Eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, DRC

Gorilla trekking experiences in Kahuzi-Biéga

A special experience

A hike through original mountain rainforest and a rendezvous with the largest primates in the world. In the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park you can experience eastern lowland gorillas up close!

Personal experience of gorilla trekking

practical example: (Warning, this is purely a personal experience!)

We took part in a tour in February: Logbook 1. Arrival: border crossing without any problems - arrival via muddy dirt roads - are happy about our local driver; 2. Briefing: very informative and detailed; 3. Trekking: original mountain rainforest - ranger leads with machete - uneven terrain, but dry - authentic experience - 3 hours planned - gorillas came towards us, so only 2 hours needed; 4. Gorilla observation: Silverback, 2 females, 2 young animals, 1 baby - mostly on the ground, partly in the trees - between 5 and 15 meters away - eating, resting and climbing - exactly 1 hour on site; 5. Return journey: border closure at 16 p.m. - tight in time, but managed - next time we would plan 1 night in the national park;

You can find photos and stories in the AGE™ field report: Experience gorilla trekking in Africa live

Can you look gorillas in the eye?

That depends on where you are and how the gorillas got used to humans. In Rwanda, for example, when a male made direct eye contact during habituation, the mountain gorilla always looked down to avoid provoking him. In the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, on the other hand, eye contact was maintained during the habituation of the lowland gorillas to signal equivalence. Both prevent an attack, but only if you know which gorillas know which rules. Therefore always follow the instructions of the rangers on site.

Is the Democratic Republic of the Congo dangerous?

We experienced the border crossing between Rwanda and DRC at Ruzizi (near Bukavu) in February 2023 as unproblematic. The drive to Kahuzi-Biéga National Park also felt safe. Everyone we met along the way seemed friendly and relaxed. Once we saw UN Blue Helmets (United Nations Peacekeepers) but they just waved to the kids on the street.

However, many areas of the DRC are unsuitable for tourism. There is also a partial travel warning for the east of the DRC. Goma is threatened by armed conflicts with the armed group M23, so you should avoid the Rwanda-DRC border crossing near Goma.

Find out about the current security situation in advance and make your own decisions. As long as the political situation allows, the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park is a wonderful travel destination.

Where to stay in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park?

There is a campsite in the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park. Tents and sleeping bags can be rented at an additional cost. Due to the partial travel warning, we had decided not to stay overnight within the DRC when planning our trip. On site, however, we had the feeling that this would have been possible without any problems. We met three tourists who were traveling with the roof tent (and local guide) for several days in the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park area.

Alternative in Rwanda: Overnight at Lake Kivu. We stayed in Rwanda and only went to the DRC for a day trip. Border crossing early morning 6am & afternoon 16pm; (Caution opening times vary!) Plan a buffer day if the trekking takes longer and an overnight stay is necessary;

Interesting information about gorillas

Eastern lowland gorillas versus mountain gorillas

Eastern lowland gorillas live only in the DRC. They have an elongated face shape and are the largest and heaviest gorillas. This subspecies of eastern gorilla is strictly vegetarian. They only eat leaves, fruits and bamboo shoots. Eastern lowland gorillas live between 600 and 2600 meters above sea level. Each gorilla family has only one silverback with several females and young. Adult males have to leave the family and live alone or fight for their own females.

Eastern mountain gorillas live in the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda. They are smaller, lighter and more hairy than the lowland gorilla, and have a round face shape. Although this subspecies of eastern gorilla is mostly vegetarian, they also eat termites. Eastern mountain gorillas can live above 3600 feet. A gorilla family has several silverbacks but only one alpha animal. Adult males remain in families but must be submissive. Sometimes they still mate and trick the boss.

What exactly do eastern lowland gorillas eat?

Eastern lowland gorillas are strictly vegetarian. The food supply changes and is influenced by the changing dry seasons and rainy seasons. From mid-December to mid-June, the eastern lowland gorillas primarily eat leaves. During the long dry season (mid-June to mid-September), on the other hand, they feed primarily on fruit. Then they migrate to the bamboo forests and eat mainly bamboo shoots from mid-September to mid-December.

conservation and human rights

Medical help for gorillas

Sometimes rangers find gorillas in the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park that have become entangled in snares or have injured themselves. Often the rangers can call the Gorilla Doctors in time. This organization runs a health project for eastern gorillas and works across borders. The veterinarians immobilize the affected animal if necessary, release it from the sling and dress the wounds.

Conflicts with the indigenous population

At the same time, however, there are serious conflicts with local pygmies and widespread allegations of human rights violations. The Batwa people also state that their ancestors had land stolen from them. At the same time, the park administration complained about the destruction of forests by the Batwa, who have been felling trees within the current park boundaries to produce charcoal since 2018. According to documentation from non-governmental organizations, there have been multiple acts of violence and violent attacks by park rangers and Congolese soldiers on the Batwa people since 2019.

It is important that the situation is monitored and that both the gorillas and the indigenous people are protected. It is to be hoped that a peaceful compromise can be found in the future, in which human rights are fully respected and the habitats of the last eastern lowland gorillas can still be protected.

Exciting places for great ape trekking

• DRC -> Eastern Lowland Gorillas & Eastern Mountain Gorillas
• Uganda -> Eastern Mountain Gorillas & Chimpanzees
• Rwanda -> Eastern Mountain Gorillas & Chimpanzees
• Gabon -> Western mountain gorillas
• Tanzania -> Chimpanzees
• Sumatra -> Orangutans