise on Lake Kivu:
A boat cruise on Lake Kivu is a must do for any tourist visiting Kahuzi-Biega national park in Congo. This activity is best done after trekking gorillas in the park. There is a lot that you can explore during a boat cruise on Lake Kivu in Kahuzi-Biega national park such as marine and birdlife within and round the lake.
Tshibati waterfall hike. Among the trails in the Kahuzi Biega national park, in the company of ranger guides, you can take on the Tshibati waterfalls trail passing through swampy vegetation, bamboo forests and reach the 3 magnificent waterfalls. There are chances of encountering chimpanzees and different monkeys on this trail. You may take on the Marais Musisi trail if you are up for a nature walk. Nature walks go for about 35 USD per walk and are a great opportunity for birders to spot a number of birds in the forest.
Camping Safaris in Kahuzi-Biega National Park:
Kahuzi- Biega national park in Congo offers its visitors camping thus giving visitors an opportunity to soak in the beautiful scenery at the park. Camping safaris in the national park cost USD 50 dollars per person per day and is inclusive of food and a park guide. However, tourists who wish to camp in the park must bring along their own tent and sleeping bag, or hire them from the park at a cost.
Visiting Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Centre
Also, visiting Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Centre could be one of the top things to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park. The Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Centre is where chimpanzees and other orphaned primates are brought for rehabilitation and treatment in case of sickness or harm caused by poaching and activities related to it.
Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is recognized as World Heritage Site in Danger since 1997. This sanctuary has a great well equipped team of about 46 workers who take care and love the primates. There is a veterinary team, chimpanzee caregivers, monkey caregivers, cooks/ chefs, buyers and domestic helps who are also dedicated to the success of the center. All the animals at Lwiro Chimpanzee sanctuary have been victims of poaching and pet trade and the numbers at the center are increasing. It is however a long term goal of Lwiro Chimpanzee sanctuary to reintroduce the monkeys back to the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Travellers get to encounter these primates, take care of them thereby participating in the conservation of the primates. You shall get an opportunity to feed the primates, nurture while you learn more about their life and the role that Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Centre does.
Kahuzi Biega National Park is a less exploited Congo national park that travellers can include on their Congo safaris tour itinerary. For travellers after a wild encounter therefore, Kahuzi Biega National Park is the park for you. Reach out to your preferred tour operator, knowledgeable about the Congo and Kahuzi Biega National Park to plan for you one of the most memorable Congo safari tours to the Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo.
