Kahuzi-Biega National Park

The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is sited in the eastern part of Congo approximately 50 kilometers west of Bukavu town in the Kivu region, next to the western side of Lake Kivu that borders Rwanda.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is a primary tropical forest dominated by two spectacular extinct that has a diverse and abundant fauna and were gazetted in as National Park in 1939 and in 1980 were designated UNESCO World Heritage Site which kept it as a stronghold of the eastern lowland gorillas, accounting over 250 individuals with three habituated families. The lowland gorillas normally live between 2,100 and 2,400 m above sea level.

Low land Gorilla in Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park sites on an area of about 6,000 square kilometers extending over two Volcanoes of Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega all located in the heart of the National Park. Kahuzi-Biega National Park is a dense lowland rainforest as well as Afro-montane forests, with bamboo forests and some small areas of sub-alpine prairies. The Park is a home of flora and fauna that making it one of the most important sites in the Rift Albertine Valley, it is also one of the ecologically richest regions of Africa and worldwide and is the most important world population of eastern lowland gorillas.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park harbors a greater diversity of mammal species than any other National Parks in the Albertine Rift. In addition to that is the second most important Park of the region for both endemic species and in terms of species diversity. The sites host over 136 species of mammals including the eastern lowland gorilla and 13primates, such as the chimpanzee, the black and white colobus, red monkey tail, Hoest and Hamlyn, and among others including the rare species of the eastern forests of the DRC are also found, such as the giant forest genet and the aquatic genet. The bush elephant, bush buffalo, Hylocereus, and bongo are also found here.

Gorilla trekking safari in Congo offers you a unique golden opportunity to enjoy both lowland and mountain gorilla trekking experiences which only take place in Congo. The lowland gorilla safari takes place in Kahuzi Biega National Park and the Mountain gorilla safari takes place in Virunga National Park but the experience in both Parks offers a unique experience

Kahuzi-Biega National Park was formed in 1970 with the major aim of providing a refuge for the highly eastern lowland gorillas and conserving them in one area as well as promoting tourism within the country.  The Park’s legal status is managed by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN). A management and surveillance structure is present. A management plan should be finalized and approved. However, the greater part of the Park is inhabited, some villages were included in the Park at the time of its extension in the 1970s, creating disputes with the populations. These problems must be resolved to strengthen the effectiveness of conservation actions. The boundaries of the Park should also be clearly delineated, especially where there are no evident natural boundaries.