Discover Kahuzi-Biega national park
Kahuzi-Biega national park is a UNESCO world heritage site situated in the eastern region of democratic republic of Congo near the western bank of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border. this amazing ecological system is one of the biggest national parks in democratic republic of Congo, lying between both mountainous and lowland terrain. Kahuzi-Biega National Park derives its name from two inactive volcanoes, Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega, which are located within the park; these mountains are part of the Great Mitumba Mountain Range that stretches through the Albertine Rift in the Great Rift Valley.
History of Kahuzi-Biega national park
Kahuzi-Biega National Park was established as a zoological reserve in 1937, covering an area of 750 square kilometers and stretching through the slopes of Mount Kahuzi; it was created under the orders of the Belgian colonial government to conserve eastern lowland gorillas from poachers. In 1975 the park’s area was extended to cover an area of 6,000 square kilometers as it was declared a national park. in 1980 Kahuzi-Biega national park was declared a UNESCO world heritage site primarily because of its huge population of eastern lowland mountain gorillas.
Vegetation in Kahuzi-Biega national park
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is primarily a forested area, featuring various types of vegetation, including equatorial rainforest, riverine flora, swamps, bogs, marshland, and riparian forests at different altitude levels. Kahuzi-Biega national park’s vegetation cover is distinguished according to the region of the park
- Western lowland sector at the altitude of range of 1,200 meters to 1,500 meters is dominated by a guinea-Congolian wet equatorial rain forest
- Eastern mountainous sector is dominated by continuous forest vegetation at an altitude range of 600 meters ––2,600 meters;his section’s vegetation is one of the rare sites in sub-Saharan Africa where vegetation transition from low to highland is witnessed. Vegetation in this sector includes swamps and peat bogs, swamp forests, high-altitude rainforests, mountain rainforests, bamboo forest and subalpine heather.
Vegetation in Kahuzi Biega national park grows at different altitude ranges; at the altitude range of 2000 meters–2400meters there is mountain and swamp forest; at the altitude of 2350 meters–2600 meters there are bamboo forests; and on mount Kahuzi and mount Biega summits there is subalpine heather, dry savannah, grassland and the endemic plant Senecio kahuzicus.
Attractions in Kahuzi-Biega national park
Eastern lowland gorillas
Kahuzi-Biega national park is the only place in Africa where you can find eastern lowland gorillas; these gorillas live in the deep forests on mount Kahuzi and mount Biega. Eastern lowland gorillas are the largest of all the gorilla subspecies, and they are differentiated from others by their jet-black coat, which turns silver at an adult stage; they also have large hands, a short muzzle, and a short body. In Kahuzi-Biega national park there are only two gorilla families, which are trekked by visitors.
Other primates and mammals
Though Kahuzi-Biega National Park is famous for eastern lowland gorillas, it is also home to over 136 species of mammals and other wildlife. In addition to the eastern lowland gorillas, the park hosts bush elephants, bush buffalo, aquatic civets, eastern needle-clawed galagos, Ruwenzori least otter shrews, Alexander’s bush squirrels, Maclaud’s horseshoe bats, and many more primates. Primates include the eastern chimpanzee, several Cercopithecinae, colobinae and the owl-faced monkey.
Birds
Kahuzi-Biega national park is an important birding site habiting over 349 bird species; out of the big bird population, 42 bird species are endemic to the Albertine rift. These birds comfortably thrive through the various vegetation covers of the park and these birds crowd the park as they are attracted by fruits and seeds in the forest. Birds in Kahuzi-Biega national park include Rockefeller’s sunbird, Grauer’s broadbill, Ruwenzori turaco, Grauer’s warbler, Shelley’s crimsonwing and many more.
Tshiabati waterfalls
The Tshiabati waterfalls, located amidst the thick forests of Kahuzi-Biega National Park, are magnificent and considered one of the park’s greatest attractions. They are part of the Tshiabati Waterfalls Trail, which runs adjacent to two rivers that flow through the forests.
Volcanoes
Kahuzi-Biega National Park consists of two inactive volcanoes, Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega, which create a beautiful scenic view in the park. Mount Kahuzi is the highest peak in the Mitumba range, standing at 3,317 meters above sea level and located in the eastern region of Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Mount Biega is situated in the south kivu region at the altitude of 2,790 meters above sea level, and it also lies in the Mitumba range.
Things to do in Kahuzi-Biega national park
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking is the highlight activity of Kahuzi Biega national park and for a fact, Kahuzi Biega is the only place in the world where you find and trek these kinds of mountain gorillas, eastern lowland mountain gorillas are the major attraction in Kahuzi Biega national park where eastern lowland gorilla trekking takes place. In Kahuzi-Biega national park there are two habituated gorilla families where eastern lowland gorilla trekking takes place, this activity starts as early as 8:00 am in the morning with a briefing and involves hiking through the thick forests in search of the gorillas.
On this expedition expect to hike 1–6 hours looking for lowland eastern gorillas depending on where they spent the night; when you find them, you are allowed to spend only one hour with them, you can take pictures and videos and learn more about them. Apart from eastern lowland gorillas, you also get to encounter other primates like olive baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, and owl-faced monkey and mammals like bush elephants, Ruwenzori civets, Maclaud’s horseshoe bats, eastern needle-clawed galagos, bush buffaloes and many more.
Hiking mount Kahuzi and mount Biega
Kahuzi-Biega national park comprises two inactive volcanoes that mount Kahuzi and mount Biega which offer a great scenic view, of these two volcanoes, volcanoes mount Kahuzi is the higher of the two, standing at an altitude of 3,308 meters above sea level and mount Biega stands at an altitude of 2,790 meters. Hiking in Kahuzi-Biega national park happens on these two magnificent volcanoes using clearly established trails; the hike takes about 5-7 hours and as you hike, you come into contact with various vegetation covers ranging from bamboo, tropical forests and subalpine vegetation. You also encounter various colorful bird species and monkeys in the forests, while on the top of these volcanoes you get an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful views of the parks and the surrounding communities.
Birdwatching
Kahuzi-Biega national park is a birding paradise with over 349 bird species that thrive in the forests dominating the park; while on the walk in the forests, these birds are easy to spot on treetops. Birds in Kahuzi-Biega national park include the Yellow-Crested Helmet-Shrike, the African Green Broadbill, the Congo Peafowl, Rockefeller’s, and many more.
Nature walks
Kahuzi-Biega national park is a very scenic national park composed of volcano views, thick forest vegetation and attractions like Tshiabati waterfalls, which are encountered in the park. Nature walks in the park are one of the best ways of touring the thick forests using perfectly established trails, the most prominent trail mostly used during nature walks is Tshiabati trail on which you get to encounter the magnificent triple waterfalls, and you also encounter many bird species and beautiful plants of various kinds and many more.
Best time to visit Kahuzi-Biega national park
The major tourist activity in Kahuzi-Biega national park is eastern lowland gorilla trekking; this activity can be done throughout the year, though the best time to go for this activity is during the period of June to September. The period of June to September is dry and the trekking routes are dry and less slippery. Eastern lowland gorillas have three seasons, which greatly determine their location and movements in the forests.
June to September—in this season the gorillas move to far regions of the forest looking for fruits since it’s a fruit-bearing season
April and May—in these seasons, gorillas do not move too far since all the trees have heavy leaves, which are their food, so in this period, you do not have to trek too far to find the gorillas.
October and November—in this period bamboo trees sprout; thus, bamboo shoots become their food so you do not have to trek too far to find the gorillas.
How to get to Kahuzi-Biega national park
Kahuzi-Biega national park
Accommodation in Kahuzi-Biega national park
As tourists on a Congo safari in Kahuzi-Biega national park, safe and comfortable accommodation is got from orchids safari lodge, coco lodge, begonias hotel, exodus hotel, mount Kahuzi hotel, Hôtel Rivière Ruzizi, sommet Biega and many more.
