Discover DR Congo
Mount Kahuzi
Mount Kahuzi is an extinct volcano which is located in Kahuzi Biega national park the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The mountain is at an altitude of 3308 meters and is considered the highest of the volcanic mountains which are part of the Mitumba mountains. The two peaks of the Mitumba mountains are Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega (2790 meters).
Mount Kahuzi is among the attractions found in Kahuzi Biega national park which is located in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo. This national park is home to the eastern lowland gorillas and is also among the biggest national parks of DR Congo.
Kahuzi Biega national park which is located in the mountainous area of the Democratic Republic of Congo is named after Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega. The national park also consists of tropical forests, bamboo forests, swamp and waterfalls which can be seen during tours around the destination.
Hiking MOUNT Kahuzi
Climbing Mount Kahuzi during tours in Democratic Republic of Congo takes about 4 hours to ascend. The trail used for hiking goes through forest and Afromontane vegetation which consists of tree heathers. During the hike on Mount Kahuzi, hikers can enjoy views of Lake Kivu, Bukavu town and the beautiful landscape in Kahuzi Biega national park. After getting to the summit, the time taken to descend from the mountain is about 3 hours. Primates such as vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys can also be encountered during the hike on mount Kahuzi. The cost of hiking Mount Kahuzi is 100 USD per person for foreign nonresidents and foreign residents.
Best time to climb Mount Kahuzi
Visiting Mount Kahuzi during tours in Congo can be done at any time of the year. However, the best time to climb Mount Kahuzi is during the dry season which is during the months of June, July, August and September as well as January and February.
The favorable weather conditions in the dry season make it easy for the hikers to ascend and descend Mount Kahuzi. The dry season is also a time of the year when many tourists go on tours and large numbers of tourists are expected to visit destinations. For the tourists who prefer to interact with less people during their safaris, the low season is recommended.
Activities to do in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking
Kahuzi Biega national park is home to the eastern lowland gorillas which can be seen during Gorilla trekking in DRCongo.
The eastern lowland gorillas are considered an endangered species and a gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega national park costs 400 USD per individual. This permit is a document which permit individuals to engage in the search for the gorillas in their natural habitat.
Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park starts with a briefing as early as 7:00 am. A group of 8 individuals are allowed to visit a gorilla family on a day at the destination. The amount of time spent searching the gorillas varies depending on the location of the gorilla family in the forests.
The Democratic republic of Congo has both eastern lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas can be seen in Virunga national park while the eastern lowland gorillas can be seen in Kahuzi Biega national park. The difference between these two types of gorillas is that the eastern gorillas are larger in appearance as compared to the mountain gorillas.
Visiting the Lwiro Conservation Centre
Chimpanzees in Kahuzi Biega national park can be seen during visits to the Lwiro sanctuary which is a center for rehabilitation of primates. Lwiro sanctuary offers shelter to different primates in Congo including chimpanzees and about 16 different species of monkeys. This sanctuary is also a place where tourists can learn more and also take part in local conservation as well as chimpanzee rehabilitation.
The different species of monkeys which can be seen at Lwiro sanctuary include olive baboons, yellow baboons, owl faced monkey, l`hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, black crested mangabeys, agilis mangabey, patas monkeys, red tailed monkeys, mona monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, malbrouck monkey, tantalus monkey, Allen´s swamp monkey and brazza monkey.
The sanctuary provides a home to the different primates including those which are offered and the primates in danger of being poached. After rehabilitation, these primates are reintroduced in the forest.
Bird watching in Kahuzi Biega
A variety of bird species can also be seen during tours around Kahuzi Biega national park and there are over 340 bird species in the park.
Some of the birds which can be spotted around Kahuzi Biega national park include grey crowned crane, crested cuckoo, Grauers broadbill, Rwenzori turaco, Shelley´s crimson wing, Rockefeller´s sunbird, yellow crested helmet shrike, hornbills, African green broadbill among others.
Boat rides on Lake Kivu
Going to Lake Kivu is also an activity which tourists visiting Kahuzi Biega national park can take part in.
Places to stay around Mount Kahuzi include budget, midrange and luxury hotels such as Mount Kahuzi hotel, Lakeside hotel Bukavu, Orchids safari camp, Panorama hotel, Coco lodge Bukavu and many others.
Cultural tours
Interactions with the locals living around the Kahuzi Biega national park is another exciting activity to do in Congo. In areas such as Bukavu, tourists can visit a local community and get to know about their culture and way of life.
How to get to Mount Kahuzi
Mount Kahuzi being located in Kahuzi Biega national park can be accessed by driving in from the Rusizi border or via Goma. The national park is about 40 kilometers from Bukavu town. The drive from Kigali to the Rusizi border takes about 7 hours and it is about 2 hours drive to get to the park headquarters of Kahuzi Biega national park from there.
Alternatively, tourists can fly in to Goma international airport and drive to Kahuzi Biega national park which takes about 5 to 6 hours. Kamembe airport is also used for flights to Kahuzi Biega national park.
