Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo is in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo just 50 kms away from Bukavu town. Bukavu is one of the biggest towns in the eastern Congo with developed accommodation facilities including the orchids safari club, Coco lodge with modern amenities. Kahuzi Biega national park Congo is a world heritage site and home for the most endangered species of the eastern lowland gorillas. Eastern Lowland Gorillas are endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the entire world. The 75,000-ha eastern sector is entirely montane. The massif is part of the Mitumba Mountain range, the western mountains of the Great Rift Valley. The two main peaks, Mount Kahuzi (3,308 m) and Mount Biéga (2,790 m) are extinct volcanoes, and the massif dates from the late Tertiary or early Quaternary.
Kahuzi biega national park Congo was established in 1970 to protect and preserve the Eastern Lowland gorillas (the world’s largest gorilla species). The park was also inscribed in 1980 as the UNESCO World’s Heritage site.
Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo is overseen by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) with offices in Bukavu town. Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo is famous as the largest refuge of the highly endangered Eastern Lowland Gorillas. The Park is divided into two sections that is the highland section with most of the lowland gorillas is open for visits at the most discounted price of 400$ for a gorilla permit. With 6 gorillas groups habituated for visitation; trusted tour operators from the Association of Congolese Tours Operators and Travel Agents ‘’ATOAV-RDC’’ organize safaris in the park.
Kahuzi Biega National park Congo is one of interesting national parks in Congo after the great Virunga national park which is the oldest national park in Africa. All these two destinations are open for visitation for activities like Gorilla trekking & Climbing mountains.
Getting around Kahuzi biega national Park
All travelers that are planning a safari to Congo’s famous Kahuzi Biega national park have various options. If you started in Virunga National Park before heading to Kahuzi, use the ferry that leaves Goma town in the morning. The journey will take you 5 hours in a ship. However, if you are in a hurry book the private speedboat which takes 3 hours depending on the winds on the lake Kivu. Moreover, this ferry or speedboat will drop you off at Ihusi port or orchids Safari club. From there, the driver from the park can pick you up . Travelers are advised to book their overnight stay in Bukavu hotels (Coco Lodge, Begonaise , Orchids safaris lodge) as there is no hotel at Kahuzi biega national park headquarters except camping.
Yet those who are coming from the Republic of Rwanda and willing to visit Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo as an extension of the Africa safari, should cross the border using the Rusizi border 1. From there the park driver can easily find you there at the Customs with the approved visa letter to ease crossing to democratic republic of Congo. Most of the visitors who always visit Kahuzi biega national park, come from either Goma or Rwanda via Ruzizi Border. The entrance of the park is at Tshivanga on the eastern side.
Visitors always stop at Kigali international airport and proceed to Congo by road whereby it takes 7 hours’ drive to reach the border crossing at Rusizi. Therefore, all visitors spend a night in Kigali and then proceed to Bukavu the next morning, since international flights to Kigali often arrive in the late afternoons or evening.
Transportation between Kahuzi Biega National Park & Bukavu
Kahuzi Biega can easily be accessed since it is located 40km away from Bukavu town, and the means of transport depends on the tourist’s interest. But due to the rough terrains, most visitors prefer to go by road that is, the 4×4 fleets, which takes 90minutes drive to the park
The most reliable way to reach the park is by using trusted tour operators from the Association of Congolese Tours Operators and Travel Agents ‘’ATOAV-RDC’’. Since the park is at the West of Bukavu, one can easily drive from Bukavu to the entrance of the park. After that, head to the road leading to Kavumu airport and turn left at the intersection of the town of Miti, and then stop at the Tshivanga visitors center.
For those coming from Burundi, it usually takes about 3 hours crossing from Rwanda border of Ruwa, to Ruzizi. For those who would prefer to use the Ugandan route, it requires an overnight stay in Musanze. The visitor is to cross via cyanika border to Rwanda and then drive to Bukavu the next day.
Airlines are also available whereby visitors use domestic charter flights from Kigali to Ruzizi border. After that, they cross to Congo (Bukavu town), then take a 4×4 fleet to the park, that might take about 90 minutes to reach.
