Introduction

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the few areas with lowland gorillas which are the largest of the four gorilla species. They are a very rare species of the world but dominant in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Lwiro province. DRC has only one lowland gorilla species which is the eastern lowland gorilla which is the most visited and trekked species in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

This species is derived from the great eastern gorilla species that is divided into mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas commonly known as Grauer’s gorilla. The eastern lowland gorillas are so unique that they live in the lower tropical rainforest woodlands of Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega. These mountains make up the Kahuzi-Biega National Park contributing to their adaptation of being lowland Gorillas.

What is the life of Lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Lowland gorillas are native-born of the eastern gorilla species making them bear 98% the lifestyle as that of the mountain gorillas and being differentiated by a few characters. The lowland gorillas are very much recommended for trekking for they also have 98% of a man’s DNA simplifying the work of habituation. This is because they are very friendly and peaceful unless provoked just like any other normal human being. The lowland gorillas get angry and this can be seen from their faces, attitude of stumping their chests, pulling grass around them among others. The lowland gorillas can also swing on trees and build their shelter on the ground any time they want to rest using the shrubs, tree branches, and leaves. Outstandingly, the lowland gorillas can use various tools in the forest as compared to the mountain gorillas according to the researchers. In addition, the lowland gorillas have larger hands, shorter muzzles, stocky bodies, and shorter heads.

Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in DRC

In DRC, lowland gorilla trekking is only viable in Kahuzi-Biega National Park after a critical study in the 1990s. A census was carried out in the same year and there were 17,000 lowland gorilla individuals in the world. This number gradually diminished due to the consistent civil wars that occurred in the DRC and other parts of the world. The persistent infections that could hardly be treated, uncontrolled poaching by the natives of Congo, and habitat loss have also played a role in reducing the numbers of these gorillas. There is now an estimated number of about 400 lowland gorilla individuals in Kahuzi-Biega of the remaining 5000 lowland gorilla individuals in the whole world.

Among the tropical rainforests of Kahuzi-Biega National Park are 9 lowland gorilla families with 4 already habituated and 1 still under habituation process. The 4 habituated families are very compelling to associate with as each has a special way of living, and special family members welcoming attitudes. Lowland gorilla trekking begins from Tshivanga Visitors Centre, where the tourists are briefed and grouped in groups of 8 people for the different lowland gorilla individuals as positioned on the gorilla trekking permits and by the park guides. The following are some of the habituated gorilla families.

Mpungwe Gorilla family

The Mpungwe gorilla family consists of 21 lowland gorilla individuals making the family greatly recognized as the largest and remarkably the most loved family by most lowland gorilla trekkers in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Chimanuka gorilla family

Surprisingly, this is the most charming and second largest lowland gorilla family with only 19 gorilla individuals that put smiles on trekkers as soon as they discover their location. These are so much visited by people and keep tourists interested in watching them now and on.

Mugahuka gorilla family

This is a family so unique and the nearest to Kahuzi Biega as tourists enter the park for trekking. The Mugahuka gorilla family is made up of 1 lowland gorilla individual who is a silverback that is believed to have been a member of the Chimanuka gorilla family. He chose to separate from the group after a defeated by Chimanuka the dominant silverback of the Chimanuka group. Mugahuka aims to form his colony after being joined by other lowland gorilla individuals.

Bonnani gorilla individual

This is the newly habituated lowland gorilla family in Kahuzi-Biega National Park with only 5 members making it stand as the second smallest habituated family.

What time is lowland gorilla trekking done?

Lowland gorilla trekking is mainly carried out during morning hours from 7:00 am till the time you can find the gorilla family and spend strictly an hour with the individuals. The exact time for trekking the lowland gorillas is unpredictable as they move longer distances compared to the mountain gorillas. It also depends on the fitness of the tourist to track the lowland gorilla family that was assigned at Tshivanga Visitors Center where the trek begins.

What is the best time for lowland gorilla trekking?

Lowland gorilla trekking is best done during the dry season since these intelligent apes thrive in the rainforests of Kahuzi-Biega. The dry season presents humid conditions making it simpler to move through the thick forests and visibility stands at 88% as when it is in the wet season. The dry seasons run from January to February and June to September with a peak turn up of tourists greatly anxious about lowland gorilla trekking in the rainforests of Kahuzi-Biega.

Visitors get to enjoy memorable walks through the rainforests as they enjoy the fresh and natural breeze in the forest as they embark on their lowland gorilla trekking adventure in DRC. Visitors also get to enjoy the singing of the birds in the forest as it is therapy from the busy world away from the forest.