3 DAYS LOWLAND GORILLA TREKKING IN KAHUZI-BEIGA NATIONAL PARK.
Overview.
This 3-day lowland gorilla trekking in D.R. Congo takes place in the Kivu-region based Kahuzi-Biega national park. It is a very short primate experience that allows visitors to catch a glimpse of these rare creatures that are only 5000 left in the whole world today.
Just like mountain gorillas, these specific species of gorillas are endangered, only restricted to lowland forests of central Africa, with majority number currently inhabiting the eastern and central forests of D.R. Congo.
This tour begins and ends in Kigali city, traversing through Rwanda’s Nyungwe forest and Congo’s Bukavu city which is a main gateway to the remote Kahuzi-Biega National park.
Enroute short excursions will be made to supplement this amazing safari, like a tour to Nyanza museum and Butare based King’s palace.
Safari Day by Day.
Day 1: Leave Kigali to D.R. Congo (Bukavu city).
Early morning after breakfast or upon arrival at Kigali airport, be ready to be transferred far south-west to D.R. Congo, to your destined place, Kahuzi-Biega national park.
This is a long journey that will take about 7 hours but traversing through beautiful landscapes of Rwanda, dubbed the land of a thousand hills. This part of the country is dotted with romantic, terraced hills, magnificent V-shaped valleys and hundreds of small streams that prove the nickname, “the land of a thousand hills”.
Along the way, you will pass by the two known historical sites, one in Nyanza to explore the King’s palace – a former seat for King Musinga and Rudahigwa, his successor. Another stop over will be at Butare city where you will visit the ethnographic museum, which is also Rwanda’s and East Africa’s largest museum.
Have lunch here and later continue to Rusizi border through Kamembe city, to Bukavu town where you will have dinner and overnight stay awaiting your gorilla trekking adventure the next day.
Day 2: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park (D. R. Congo).
Wake up early for breakfast and prepare to leave Bukavu for Kahuzi-Biega national park, a distance of about 40km.Proceed to the park headquarters for briefing ahead of this dramatic primate adventure. Like, mountain gorillas, trekking eastern lowland gorillas also takes 2 – 8 hours depending on the daily movements of the family being tracked. But usually takes less time that mountain gorillas, since the specific gorilla species live in lowland forests.
Upon setting your eyes on these gorillas, you will be given only one hour for you to observe, take pictures and capture videos to keep in your memory. Also learn about their unique behaviors, habitats, their family composition and feeding habits.
After this adventure, you may continue on an afternoon nature walk to the renowned Tshibati falls located on the stunning slopes of Mount. Biega; alternatively you can visit Mbayo tea plantations and Bukavu city, before returning to the hotel for dinner and night stay.
Day 3: Leave Bukavu back to Kigali city. Departure.
Take a leisurely breakfast in the lively city of Bukavu and thereafter organize to cross back to Rwanda. Drive through Kamembe city, Nyungwe forest until Butare where you will have a stopover for lunch and visiting the ethnographic museum (in case you missed it on the first day).
Continue until you get to Kigali for departure flight or relax at your hotel.

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