Tourist Attactions in Kahuzi-Biega National Park Congo

Lwiro Sanctuary; Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Centre (CPRL) was established/ found in the year 2002 to offer care and rehabilitation for orphaned primate’s species, while working to ensure their existence in the wild.

The Sanctuary is situated on the grounds of CRSN, the Congolese Government Scientific Research Centre, which is centered in an old Belgian colonial building. The sanctuary works together with ICCN to offer protection and conservation to the forty nine (49) chimpanzees and over 60 monkeys.

Other interesting activities offered in this site include education programs for local people, children, military and tourists. The old Belgian research Centre located on the grounds also has some fascinating exhibits.

Perfectly positioned close to the park headquarters, a visit to the sanctuary can be easily amalgamated with a low land Gorilla trek in Bukavu. Ask your tour operator or park staff to arrange a visit to the sanctuary. Entrance for foreigners is $25, which goes directly towards the costs of managing the sanctuary.

Idjwi Island; It is one of the unique but less visited Island in DR Congo. The Island is 340 sq km in size and 70 km in length, the second largest inland island in Africa. Located within Lake Kivu it can be seen clearly from both the Rwandan and Congolese main lands.

Activities in the Island include visiting one of the many pineapple plantations (and of course picking and eating one), village and nature walks, bird-watching, swimming in the lake as well as interacting with the local people to learn about their life on Idjwi.

Boat rides can also be organized to take you around the small islets surrounding the island, where you can also visit nearby fishing villages.

Pay the fishermen a small tip to guide you through the lush, primary tropical forest on this little piece of paradise, abounding in bird life and also home to a troupe of as yet unidentified monkeys.

Bukavu City; Bukavu was established in 1901 by the Belgian colonial authorities and is the capital of South Kivu province.

This charming city consisting of an estimated 250,000 people boasts of delightful subtropical climate and a scenic location between the southern shores of Lake Kivu and the forested mountains inland. The influences of Belgian colonial times can be found in the grand houses bordering the lake, the old cathedral called Our Lady of Peace and in the magnificent College Alfajiri.

This reputed academic institution’s establishment in 1937 heralded the beginning of mixed-race education in the Belgian Congo and yet its history is far from harmonious, being intricately tied in with the tumultuous history of eastern Congo itself.

Its grounds were used as a base for a Belgian uprising against Mobutu in the 60s and as refugee camp following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and its walls are riddled with the bullet-holes from the subsequent invasion of Rwandan forces.

Bird life in Kahuzi-Biega National Park; A rich natural habitat in the park supports the survival of different bird species. The park has total of 349 bird species of which 42 bird species found in the park are endemic to the Albertine Rift, including the Rockefeller’s sunbird, Grauer’s broadbill, Ruwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s warbler and Shelley’s crimsonwing. Birds play an important role in dispersing seeds throughout the park. Some species digest and excrete the seed, allowing seedlings to be spread far from the parent tree.

The hot, humid temperature in the lowland region is also ideal for insects that decompose plant material. A single leaf on the forest floor can be “digested” in only two months. Ants and termites alone account for more than 30% of the total biomass in a tropical forest.

Flora/Vegetation in Kahuzi-Biega National Park; The Park is one of the protected areas with exclusive vegetation diversity in African. The park‘s floral diversity ranges from swamps, bogs, marshland and riparian forests on hydromorphic ground at all altitudes are rare worldwide.

The western lowland sector of the park is mainly covered by dense Guineo-Congolian wet equatorial rainforest, with an area of transition forest between 1,200 meters (3,900 ft) and 1,500 meters (4,900 ft).

The eastern mountainous sector includes continuous forest vegetation from 600 meters (2,000 ft.) to over 2,600 meters (8,500 ft), and is one of the rare sites in Sub-Saharan Africa which show all stages of the low to highland transition, including six (6) distinguishable primary vegetation types: swamp and peat bog, swamp forest, high-altitude rainforest, mountain rainforest, bamboo forest and subalpine heather.

Mountain and swamp forest grows between 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and 2,400 metres (7,900 ft), bamboo forest grows between 2,350 metres (7,710 ft) and 2,600 metres (8,500 ft), and the summits of Mounts Kahuzi and Biéga above 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) have subalpine heather, dry savannah, and grasslands, as well as the endemic plant Senecio kahuzicus.

Tourist Activities outside Kahuzi-Biega National Park Congo

Visit to Lwiro; A forgotten jewel of our region. It’s located about 90 minutes’ drive north of Bukavu town. This was once a favorite retreat of Belgian colonizers and even Mobutu. Aside from a magnificent landscape and being the entry point for the Tshibati waterfall walk, Lwiro hosts fascinating scientific research centers which have opened their doors for tourists.

While at the Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro (CRPL), one can find the Centre de Recherches en Sciences Naturelles (CRSN), a research center built by the Belgians in the 1950s, and the Centre Intégral d’Education de Lwiro (CIEL), which aims to educate visitors and local communities about the natural and anthropological history of the region.

Visitors will be guided through the biodiversity hall, which includes the skeleton of Casimir, the first ever habituated gorilla, a botanical garden, an anthropological Centre, the CRSN’s herpetology lab and the magnificent library.

Visit to tea plantations of Mbayo; A walk can be taken to explore the pleasant plantations of Mbayo. Visit typically start at the cinchona plantation (source of quinine) and offer visitors an opportunity to learn about history of cinchona cultivation in DR Congo, including its collapse due to disease and its current slow recovery.

Brave (or foolhardy) visitors may accept to chew on some of the cinchona bark.Visitors then move on to the tea plantation and factory to learn about the entire tea-growing process, « from the leaf to the cup ». Visits are rounded off most pleasantly with a cup of tea at a great viewpoint

Cultural visit to the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Kabare; The Royal Court of the Kabare Kingdom is located just a forty (40) minute drive from Bukavu town, in the direction of the park, you can now for the first time visit the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Kabare.

The Royal Kingdom of Kabare has a long and proud tradition as the most powerful kingdom of South Kivu and the erstwhile Mwami Kabare Rugemanizi “Zéro Zéro” was instrumental in the region’s resistance against colonization and famously slapped a Belgian colonizer in the face.

As punishment he was exiled 2,000km away, but brought back 20 years later when the Belgians finally realized that nothing could be achieved without his presence. To this day, the Royal Court retains its traditions and secrets, and visitors can spend time with the Mwami’s wise men who will present some of the objects of symbolic importance to the court, and to listen to the Griot sing the history of Kabare. Visits will finish with an enthusiastic Ntole dance performed by the Bushi villagers.

Bukavu City tour; Bukavu was established in 1901 by the Belgian colonial authorities and is the capital of South Kivu province.

This picturesque city of about 250,000 boasts a pleasant subtropical climate and a scenic location between the southern shores of Lake Kivu and the forested mountains inland. The influences of Belgian colonial times can be found in the grand houses bordering the lake, the old cathedral Our Lady of Peace and in the magnificent College Alfajiri.

This reputed academic institution’s establishment in 1937 heralded the beginning of mixed-race education in the Belgian Congo and yet its history is far from harmonious, being intricately tied in with the tumultuous history of eastern Congo itself.

Its grounds were used as a base for a Belgian uprising against Mobutu in the 60s and as refugee camp following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and its walls are riddled with the bullet-holes from the subsequent invasion of Rwandan forces.

The College Alfajiri thus serves as an important reminder of the past whilst at the same time, through its excellent academic programme, holding a key to the region’s future.

Tourist Activities within Kahuzi-Biega National Park Congo

Lowland Gorilla Trekking; Trekking the Eastern Lowland Gorillas at their natural environment at Kahuzi Biega is a truly unforgettable experience. Just before the entrance to the park is the Tshivanga Visitor Centre where gorilla trekking activities start from.

The center has hospital staff who welcome visitors and assist them with payment and registration. Make sure you take a photo with the large gorilla statue while waiting for trackers locate the gorilla family. Once the location is confirmed you will begin to drive into the park.

In the park headquarters, you will be briefed and given a detailed introduction covering  the history, geography and some facts about the gorilla family you will be visiting. The guide will also provide you with advice on how to behave when with the gorillas.

Following the briefing you begin your journey along narrow jungle paths to meet the gorillas. Masks are worn to prevent gorillas from catching human diseases.

The length of this hike depends on the location of the gorillas. Some days they can be a 10-15 minute walk from the road, other days it can take over an hour of walking to reach the gorillas.

When you enter the territory of the gorillas you will be greeted by the enormous male silverback, making sure you are not a threat. After he accepts your presence a magical one hour  of observing the gorillas will begin, which is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Mount Kahuzi Hike; This is the highest peak in the park, at 3,308m. The climb takes approximately 4 hours through bamboo forest and sub alpine vegetation, and 3 hours to descend. The summit provides spectacular views of Lake Kivu and the city of Bukavu.

Mount Bugulumiza Trail; This 6km trail starts near the Tshivanga Visitor Centre and covers terrain regularly occupied by the Chimanuka gorilla family. The summit offers amazing views of Mt Kahuzi and Mt Biega along with the nearby landscape. The hike takes about 3 hours return.

Mount Biega Hike; The second highest peak in the park lies at an altitude of 2790m. The vegetation differs significantly from Mount Kahuzi making it a wonderful ecological experience.

The climb takes about 6 hours return, so it is important to make an early start. Park staff is currently working to construct a clear trail to Mt Biega, keep checking the website for updates.

Getting There

KBNP is located 40 km west of Bukavu town. It takes approximately 1-2 hours to drive from Bukavu to the entrance of the park depending on traffic. Follow the road heading towards Kavumu Airport and turn left at the intersection in the town of Miti. Keep driving straight until you reach the Tschivanga visitor Centre.

The easiest way to get around is by using one of the several tour operators currently offering the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. However, should you wish to organize transport yourself, a couple of options exist.

By Road; You can reach Bukavu by bus or by car from Rwanda via the Cyangungu border, from Burundi via the Uvira border, and from Goma via the road along Lake Kivu.

By Boat; Several operators travel daily between Goma and Bukavu, with tickets for rapid boats (2 hours) costing on average USD 50 and slower but larger boats (6 hours) are costing between USD 8-25. Tickets can be bought at the ports in Goma and Bukavu and it is recommended that you get these at least one day in advance.

By Air; The nearest international airports are in Goma (2 hours by boat), Bujumbura, Burundi (3 hours by road) and Kigali, Rwanda (6 hours by road). It is also possible to fly to Entebbe Airport in Uganda, which is another 9 hours by road from Kigali.

National Parks in Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo is a vast nation in Central Africa. It is at the middle of the dense Equatorial jungle of Africa.

As a result of political instability, Congo’s protected areas have been at stake with a lot of attack on biodiversity including intense elephant killing for ivory.

But nevertheless the demarcations still stand and the biodiversity is rejuvenating following the defeat of the some of the major rebel groups in the area including the M23.