Kahuzi Biega National park is protected in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo near the town of Bukavu and is situated near the western bank of Lake Kivu at the Rwanda border. The park was established in 1970 by a Belgian photographer and conservationist. Kahuzi Biega National Park was named after two dormant volcanoes such as Mount Biega and Mount Kahuzi which are within the limits. The park’s area is 6,000 square Kilometers.

Kahuzi Biega is one of the oldest and biggest national parks in the Congo, it’s a mountainous and lowland terrain, the park is known for the rare species of Eastern Lowland Gorilla declared as endangered under the IUCN red list.

Kahuzi Biega is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a very unique biodiversity of the rainforest habitat of the eastern lowland Gorillas.

The park is found in the west part of Bukavu town of the south Kivu Province, which covers an area of 6,000km.

The park is found in the Mitumba Mountain range of the Albertine Rift in the area of 6,000km2. There is a small park in Mitumba Mountain of the Albertine Rift in the Great Rift Valley and the larger area is in the lowland terrain.

There is a corridor area that joins the Mountainous and lowland terrain. There is a small mountainous region which measures 600km2, one of the larger areas is  5,500sq.km the lowland area stretches from Kisangani from Bukavu and drains by the Luka and Lugulu River flowing into Lualaba River. There are two dormant volcanoes within the park.

Kahuzi Biega National park, receives an average of 1,800mm, the temperature recorded is 180c while lower is 100c.

The park has a forest reserve of Mount Kahuzi created in 1937 by the Governor-General of the Belgian Colonial Administration. This reserve is part of the park, and the park was extended covering an area of 6000sq.km. it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year of 1980, it’s a unique habitat of rainforest and diversity of the mammal species with the eastern lowland Gorillas.

Kahuzi Biega National park is a rich diversity of fauna and flora which protects 2000 plant species in the mountainous sector of the park. There over 134 species of mammals, and 400 species of birds in this national park.

The park has swamp, marshland, bogs, Riparian forest and there is an altitude which is rare worldwide. There is a wet equatorial rainforest in the western lowland sector of the park; this area is between 1300 meters and 1600 meters. 

The eastern sector includes forest vegetation which is from 600 meters to 2,600 meters its rare site in sub-Saharan Africa demonstrating the low highland transition.

Kahuzi Biega National park inhabits the most prominent of the eastern lowland gorillas. The park has over 200 lowland Gorillas.

The other primate species include Owl faced Monkeys, Eastern Chimpanzees, Climbing Mouse, Horseshoe bat mammals such as Bush elephants , Buffaloes, otter shrew, Lowland Bongo, Hippopotamus, Leopard, Olive Baboon, African Forest Buffaloes, Congo Peafowl, Yellow-crested Helmet, African green Broadbill.

During the Lowland Gorilla trekking, you will trek through the rainforest trails and it depends on where the family last spent their night or last built their nests. The trek takes 30 minutes to 7 hours in the jungle, however, you are given one hour to interact with the lowland Gorillas in the field.

Each family has a leader called the silverback who defends, plans for the Gorilla family. There are adults, babies, and it’s a great experience standing close to human look-alike which shares 98% DNA.

Volcano Hiking: Hike the Volcano to visit the two inactive volcanoes mountains within the heart of National park, hike Mount Kahuzi which is the high elevated above the sea level. Hike Mount Kahuzi Biega another Volcano that gives you the ability to view the whole National park from the skies. There are wildlife species to see and the communities to visit. See the Bamboo vegetation covers in order to encounter a variety of bird species.

Bird species: Birding species to spot are over 400 in the forest. The birds spotted include African green broadbill, yellow-crested helmet-shrike, Congo peafowl and Rockefeller’s and many others. 

Nature walk: Enjoy the nature walk in the tropical rainforest, and the trail heads including the walks to the Tshibiti waterfall trail and other trailhead waterfalls.

The guides are well informed about the different vegetation trails heads and wildlife species and can listen to bird species in the forest.

Accommodation Facilities in Kahuzi Biega National Park

Kahuzi Biega National park has different lodges near the park with great views, high food quality, and these lodges include L’orchids, lodge coco and many more.

Kahuzi Biega National park can be visited by contacting a tour operator who will make a perfect itinerary for you.