Gorilla Trekking Permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park: You must have booked a gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park to track lowland gorillas in Congo. A gorilla trekking permit is a legal document that allows tourists to see the lowland gorillas in Congo. A gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park costs 400 USD for foreign nonresidents in the high season. 200 USD in the low season. 250 USD for foreign residents, and 25 USD for Congolese. A gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park can be booked through a reputable tour operator like Native Africa Tours.
How do you book a gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park?
Travelers planning a gorilla trekking safari are supposed to acquire a gorilla trekking permit. Unlike Uganda and Rwanda, a gorilla permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park can be booked on arrival. However, you must note that only eight people can track a particular gorilla family daily.
We recommend booking your gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park at least one month before the trip starts. You only need to search for a reputable tour operator on the Internet. Contact them either by mail or phone. You will be asked to provide a few documents, such as your passport. You will be asked to make a payment. A gorilla permit will be reserved, and a confirmation email should be shared with you by the tour operator. This is a game done. You can get your gorilla permit upon arrival at Kahuzi Biega National Park.
What does a gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park come with?
Wondering what a gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park comes with? There is value for the money you pay for a gorilla trekking permit in Congo (Kahuzi Biega National Park). Once you have paid for a gorilla permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park, you will have paid for the following;
- Guide fee
- Entrance fees
- Conservation fees
- Community fee
Please note that a gorilla permit in Congo (Kahuzi Biega National Park) does not include other safari expenses. Below are some of the exclusions that you need to pay for in addition to a gorilla trekking permit.
- Accommodation
- Tips and gratuities
- Meals and drinks
- Transport
- Visa
- Border crossing fees
Gorilla trekking rules and regulations in Kahuzi Biega National Park
To ensure successful gorilla trekking, travelers have to follow the rules and regulations, which include;
- No littering in the park
- Spitting on the vegetation is prohibited since you contaminate the food of the gorillas
- Always stay in groups during the gorilla trekking
- Maintain a distance of 7 meters while viewing the gorillas in the park
- Always sanitize before engaging in the gorilla trekking
- Keep time for the gorilla trekking since it starts early in the morning at 0700 hours.
- No making noise during the gorilla trekking since you may scare the gorillas.
- The age limit for tracking gorillas is 15 years
- Travelers are supposed to listen to and follow the ranger or guide’s instructions
What to pack for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park?
While planning a gorilla trekking safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park, there are several things that you can pack for a safari and they include;
- Sturdy hiking shoes
- Refillable water bottle to keep hydrated
- Insect repellants
- Energy-giving snacks
Differences between lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas
Travelers usually have many questions that hit their minds about the difference between the low land gorillas and mountain gorillas. All are primate species that share about 98% of their DNA with man.
Mountain gorillas live in the highland areas of the parks like Bwindi impenetrable, Mgahinga gorilla, volcanoes, and Virunga National Park while the lowland gorillas live in the lowland areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Kahuzi Beige National Park.
Mountain gorillas are large compared to the low land gorillas. Additionally, mountain gorillas have larger far which are thicker and longer compared to the lowland gorillas. Lastly, lowland gorillas reach the maturity period at the age of 8 to 9 years while mountain gorillas reach the maturity period at the age of 6 to 8 years.
Lowland gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega National Park
A gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega National Park starts with the transfer from the hotel to the park, which takes about 1 hour. On arrival at the park, you will start with a briefing about gorilla trekking. In this briefing, you will be highlighted the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. You will be grouped in groups of 8 people since it is supposed to visit a gorilla family. This grouping will be done according to the families available in the park.
The real adventure begins here. You will proceed with the activity, which will take about 2 to 7 hours of the day. Upon meeting the gorillas, you will have 1 hour of viewing while maintaining a distance of 7 meters. At the end of the trek, tourists are awarded a certificate.
Ideal safaris to do gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Below are some itinerary suggestions for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
- 3 days lowland gorilla safari
- 4 days of hiking and a lowland gorilla safari
- 13 days Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo safari
- 7 days Kahuzi Beige and Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation in Kahuzi Biega National Park
On a gorilla safari to the Kahuzi Biega National Park, there are several accommodation facilities that travelers can choose from. These facilities are located within Bakavu which is the nearest town to the park. These facilities include; Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Orchids Safari Club, Elizabeth Hotel, Hotel Panorama, Hotel Riviera, Hotel du Lac, Lodge Coco, Lakeside Hotel, Hotel Elila, Horizon Hotel, Bach Palace, and many others. In the park, there are also camping options for travelers interested in camping in the park.
How to access Kahuzi Biega National Park?
Kahuzi Biega National Park is usually accessed through Rwanda. Tourists usually fly into Rwanda (Kigali International Airport) and then they transfer to Bukavu by road. Alternatively, one can use Goma International Airport which is about 240 kilometers from the park.
What is the best time to book a gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega National Park?
Kahuzi Biega National Park is open to travelers throughout the year. However, the best time to visit is during the dry season (June to September and December to February). During this time, there are fewer chances of rain, vegetation is not so thick, and walking through the trails is easier. However, rainy seasons have their advantages as well. For example, lodged and tour operators offer discounts during such seasons. This makes Kahuzi Biega the perfect destination for budget tourists during wet seasons.
