Rwanda · Wildlife

3-Day Lowland Gorilla Trek in Kahuzi-Biega from Kigali

3 Days Round trip from Cyangugu Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Track eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park
02 Cross into the DRC for a rare gorilla trekking experience from Kigali
03 Walk narrow jungle trails in search of a constantly moving gorilla family
04 Discover Bukavu with an optional city tour if you arrive early

This 3-day eastern lowland gorilla tour starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda, and takes you into Kahuzi-Biega National Park in South Kivu, DRC. Here, you will track eastern lowland gorillas, a species different from the mountain gorillas found in Virunga National Park in North Kivu. Both lowland and mountain gorillas are endangered, making this a rare and meaningful wildlife experience.

Following the briefing, begin your journey along narrow jungle paths to meet the gorillas.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Cyangugu, Kigali

Languages English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival at Cyangugu and Transfer to Bukavu

Meet at the Cyangugu border, where you will be welcomed by our staff. You will receive assistance with clearing border formalities before crossing and checking in at your hotel.

If you arrive early, you can take an optional tour of Bukavu city. Places to visit include the cathedral, the big brewery (Bralima), the markets, the hydroelectric center, and the famous Panzi Hospital, among other places of interest.

Overnight in Bukavu.

Day 02

Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trek in Kahuzi-Biega National Park

After breakfast at your hotel, head to Tshivanga Station, where the gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park begins. You will receive a short briefing about eastern lowland gorilla tracking.

Following the briefing, begin your journey along narrow jungle paths to meet the gorillas. The length of this hike depends on the location of the gorillas. Some days, it can be a 20-40 minute walk from the road into the forest; on other days, it can take over an hour to reach the lowland gorillas, as they are always on the move in search of food.

After this once-in-a-lifetime experience, return to Bukavu. Overnight in Bukavu.

Day 03

Return Transfer to Kigali

After a relaxed breakfast, you will be driven back to Kigali, Rwanda, crossing via the Cyangugu border in the morning. You will arrive in Kigali late in the afternoon.

Where this trip takes you

Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Tshivanga Station, narrow jungle paths

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Cyangugu 2 cities · 3 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Gorilla permit
DRC visa
Drinking water
All transportation
Accommodation
A professional driver/guide

What's Not Included

International/domestic flights
Round-trip Kigali airport taxi transfer (can be organized on request)
Meals and drinks
Optional tours (city tour)
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, etc.)
Tips
Other expenses

What to bring

Money for your expenses (in the DRC, you can use US dollars everywhere, but make sure you have new bills without any cuts or tears. ATMs in Goma/Bukavu give US dollars. In Goma/Bukavu, only new notes are accepted, above 2009 series), waterproof solid walking boots and long socks that are comfortable for a tropical mountain forest (remember that one of the most common situations is finding red ants along the trail), outfits in adapted colours for wildlife observation (khaki clothes are most preferred), raingear, a few long-sleeve shirts, slippers, a sweater for cool evenings, sun protection, a hat, sunglasses, sun cream, insect repellent with DEET, a video/photo camera, a 200 mm or longer lens if possible, spare batteries, a torch, insect repellents, binoculars, and gloves to grip vegetation. It is also best to have different layers of clothes since the temperatures tend to change.
A first aid kit including rehydration sachets, anti-diarrhoea medicine, aspirin, cold medication, antiseptic cream, band-aids, motion sickness pills, lip balm, eye drops, and personal medication.
Visitors are asked to bring their own face masks and hand sanitiser.

Know before you go

When is the best time to visit?
- Gorilla trekking is available throughout the year. There are two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season (18 to 27 C) runs from June to August. During this period, gorillas are harder to find because they move around more in search of food, so tourists should expect to walk longer before finding them. However, pictures are clearer at this time. In the rainy season, from September to May, gorillas are more stable because they find food quickly. Tourists need quality cameras for good pictures and should bring raincoats.

Logistics