Kahuzi-Biega National Park
This 2300-Square-Mile (5960 Km2) Mountain Sanctuary Located 17 Miles Northwest Of Bukavu, Is Dedicated To Preserv¬ing The Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorillagorillagraueri). Search¬ing For These Magnificent, Rare And Endangered Animals Is Recommended Only For Travelers In Fairly Good Physical Condi¬tion.
The Four Groups Of Habituated Gorillas Have Been Named Maheshe, Mushamuka, Naninja And Mubalala. The Search For These Gorillas Usually Takes An Hour Or Two Of Hiking To Altitudes From 7000 To 8200 Feet (2135-2500 M) Through Dense Upland Jungle And Bamboo Forests. However, It Occasionally Takes Three Or Four Hours To Locate The Gorillas. The Park Also Includes Swamp, Woodland And Extensive Equatorial Rain Forest. The Highest Point In The Park, Mt. Kahuzi (10,853 Ft./3308 M), Can Be Climbed In About Six Hours.
On My Visit To The Park, I Was The Only Tourist There To Search For Gorillas. I Was Accompanied By A Guide And Several Cutters Wielding Pangas. As Our Search Progressed, We Found Gorilla Lairs Where They Had Spent The Previous Night.
After Four Hours Of Following Their Trail And Cutting Our Way Through Dense Tropical Foliage, We Finally Located Them. The Silverback (Dominant Male) Was One Of The Largest I Have Seen — Estimated By The Guide To Weigh Over 400 Pounds (180 Kg). Hanging Vines And Branches That Blocked Our View Were Cut Until The Silverback Pounded His Chest And Charged — Stopping Just Short Of Us And Establishing His Well-Earned Territory. In The Background An Adult Female And Her Young Offspring Were Curiously Watching Us.
Other Wildlife Present In The Park Includes Elephant, Giant Forest Hog, Duiker, Chimpanzee And Colobus Monkeys.
The Park Is Managed By The Frankfurt Zoological Society. At Present, There Is A Limit Of Eight People That May Visit A Gorilla Group At One Time. Children Under 15 Years Of Age Are Not Allowed To Visit The Gorillas.
Daytime Temperatures Average 50-65° F (10-18° C), And Yearly Average Rainfall Is High — About 70 Inches (1790 Mm). The Heaviest Rainfall Is In April And November. The Best Time To Visit The Park Is In The Dry Season. Bring Waterproof Light Hiking Boots (You May Have To Wade Through Water), A Sweater, Waterproof Cover Jacket, Lunch, Snacks And A Water Bottle.
To Reach The Park, Go North From Bukavu Along The Western Side Of Lake Kivu For 13 Miles (21 Km) To Miti, Then Turn Left (West), Traveling For Four Miles To Station Tshivanga, The Park Headquarters.
Related Information
Bukavu
Bukavu Bukavu, The Region's Capital, Is Situated On The Southern Shores Of Lake Kivu Near The Rwanda Border. Bukavu Is The Nearest City To Kahuzi-Biega National Park.Boats For Goma Depart Bukavu And Cross Beautiful Lake Kivu To Goma Three Times Per Week.
National Park
National Park Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated on the slopes of Mts. Muhabura and Gahinga in the southwestern corner of Uganda, bordering Rwanda and Zaire. A joint commission has been set up by Uganda, Rwanda and Zaire to protect the mountain gorilla in the Virunga Mountains where the borders of the three countries meet. Gorillas are much less likely to be sighted here than in the Volcano National Park in Rwanda or in Rahuzi-Biega National Park or Djomba Gorilla Sanctuary in Zaire. The Ugandan side of the mountains is dryer, providing less moisture to grow the vegetation gorillas prefer eating. However, the