Attractions in Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Attractions in Kahuzi-Biega National Park: Kahuzi-Biega national park in the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a must-visit destination for any tourist visiting the country. The national park is a protected area which was first established in 1970. It is named after two dormant volcanic mountains Kahuzi and Biega. Mount Kahuzi which stands at 3,308 meters and Mount Biega which stands at 2,790 meters both make up the national park.

Attractions in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

Tourists visiting Kahuzi-Biega national park in Congo have a lot to see and explore during your visit to the park. Some of the unique attractions in the national park include;

Eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla Beringei Graueri)

Tourists visiting the national park have a rare opportunity to track both mountain (western) gorillas and the east lowland gorillas as well. Although tourists can get to trek mountain gorillas in the park, the eastern lowland gorillas remain the main tourist attraction.

These gorilla subspecies are the largest of all gorilla species and one can easily differentiate them from the mountain gorillas, simply because eastern lowland gorillas are relatively large as compared to mountain gorillas.

Aside from the eastern lowland gorillas, there are other attractions that tourist can sight while visiting the park. These include; the eastern chimpanzee, African forest elephant, Albertine owlet, Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse and Maclaud’s horseshoe bat; all of which are listed under the IUCN Red List as endangered species.

Other wildlife species of less threatening concern include; the owl-faced monkey, bush buffalo, bongo, aquatic civet, bush elephant, African forest buffalo, hippopotamus, olive baboon and so many more. There is no telling just how much adventurous Kahuzi-Biega is, until you visit the national park yourself.

Lwiro Sanctuary:

The Lwiro Sanctuary near Kahuzi-Biega national park is a great place to visit for tourists who wish to see chimpanzees during your safari to the park. This sanctuary is a rehabilitation center for orphaned primates especially chimpanzees. The Lwiro sanctuary was established in 2002 and looks after about 55 chimpanzees and approximately 60 monkeys.

Lake Kivu:

Tourists visiting the park have an opportunity to explore the beautiful and dazzling Lake Kivu, along with its surrounding islands, marine and bird life. Lake Kivu is situated within the Albertine Rift and it lies between the borders of Rwanda and Congo. This lake is among the great lakes of Africa.

Flora and Fauna of Kahuzi-Biega National Park:

Kahuzi-Biega national park in Congo is home to over 1,178 unique plant species. Given that the national park is part of the Congo Basin Forest, it has a rich bio-diversity of both flora like; swamp forest, peat bog, bamboo and marshland to mention but a few; and fauna species such as; eastern lowland Grauer’s Gorillas, bush hogs, genet, forest elephants and antelope among others.

Birds Species in Kahuzi-Biega:

There are over 349 recorded bird species in Kahuzi-Biega national park in Congo; with four bird species listed under the IUCN Red List of endangered species namely; Yellow-crested Helmet Shrike, African Green Broadbill, Rockefeller’s Sunbird and the Congo Peafowl.

Mount Kahuzi:

Mount Kahuzi is one of the two dormant volcanoes in Kahuzi Biega national park. The mountain is an extinct volcano, standing at a height of 3,317 meters above sea level. Visitors can engage in hiking activities on the mountain.

Mount Biega:

In 1975, Kahuzi forest reserve was extended to cover the areas of Mount Biega and its surroundings. The Biega Mountain is also an extinct volcano elevated at a height of 2,790 meters above sea level and lies within the Mitumba Mountain ranges.

Accommodation in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

Tourists visiting the park can find accommodation in the following lodging establishments; Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Hotel Begonias, Lodge Coco, Orchids Safari Club, Lakeside Hotel Bukavu and Hotel Exodus Bukavu among others.

How to Get to Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park in DR Congo can be accessed by road, air and water transport means. However, the best way to access the national park is by either road or air. Travelers will have to travel 40km west of Bukavu town, which will take about 1½ hours to get to the national park. Travelers can opt to board a bus/ taxi or hire a car and drive about 230 kilometers from Goma to the park’s headquarters, which takes rough 5-6 hours of driving.

Visitors can also access the national park from Rwanda about 6-7 hours from Kigali City to Kamembe in Cyangugu town. After crossing the borders at Goma and Bukavu, travelers will have to drive for about 1½ hours to get to the park.

Traveling by air; alternatively, visitors can choose to travel by air to Kahuzi-Biega national park from Rwanda. Visitors can board flights from Kigali International Airport in Rwanda and travel to Goma Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a very convenient mode of transport to Congo. Once in Goma, travelers can drive 230km to the national park.