Meet the Gorillas

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is the only place in the world today where tourists can visit Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) in the wild.

AN UNFORGETTABLE ENCOUNTER

Get ready for a memorable adventure in the rainforest at the foot of dormant volcanoes, searching for gorillas and watching them up close in an environment of exceptional natural beauty – the only place in the world where this unique encounter is possible.

Two families, Bonane and Mpungwe, are habituated to human presence. Other groups are in the process of being habituated, and around ten are monitored daily by our teams. Walking alongside them and observing the fascinating behavior of our primate cousins is an experience that many tourists and visitors describe as unforgettable. Some of the trackers come from the Wambuti community and have an intimate knowledge of the forest, which they share with visitors.

GORILLA GROUPS BEING MONITORED

Bonane: habituated since 2013, this silverback is one of the Park's best-known males.
Mpungwe: a family of 13 members, habituated since 2021.
Nabanga: a partially habituated group, with one female that is still difficult to access.
Groups in the process of becoming habituated: two additional groups are monitored every day for 5 to 6 hours by our team.
Groups monitored for scientific purposes: ten gorilla families are monitored daily.

Our trackers, some with more than ten years of experience, play an essential role in tracking and locating the gorillas. Their knowledge of the forest is a valuable asset for a successful and respectful encounter.

The Park’s booking office is located in Bukavu at 190 Avenue Patrice Emery Lumumba, Nyawera. The team there can provide you with all the information you need to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

Your adventure begins at the visitor center, located at the Park headquarters in Tshivanga. You will receive a detailed briefing including essential information about the Park, gorilla behavior, safety rules, and health guidelines. Breakfast is available for purchase but is not included in the gorilla visit price.

Meanwhile, our team of trackers will have set out at dawn to search for the gorillas. Once their location has been confirmed and relayed to the Park's operations room, your trek can begin. While waiting for departure, you can enjoy the tranquility of Tshivanga and admire the surrounding landscapes of the Park with views of Lake Kivu.

Depending on the location identified, you will then reach the starting point by 4x4 (20 minutes to 1 hour), followed by a 1- to 2-hour walk through the forest. This hike immerses you in dense, living, and vibrant nature. Each step brings you closer to the magical moment when, behind a curtain of foliage, you catch sight of a silverback or the young gorillas playing.

Take the opportunity to acclimatize to the dense forest by following the guides' advice and keep your eyes peeled for the many species of colorful birds and observe the diversity of vegetation and natural beauty of Kahuzi-Biega. Don't forget that the journey is part of the experience.

Once you are in their presence, you will spend a maximum of one hour observing their family life. You might see mothers watching over their young, the young ones squabbling or climbing trees, or the silverback sizing you up before accepting your presence. You might also hear the impressive grunts of a silverback and the vocalizations of other primates from the Bonane or Mpungwe families.

Don't forget to look up around you: although the gorillas are the highlight of your visit, the nature of the Park is full of wonders to see, hear, and smell. Enjoy the moment, observe your surroundings... but remember, leave no trace and take nothing from the forest.

A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

Grauer's gorillas are critically endangered. Every visit must be conducted with the utmost respect for their well-being. Park staff meticulously follow the best practices recommended by the IUCN.

GOLDEN RULES FOR RESPONSIBLE VISITING

Follow instructions given by Park staff at all times.

Visitors showing signs of illness (coughing, sneezing, fever, allergic reactions, and/or diarrhea) will be prohibited from visiting the gorillas or will be denied access to the forest.

Visitors will be required to wear a mask in the presence of the gorillas.

Do not use flash or artificial light when filming wildlife and keep noise from your equipment to a minimum.

Visits with the gorillas are limited to one hour. The Park staff's decision to end the visit is final.

Eating and smoking are prohibited in the forest if you are within 100 meters of any animal. Please ensure that you take all food scraps, utensils and food packaging with you.

We maintain a minimum distance from the gorillas at all times. If a gorilla approaches too close, your guides will ask you to retreat to a safe distance.

A FEW REMINDERS

Each group of gorillas can only be visited once a day by tourists.

All visitors wishing to go gorilla trekking must report to the Park Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m.

Visitors must be at least fifteen years old to track gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega. Hiking on volcanoes is permitted for children aged 10 and older, but they must be accompanied by an adult or authorized guardian at all times.

The guide will make every reasonable effort to ensure a good view of the gorillas, but this will not always be possible. The guide's decision to end the tour is final.

The use of cameras is permitted in the Park or on its outskirts.

Visitor forms - A registration form for visitors, including a health questionnaire and a liability waiver, must be completed by each visitor.
Proof of vaccination against yellow fever, measles, polio and COVID-19 is required. If proof cannot be provided, visitors will be asked to sign a declaration that they have received the necessary vaccinations.
Each visitor's temperature will be checked on the day of the visit.