Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park, in the eastern highlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo near Lake Kivu, is a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest wilderness named for the two great extinct volcanoes, Kahuzi and Biega, that rise within it. Its dense mountain and lowland forest is the principal refuge of the endangered Grauer's gorilla, also called the eastern lowland gorilla, the largest of all the gorilla subspecies, found only in this part of the world. Trekking through the lush, misty forest to encounter a family of these gentle giants is the park's unforgettable draw, and its varied forests also shelter chimpanzees, forest elephants and a wealth of birds and plants across a strikingly beautiful landscape.

What you actually see

• The Grauer's gorillas - the rare eastern lowland gorillas, largest of all.
• The rainforest - the dense misty mountain and lowland forest.
• The volcanoes - the great peaks of Kahuzi and Biega.
• The wildlife - the chimpanzees, forest elephants and birds.

When to go

The drier seasons, roughly June to September and December to February, are best for gorilla trekking, when the forest trails are firmer and conditions clearer; the trek is a strenuous, permit-based adventure best undertaken with guides. Wet and dry, the forest remains lush year-round.

Honest expectations

Kahuzi-Biega is a remote park where gorilla trekking is a strenuous, permit-based forest hike requiring fitness, guides and organisation, and access depends on the park's arrangements. As the last stronghold of the great Grauer's gorilla, set in a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage rainforest between two volcanoes, though, Kahuzi-Biega offers a genuinely rare and moving wildlife encounter.

Nearby

The lakeside city of Bukavu and Lake Kivu lie near the park.