Location: 50 km West of Bukavu Map
Area: 4,920 km²
Kahuzi-Biéga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), near Bukavu town on the western bank of Lake Kivu and bordering Rwanda. Spanning approximately 6,000 square kilometers, it is one of the largest protected areas in the Congo Basin and a critical biodiversity hotspot in the Albertine Rift Valley. Established primarily to safeguard the critically endangered eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), also known as Grauer's gorilla, the park encompasses a unique transition from lowland rainforests to highland ecosystems, dominated by two extinct volcanoes: Mount Kahuzi (3,308 meters) and Mount Biega (2,790 meters). Designated a World Heritage Site in 1980 and placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1997 due to ongoing conflicts and threats, the park symbolizes both ecological richness and the challenges of conservation in a politically unstable region. As of 2025, it remains a focal point for gorilla tourism and international efforts to combat deforestation, poaching, and armed incursions, despite persistent security issues.
The park's geography is divided into two main sectors: a highland zone (about 600 square kilometers) in the Mitumba Mountains of the Albertine Rift, and a larger lowland sector (5,400 square kilometers) extending westward into the Congo Basin, connected by a vital ecological corridor. This corridor, essential for wildlife movement, faces threats from unclear boundaries and human encroachment. The landscape features diverse habitats, including dense equatorial rainforests, bamboo forests, subalpine prairies with heather, swamp and peat bogs, marshlands, and riparian forests along rivers and streams. The volcanic soils support lush vegetation, with elevations ranging from 700 meters in the lowlands to over 3,300 meters at Mount Kahuzi. Hydrologically, the park is influenced by the Congo River basin, with seasonal rivers and swamps that create marshy areas, though no major permanent water bodies dominate except for the proximity to Lake Kivu. The terrain's steep slopes and volcanic features contribute to its isolation and ecological uniqueness, but also pose challenges for patrolling and access.
Kahuzi-Biéga experiences a tropical climate with high humidity and significant rainfall, averaging 1,400 to 1,800 millimeters annually, distributed across two wet seasons: March to May and October to November. Temperatures vary by altitude, ranging from warmer lows of 18–25°C in the lowlands to cooler highs of 10–18°C in the mountains, with potential frost at higher elevations. Dry seasons occur from June to September and December to February, offering clearer skies and drier trails, though fog and mist are common in the highlands year-round. This climate supports the park's dense forests and biodiversity but exacerbates erosion and flooding during heavy rains, impacting accessibility and conservation efforts. Climate change has intensified erratic weather patterns, contributing to habitat stress as noted in regional assessments up to 2025.
The park was established in 1970 by Belgian conservationist Adrien Deschryver, who pioneered gorilla habituation techniques to facilitate research and early tourism, beginning gorilla treks in 1973. Initially covering 600 square kilometers, it expanded in 1975 to include lowland areas, incorporating some villages and leading to conflicts. Named after its two volcanoes, the park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 for its ecological value. However, the 1990s brought severe disruptions from the Rwandan genocide refugee influx, civil wars, and armed militias, resulting in wildlife declines and the park's 1997 endangered listing. Indigenous Batwa (Pygmy) communities, the original inhabitants, were forcibly evicted in the 1970s without compensation, transitioning them to agricultural lives and sparking long-term disputes. In 2018, Batwa attempts to return led to violent clashes. By 2015, collaborative efforts reduced rebel activity and illegal mining, reopening the park to tourism. As of 2024–2025, a landmark ruling by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights mandates returning lands to the Batwa, though implementation remains uncertain amid ongoing militia presence.
Kahuzi-Biéga is one of Africa's most biodiverse sites, hosting 136 mammal species, including the flagship eastern lowland gorilla (estimated at 250 individuals in habituated groups), eastern chimpanzees, bush elephants, bongos, giant forest hogs, aquatic civets, and 13 other primates like Angolan colobus and Hamlyn's monkeys. Rare species include the giant forest genet, Maclaud’s horseshoe bat, and Alexander’s bush squirrel. Flora comprises over 1,178 plant species across six vegetation types, from lowland rainforests to subalpine heather and giant groundsels (Dendrosenecio erici-rosenii), with endemic plants like Senecio kahuzicus in high-altitude bogs. Avifauna is exceptional, with 349 bird species, including 42 endemics such as the Congo peafowl, Ruwenzori turaco, African green broadbill, Rockefeller’s sunbird, and Shelley’s crimsonwing. The park's unbroken ecosystem gradient fosters this diversity, making it a key Endemic Bird Area and plant diversity center.
Conservation is managed by the Congolese Institute for
Nature Conservation (ICCN) in partnership with organizations like the
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), UNESCO, and others, focusing on
anti-poaching patrols, habitat monitoring, and community engagement.
Efforts include gorilla habituation, chimpanzee programs at Lwiro
Sanctuary, and closing illegal mines. A 2022 public-private partnership
with WCS aims to enhance protection, while GEF-funded projects address
deforestation and climate adaptation. Indigenous Batwa involvement is
emphasized for sustainable management.
Threats include armed
conflicts, with M23 rebels controlling areas since early 2025, leading
to expanding forest loss visible in satellite imagery. Poaching for
bushmeat, illegal mining for coltan and gold, habitat conversion, and
militias (e.g., FDLR remnants) have decimated populations—gorillas
dropped from thousands to about 3,800 regionally by 2016. Batwa
evictions have fueled tensions, with violence against them by guards,
and corruption among officials exacerbates issues. As of 2025, the
park's endangered status persists, with 90% inaccessible to staff, and
challenges like understaffing, economic instability, and climate-induced
ecosystem stress hinder progress.
Activities center on eastern lowland gorilla trekking
(USD 400 permit, 4–6 hours, limited to eight visitors per group),
chimpanzee habituation at Lwiro (USD 40), birdwatching, hiking Mount
Kahuzi or Biega (USD 100), waterfall visits (USD 25), cultural tours
with Batwa communities, and Lake Kivu boat cruises (USD 50). Camping
safaris (USD 50/day) and nature walks are available, with best times in
dry seasons (June–September, December–February) for trails or wet
seasons for birding. Access requires a 4x4 vehicle; from Kigali (5–7
hours drive) or flights to Goma/Kavumu, then road to Bukavu (30 km, 1.5
hours). Permits must be booked in advance; accommodations include
mid-range hotels like Orchids Safari Club. Security is monitored, but
visitors should check advisories due to instability—self-drives are
discouraged.
The park's significance lies in protecting the last
major population of eastern lowland gorillas and one of the Albertine
Rift's richest sites for endemics, contributing to global biodiversity
amid DRC's conflicts. It exemplifies "fortress conservation" debates,
with potential for indigenous-led models post-2024 rulings, and supports
eco-tourism for local economies while highlighting resilience in
Africa's wilderness.