About Kahuzi Biega Park

About Kahuzi Biega Park Congo, Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo, What To Know About Kahuzi Biega Park Congo. Kahuzi Biega National Park is a secure area close to Bukavu town in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s located near the western bank of lake Kivu and the Rwandan border and most visitors that travel to the park come from either Goma or Rwanda via Rusizi border. Kahuzi Biega is one of the biggest national parks in the country with a coverage size of 6000 sqkms. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, engraved in 1980 for its exceptional biodiversity of rainforest habitat and its eastern lowland gorillas. The park is named after spectacular extinct volcanoes which lead its high altitude sector that is Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega and its one of the safest destinations managed by Wildlife Conservation Society.

Kahuzi Biega National Park is the new tourists’ destination for travelers in Congo who enjoy looking at the eastern lowland gorillas. The park is offering the chance to admire the world’s largest species of primates, and have a simple hike of the two mountains that make the national park which are the extinct volcanoes which is a key issue for conservation of the national park and the forests in Congo and the forest elephants. Democratic Republic of Congo is well known to be a region full of mystery, and we have also come to realize that security is a primary concern for the tourists as it’s also important to always stay updated on the internal issues that affect travels in the DRC. Since its not completely safe in all parts of DRC, it’s advisable to use a tour operator who is very knowledgeable about the destination in terms of local conditions. The park lies west of the Bukavu town in South Kivu Province, covering an area of 6000 km2.

A slight part of the park is in Mitumba Foothill range of the Albertine Rift in the Great Rift Valley, and the greater part is in lowland terrain. A corridor of 7.4 kilometres (4.6 mi) width joins the hilly and lowland terrain. The eastern part of the park is the slighter hilly region measuring 600 square kilometres (230 sq mi), the greater part measures 5,400 square kilometres (2,100 sq mi) and consists mainly of lowland stretching from Bukavu to Kisangani, drained by the Luka and Lugulu rivers which flow into the Lualaba River. Two dormant volcanoes are set within the park’s limits and lend their names to it, that is Kahuzi (3,308 metres (10,853 ft)) and Biéga (2,790 metres (9,150 ft). The park gets an average annual precipitation of 1,800 millimetres (71 in). The maximum temperature recorded in the area is 18 °C (64 °F) while the minimum is 10.4 °C (50.7 °F).

The park was baptized after two mountains of Mt. Kahuzi (3,308m) and Mt. Biega (2, 790m) situated in the South Kivu Region, eastern chunk of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It ranges from the Congo River basin close to Itebero-Utu to the northwest of Bukavu. Around 1937, for the fortification of the Eastern Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri), the Belgian colonial administration generated the Zoological Standby of Mt. Kahuzi with an area of 750 sq. km. Since this addition, the park is comprised of two segments which is the high and the low altitude that is connected to the narrow ecological strip. The Kahuzi Biega National Park was celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1980.

Though, enormous number of Rwandan refugees came to live in and around the Park due to the internal conflict in Rwanda in 1990-1994. Then there were two major wars in the area, the First Congo War (Nov. 1996 – May 1997) and the Second Congo War (Aug. 1998 – July 2003). Subsequently the park has been put on the tilt of World Heritage in Danger since 1997 due to the overwhelming threats and danger caused by the political instability; influx of refugees, illegal settlers, poaching, removal and burning of timber, presence of militia groups. Currently the situation has much upgraded and the park authority, the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) is working energetically to observe the gorillas and safeguard the park.

There are various means to get to Kahuzi-biega National Park. These ways include water, air and road transport that enable visitors have unforgettable experience of gorilla holiday safaris within the park. Kahuzi Biega National Park is situated 30 Kms from Bukavu Town and it takes about one and Half Drive to enter into the National Park and its can be accessed by road and by air however travelers have to understand that from kavumu airport and at Miti, take left and keep going straight until you reach the visitor centre.

Safari Attractions in Virunga National Park Congo

Mountain Gorillas in Virunga National Park Congo

Virunga National Park counted six mountain gorilla families open for the trekking before it was closed in 2012 for insecurity in the area.

Flora and Fauna in Virunga National Park Congo

The park boasts an astounding biodiversity due to the large variety of habitats it offers. In the southern sector the Mountain Gorillas attract most attention.

Mount Nyiragongo Volcano in Virunga National Park

Nyiragongo is one of the world’s most beautiful and active volcanoes and a large stratovolcano near Lake Kivu at the eastern border of DR Congo.

Congo Virunga Ranges in Virunga National Park

Not only does tourism in Virunga entail wildlife but one can also enjoy hiking the volcanoes. The conservation area is a home to eight volcanic mountains.

Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park Congo

This is the most done tourism activity in the Virunga National Park Congo. There are six habituated gorilla families in the national park available for trekking.

Mountain Mikeno in Virunga National Park

Mount Mikeno is noted to stand at a height of 4,437 metres and is the second highest peak in the Virunga Mountains after Karisimbi, and the 13th highest mountain of Africa.

Gorilla Families in Virunga Park Congo

Virunga National Park counted six mountain gorilla families open for the trekking before it was closed in 2012 for insecurity in the area.