Founded in 1970, Kahuzi Biega National Park is one of Democratic Republic of Congo’s most expansive national parks. It spans for about 6000 square kilometers, sprawling near the western bank of Lake Kivu and the Rwanda border area. It stands between altitude 700 meters and 3300 meters. This national park is named after the two magical volcanoes ‘Mount Kahuzi (3308 meters) and Mount Biega (2790 meters).’ It is set within montane and lowland terrain, hosting one of the last unique species of the eastern lowland gorillas ‘Gorilla berengei graueri’ an endangered primate species.
Kahuzi Biega National Park was designated into a UNESCO World Heritage Site around 1980 due to its rare biodiversity. This protected area receives average rainfall of about 1800 mm each year with maximum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and minimum of about 10.4 degrees Celsius.
10% of Kahuzi Biega National Park’s landscape is comprised of high mountains featuring extinct volcanoes that include Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega where this park derived its name. The establishment of this park emanates from the creation of a Zoological Reserve in 1937 on Mount Kahuzi with aim of safe guarding the eastern lowland gorillas by the Belgian colonial government.
Before, the reserve stretched for about 750 kilometers and later decreased to 600 kilometers in 1970 leading to creation of Kahuzi Biega National Park with approximately 300 eastern lowland gorillas. It later increased up to 6000 kilometers around 1975 and gained its UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1980.
The flora in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi Biega National Park is largely composed of stunning tropical rain-forest that features about 1178 distinct plant species. It makes up part of the Congo basin that comprises of marshland and riverine forest flora, thick wet equatorial rainforest in the west lowland sector whereas the eastern montane sector comprises of continuous forest vegetation that ranges from 600-2600 meters. It is notably one of the best areas where the eastern lowland gorillas thrive-the largest of all the sub-species of gorillas. These creatures have a jet black which turns into silver when they reach maturity stage. These primates can be distinct by their short muzzle, large hands, short body, head hair and huge body.
They feature the widest attitudinal range compared to other subspecies of gorillas the fact that they thrive within lowland, transitional and mountainous attitudinal tropical forest. They are known to be peaceful and social living in families of about 5 to 30 individuals with silverback being the head. Females have a gestation period of 8 to 9 months and they breastfeed for 12 months. The baby crawls for about 9 weeks and can start walking about 35 months. The young gorillas can spend about 3 to 4 years with a mother and then can become independent and mating takes place from 11 t0 12 years. The mature males (silverbacks) can engage in a fight when different group intrudes in their families.
The other notable wildlife species for you to spot out while on gorilla safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park include the owl faced monkeys, forest elephants, bongo, forest hog, hippos, leopards, Anubis baboons, Mount Kahuzi African climbing mouse, forest buffaloes, eastern needle clawed galago and others. Over 349 bird species call this park their home and they include Congo peafowl, Rockefeller’s sunbird, African green broadbill, yellow crested helmet shrike and others.
What to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park
This park is ideal for lowland gorilla trekking. Its creation was mainly to offer refuge to its unique eastern lowland gorillas. Permits for this primate adventure costs $400 per person.
Bird watching where you will have a chance to spot out birds like yellow crested helmet shrike, Congo peafowl, Rockefeller’s and others. The others include hiking, nature walks and community visit.
Where to stay in Kahuzi Biega National Park
The notable places for visitors’ overnight stay while on safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park include Lodgecoco Lodge, L’Orchids safari club, Roby Guesthouse in Bukavu and others.
How to get to Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi Biega National Park lies about 30 kilometers off Bukavu Town and you can spend approximately 1 and half hours to drive to this protected area. It can be reached by road or air.
In conclusion, if it is the unique eastern lowland gorillas that you have always wished to explore while on African safari then Kahuzi Biega National Park should be a must to include in your travel plan.
