EASTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS TREKKING IN CONGO

Gorilla trekking in Congo is a major tourist activity, the trekking of the eastern low gorillas in Congo is one of the activities not to miss out on a Congo gorilla safari. Congo is among the three countries that are home to the eastern gorilla species. The subspecies of the eastern gorillas are distributed into Uganda and Rwanda, where we find the mountain gorillas and Democratic republic of Congo where we find the Eastern lowland gorillas.

Democratic republic of Congo is the only home of the Eastern low land gorillas in the world, located in Kahuzi Beiga national park.

Kahuzi Beiga national park, is among the largest national parks of Democratic republic of Congo. It is located in the eastern region of Congo, near Bukavu town, west of Lake Kivu and the Rwanda border. The park derived its name from the two mountains of Kahuzi and Mountain Beiga that are located within the premises of the national park.

The park was established in the year 1970 by a Belgian photographer; Adren Deschryver. Later in the year 1980, Kahuzi Beiga was inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage. And in 1997, the park was listed as a world heritage in danger due to the politic instability that was found in Democratic republic of Congo.

Kahuzi Beiga national park is home to a number of wild game species with about 163 mammals, primates and with the eastern low land gorillas being the most prominent.

Trekking of the eastern low land gorillas in Kahuzi Beiga national park is a major high light for people that visit the park. This is one of the top attractions that attract tourists to visit the park.

The eastern lowland gorilla is a sub specie of the eastern gorilla. It is listed as critically endangered species due to the low population numbers and threats. The eastern lowland gorilla (gorilla beringei graueri) can be trekked into national parks of Democratic republic of Congo. These are Kahuzi Beiga national park, being the main and Maiko national park. Kahuzi Beiga national park is currently a home to 250 individual eastern low land gorillas.

The gorilla experience through Kahuzi Beiga national park, while trekking the eastern lowland gorillas rewards a chance to witness the jungle lives of the gorillas. A hike to the gorilla families shows how these primates interact with one and one, feed, play, and live in the jungle. As sight of the gorillas and the sound of the loud vocalizations echoing through the forest awakes all the senses while trekking the gorillas.

The human like gestures, movements and behaviors make the trekking of the eastern lowland gorillas worthwhile on every Congo primate safari.

The trekking experience in the parks begins with a short briefing at the headquarters of Kahuzi Beiga national park. The park’s ranger guide takes the trekkers through the whole experience and how to conduct themselves while in the jungle and how to behave when the eastern low land gorillas are met.

Hiking through the forests of Kahuzi Beiga national park for the eastern gorillas, takes about 2 to 5 hours with one hour permitted to stay with gorillas, interacting and viewing their livelihoods. Only a group of few trekkers are allowed to visit the Eastern lowland gorillas in the park.

Before the trekking of the eastern lowland gorillas, the primate lovers are required to purchase a gorilla permit. These go for price of 400$ per person per trek. These can be obtained through the park, or through a tour operator.

Besides trekking of the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Beiga national park, there are a number of other activities to explore while at the park.

Primate trekking.

The eastern low land gorillas do not limit the primate life in the national park. There are a number of other primate species that can be sighted while hiking through the park. These include the eastern chimpanzees (endangered), owl faced monkeys, cercopithecinae and colobinae.

This national park is as well a home to other mammal species which include elephants, buffalos and many other.

Bird watching

While trekking the gorilla species, a sight of various bird species can be seen. There are over 349 bird species located in Kahuzi Beiga national park. 42 of them are endemic to the area and others are native to the park area. Some of the bird species in the national park include the following; the handsome francolin, Black –billed turaco, grey cheeked hornbill, black cuckoo, chested bee-eater, Congo peafowl, rockeffer’s sunbird, yellow helmet shrike and the Albertine owlet.

Best time to trekk the east low land gorillas.

Due to the fact that the national park, carries rain forests, it experiences a lot of rainy seasons. The trekking experience is never the less more comfortable and favorable when under taken during the dry season. This gives a full journey hike through the forest minus the steep slippery trails.

Where to stay at Kahuzi Beiga national park

Tourists can be plan to stay at either a luxury hotel , midrange or budget  depending on their preference.