National Park in DR Congo

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Eastern lowland gorillas, the largest gorillas on earth

  • Best Mar, Jun to Aug
  • 6,000 km²
Best time to go
Mar, Jun to Aug
Size
6,000 km²
Altitude
About 600 to 3,308 m
Protected since
1970

Overview

We are not currently offering travel to this area. Government travel advice is against all travel to North and South Kivu, and the parks and airports here are closed or not operating. This page stays here for reference, and we will review it when the advice changes. Our Uganda and Rwanda gorilla safaris are open.

For reference, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, created in 1970, protects about 6,000 square kilometres of mountain and lowland rainforest in South Kivu, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the home of the Grauer's gorilla, or eastern lowland gorilla, which is bigger than the mountain gorilla and is critically endangered.

Wildlife

Kahuzi-Biega holds Grauer’s gorilla, chimpanzee, forest elephant and a range of monkeys and forest birds. Visits are not currently possible.

Chance of seeing

  • Grauer's gorillatreks closedGood
  • ChimpanzeeRare
  • Forest elephantRare
  • Red colobusAverage
  • Forest birdsGood

Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.

Activities

Activities here

  • Gorilla Trekking
  • Hiking & Walking

Weather and climate

Kahuzi-Biega has a cool, wet mountain climate, with rain in most months and heavier rain from September to May.

Month by monthDay °CNight °CRain (mm)
  1. 25°14°110Jan
  2. 25°14°110Feb
  3. 25°14°130Mar
  4. 24°14°150Apr
  5. 24°14°130May
  6. 24°13°50Jun
  7. 23°13°45Jul
  8. 24°13°80Aug
  9. 24°14°110Sep
  10. 24°14°150Oct
  11. 24°14°150Nov
  12. 24°14°120Dec
Average climate in Kahuzi-Biega National Park
MonthDay °CNight °CRain mm
Jan2514110
Feb2514110
Mar2514130
Apr2414150
May2414130
Jun241350
Jul231345
Aug241380
Sep2414110
Oct2414150
Nov2414150
Dec2414120

Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.

Best time to visit

The drier months, June to August, would be the best time when the park reopens.

Best time to visit Mar, Jun to Aug

  1. January: Good
  2. February: Good
  3. March: Excellent
  4. April: Good
  5. May: Good
  6. June: Excellent
  7. July: Excellent
  8. August: Excellent
  9. September: Good
  10. October: Good
  11. November: Fair
  12. December: Good
Best in the drier months. Access is via Bukavu and depends on the security situation.

How to get there

Access is currently impossible for visitors. The park is about an hour’s drive from Bukavu.

Permits and fees

We are not currently offering travel to this area. Please check your government’s travel advice.

Health and safety

Please see the DR Congo page for health information and the Ebola outbreak.

Where it is

RWANDABURUNDITANZANIASOUTH SUDANDR CONGOCENTRAL AFRICAN REP.CONGOANGOLAGABONCAMEROONLake AlbertLake TanganyikaLake MweruLake BangweuluLake KivuLake EdwardLake Mai-Ndombe Kahuzi-Biega

Plan your time in Kahuzi-Biega

Every safari we run is private and built around you. Tell us your dates and what you hope to see, and we will shape the route, the lodges and the permits.

Gorilla portrait

Made to measure

Your Kahuzi-Biega, your way

Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.

Start planning

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