When to go to Kahuzi Biega national park
When to go to Kahuzi Biega national park? For tracking the Eastern lowland gorillas travel to the southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo where you will find the Kahuzi Biega national park and enjoy an unforgettable experience in Africa. Another national park where you can go and trek Eastern lowland gorillas in the Maiko national park. so, if you want to trek the Eastern lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, you can go either to the Kahuzi Biega national park or Maiko national park. most of the revenue in the Democratic Republic of Congo is collected from selling mountain gorilla permits to Virunga national park and in the Kahuzi Biega national park.
Besides being the home to the eastern lowland gorillas, it also inhabits other primates like chimpanzees plus different monkey species. You can go to the Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary and spend more time with chimpanzees. Weather is one of the major factors one should consider while planning a lowland gorilla safari in Kahuzi Biega national park. There are two seasons in the Democratic Republic of Congo that is the rainy season and the dry season. Each season is divided into two seasons like the rainy season stretch from October-November and another from Mid-March-May. While the rest of the months are known as the driest season that is January, February, June, July, August, and September. But remember that Kahuzi Biega national park is a tropical rain forest so at any time of the year we expect to rain.
During the dry season is when the park receives a larger number of visitors to take on a gorilla safari since there is little or no rainfall and it is more favorable to hike through the forests to see the lowland gorillas and other wildlife while during the rainy season the forest is used to be too muddy and slippery which makes the trekking somehow difficult and not enjoyable. There is more sun in the forest during the dry season which makes the gorilla trekking excellent.
The driest months are also known as a high season when most of the tourist destinations and national parks receive many people so expect to meet a number of tourists. It is a good time to trek through the big forests and also at such time is when you will see the over crowds in the park. Still in the same season when the lodges and hotels are in high demand, this is the reason why you are advised to book your safari in advance to avoid last-minute disappointments. Therefore, the best time to trek the lowland gorillas in the park is during the dry season.
The rainy season is also good to visit the park especially for budget travelers and those who want to trek in less crowd areas. During this period the park receives less tourists so you will get to enjoy less demand for services and complete your dream to the fullest. Many safari lodges and hotels offer to reduce the cost of rooms at such times with the purpose of attracting tourists. However, during this period the park receives heavy rainfall and at any time of the day it may rain but if you are prepared enough like improving your body fitness, you cannot fail to finish the trek.
Book your lowland gorilla permit at only 400USD and a tourist visa at 100USD which is valid for two weeks and get an opportunity to get closer with these primates. Or go to the Virunga national park with the same visa and also visit the mountain gorillas. The most recommended hotels to use while trekking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi national park are kamanunga hotel, Mont Kahuzi hotel, and others and they are constructed in the closest town of Bukavu and goes at around 100USD-400USD per person but in most cases, it depends on the interests of traveler.
What to see and do in Kahuzi Biega national park.
These are some of the tourist activities one can do while on his/her safari in Kahuzi Biega national park as briefly discussed below;
Lowland gorilla tracking is the major activity that attracts people to visit the park. there is high number of eastern lowland gorillas in the Kahuzi Biega national park which are estimated to be 145 individuals. This activity is a bit challenging because it requires you to hike uphill and through the big forest depending on the allocation of the group you are assigned. Book your gorilla permit at only 400USD and get an opportunity to get closer with lowland gorillas.
The Park is blessed with many attractions one can see and do which including mountain climbing. As the park has 3 mountains which include Mount Kahuzi, Mount Biega, and Mount Bugulumiza that offer an exciting experience. If you hike up to the top of one of these mountains, you will have an opportunity to see lake Kivu, Bukavu port, and others.
Visit the Lwiro sanctuary and get a chance to participate in the daily activities at the sanctuary like feeding the primates, playing with them, and others. Most of the primates at the sanctuary lost their parents to the poachers so they were bought here to get a better life. Or go and work as a volunteer and spend a day, week, or month and get to know more about the primates.
After trekking the lowland gorillas, you can also do birding in the evening where you will see a lot of bird species which includes the African green broadbill, the yellow-crested helmet shrike, shelley’s crimson wing, and others. Remember to pack your binocular and view beautiful attractions in the park.
Where one can spend a night while in Kahuzi Biega national park.
There are several safari lodges or hotels around Kahuzi Biega national park where one can stay and they are found in the closest town which is known as Bukavu. Bukavu is one of the towns in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo which stretches to the south-western edges of Lake Kivu. The lodges in Kahuzi Biega national park classified into three that are the luxury, mid-range, and budget. These are some of the lodges the luxurious L’orchids safari club, Coco lodge for mid-range travelers, Hotel Begonias Bukavu. They all offer high-quality services through comfortable rooms, friendly staff, restaurants that serve delicious meals, and bars stocked with all types of drinks. Also, offer you a beautiful view of Lake Kivu, the kahuzi Biega forest and they all can allow you to access the park very early in the morning on the gorilla trekking day and many more.
Before coming for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park it is very important to first know the weather in the country or you can contact Africa Adventure Vacations and update you about the climate because Kahuzi Biega national park is standing at high elevation. So, the best time to visit this park is during the dry season if not so, you can also visit during the rainy season mostly the budget travelers due to the services offered at such time. In addition, Kahuzi Biega national park is open for tourism at any time of the year that you are most comfortable with.
