Category: Gorilla Safaris

In the past years, Rwanda visa was very hard to get besides of the few countries like America and some other few countries which would get the Visa easily. For other countries like France, Belgium, Turkey, Spain among others would only get Rwanda visa after application and come with booking code to the airport of Kigali in Rwanda however nowadays it is now very easy to get a Rwanda visa from any entry point of Rwanda such as boarders and so on. Therefore, you can be able to visit Rwanda for gorilla safaris activities at such an easy accessibility.

Gorilla trek in Rwanda only takes place in Volcanoes National Park and the gorilla permit costs US$ 1500 in Rwanda during high season and then during low season November to May a permit cost US$ 1050 and that is when you are visiting 2 or 3 Rwanda parks and also a permit of US$ 1275 to visitors in Rwanda on conferences and seminars.

For you to acquire an easy, affordable and incredible gorilla trek in Rwanda, you need to consult for the best company from your friends who will have visited Rwanda recently or even via google and trip advisor forum you will see reputable companies like Eco tours Rwanda. You need to own a private vehicle and driver/guide for your tour to a fantastic one because it will be easy for you to get involved in many other activities while in the Park and it will enable you to have some Kigali tours on your private trip in Rwanda.

Therefore, you are recommended to use a company which will offer you a better vehicle and can book for you your full journey. One of the best companies in Rwanda include the Eco Tours Rwanda which is mostly used due to its kind, friendly and professional staff who will respond to your emails in just a blink of an eye and the company works 24/7 hours.

Gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park is accompanied by some rules and regulations which you will have to follow before you go for trekking of these primates in order to ease your tour and some of the rules include;

You should be from 15 years of age and above, you should be physically fit because it is somehow challenging, do not mimic the primates because you might not know what you are communicating to them, keep a distance of at least 8 meters while viewing them, do not use flashlight cameras, you allowed to spend with the primates for one hour, do not eat or smoke from the Park, arrive earlier in the Park (at least at 07:00am for briefing), for toilet issues you are allowed to dig a deep hole aside from the primates and after disposing you bury it thoroughly well, book for the tour at least three or four weeks earlier before your tour and all activities are done by the accompany of the tour guides.

In the Park, a group of 8 individuals are allowed to go for gorilla trekking per day and the Park has 10 habituated Gorilla groups. The Park also has got good and luxury lodges where gorilla trekkers should live in for the easy accessibility of the Park earlier and some of the Lodges include; Mountain gorilla view lodge, Sabyinyo silver back lodge, Virunga lodge, Bisate lodge, Jack Hana’s guest house and many others.

In your gorilla trek, you will also get opportunity to get involved in other activities which include the visiting of nearby lakes such as Lake Bulera and Lake Ruhondo which are twin Lakes and you will get involved in bird watching. At any of the Lakes, you will see aquatic birds, hippos, crocodiles and also get involved in boat cruises. Lake Kivu is also near to the Park and from the Lake by chance you will see how methane is extracted and also do boat cruises, aquatic bird watching and viewing of water living animals such as hippos and crocodiles.

Everyone talks about mountain gorilla in Virunga National Park, Bwindi Forest and Volcanoes National Park, but Lowland gorillas are even more imposing, huge animals that are used to people and you can observe them from one meter. Despite the years of turmoil, Kahuzi Biega remains the only place in the world where visitors can track the endangered eastern lowland gorillas in the wild. Given that the DRC does not have a lot of tourism like other neighbouring countries, this might be the cheapest gorilla visit you will find at $400 per person.

About 30km northwest of Bukavu lies the 6,000km Kahuzi Biega National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site named for the two extinct volcanoes that dominate the skyline, Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega. The park was gazetted by the Congolese government in 1970 to conserve the Grauer’s gorilla, the world largest gorilla species.

The park contains a flora and fauna of exceptional diversity, making it one of the most important sites in the Rift Albertine Valley, it is also one of the ecologically richest regions of Africa and worldwide. The park contains 136 species of mammals, among which the star is the eastern lowland gorilla and 13 other primates including threatened species such as the chimpanzee and Colobus, as well as forest elephants, leopards, civets, genets, otters and many antelopes and duiker.

Getting there

Kahuzi Biega National Park is an impractical destination unless you have your own transport. Visitors without their own vehicles can organize one with gorilla safaris tours to Kahuzi Biega National Park. Bukavu is relatively calm and peace has prevailed in this area, a combination of historical, natural, cultural and man-made resources make a visit to this place to this paradise on earth an awesome memorable experience. The beautiful drive from Bukavu to the park skirts Lake Kivu and then enters highlands tea plantations and is a good way to get a feel for rural life.

Activities

Lowland Gorilla tracking

The biggest draw for visitors to Kahuzi Biega is the world’s biggest primate, the eastern lowland gorilla. Tracking to see the Eastern Lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park in Southern Kivu province is a thrilling perfect experience to do, unlike when trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Parks.

When you choose to do a safari in Kahuzi Biega National Park, by picture you will realize how this animal is really amazing and has its unique look and family nature with mountain gorillas. Getting to see them can be challenging, it involves hiking in the tropical rain forest and following different trails, depending on where the family sent their previous night, but struggling through the dense forest is part of adventure and gives you a feeling that you did not get gorillas for free.

But once you locate these gentle giants, you are strictly going to spend an hour interacting with gorillas after reaching them, the encounter itself is beyond description, and truly a once in a lifetime experience to be so close to these gentle giants and have a chance to see them interact with their environment and each other in ways that are both humorous and tender and to witness behaviours that are so very human.

Other activities on offer at the park include;

Volcano hiking

There are two inactive volcanic mountains within the heart of the national park which trekkers participate in hiking. Mount Kahuzi, which is done in a thigh-burning full-day round-trip hike setting out from the Tshivanga visitor’s centre no later than 09:00. It is about 4 hours up and 3 hours to get back down, through lush montane forest which opens up to a stunning panorama of the park.

The summit of Mount Bugulumiza 2400m is easily accessible via a 6 km trail from Tshivanga Visitor Centre and takes about 3 hours round-trip. The summit offers great views of Mounts Kahuzi & Biega along with the surrounding forest landscape.

The summit of Mount Biega 2790m is a 6-hour round-trip hike from the main road. The vegetation is significantly different from that found on Mount Kahuzi. The park is currently working to clear a trail to the summit that was hoped to open back in 2013.

Birding

Being home to approx. 349 bird species 42 of that are endemic to the national park, Kahuzi Biega is a paradise for great lovers of birds. Among the birds spotted include African green broad bill, yellow crested helmet-shrike, Congo peafowl and Rockefeller’s and many others.

Nature walks

Nature walks are also offered which lead to different sites such as the Tshibati waterfalls trails to three waterfalls in the national park. Experienced guides lead travelers and help in spotting different vegetation types and wildlife in the national park. Sweet sounds of birds singing up in the trees are heard by the travelers and of course fresh air which freshens the minds of traveler.

Tshibati waterfalls trail

The hike starts with a short trip through farms and fields before crossing into the park for another bushwhacking hour. This trail follows a well-defined and demarcated foot path that runs very close and adjacent to the 2 rivers and passes 3 waterfalls, therefore proving a better, clear and spectacular view of the water falls. This path is made up of various steps that one strolls on his way to and from the waterfalls.

Idjwi Island

This is a unique and unexplored tourist attraction. Idjwi Island is the second largest inland island in Africa. It is located within Lake Kivu and can see clearly from both the Rwandan and Congolese mainland. The visit to island offers opportunity to explore one of the many pineapple plantations and picking some, nature walk to the village, swimming in the lake, bird watching and interacting with the local community including the fishermen.

Lwiro Rehabilitation Centre

Lwiro rehabilitation centre cares for primates that have been orphaned by illegal hunting and the bush meat trade. They have 55 chimpanzees and 73 monkeys from ten different species, including the inimitable owl-faced guenon in their care, and the large, well-kept enclosures and visibly dedicated staff of 30 would be praiseworthy in any location.