Trekking The Eastern Lowland Gorillas In The Democratic Republic of The Congo 🇨🇩
Intro
Most travelers in this world have a bucket list with certain experiences they would like to do before they can't. Well, for the longest time, the number one bucket list experience I wanted to do was seeing wild gorillas in Africa. As the pricing in Rwanda is 1500$ for a single-day permit and 800$ in Uganda, I figured why not go to the Democratic Republic of The Congo? Additionally, I am on the quest to be the youngest man to visit every country in the world, so this would be a way to visit the Democratic Republic of The Congo.
What was it like? Unbelievable! Let me elaborate.
Getting To Kahuzi Biega
Driving over from Kigali with my guide and waking up at 6 am refreshed with a morning view of Lake Kivu at Hotel Nediva, the day had finally come to see the gorillas. The drive from Bukavu to Kauzi Biega National Park takes around an hour, with most of the drive being on roads that would not be classified as roads in most parts of the world.
It doesn't matter how much you travel; seeing the infrastructure in underdeveloped countries will always shock you (coming from a Western country).
Check-In
Arriving at Kahuzi Biega, we were a little late because we were waiting for a delicious steak that morning. Before heading out to see the gorillas, there is first an orientation where the main ranger goes over the rules and regulations while also teaching guests about the Eastern Lowland Gorillas. The differences in diet and size were the two main differences between the traditional mountain gorillas.
Free coffee? I am in 100%!
Tip: Price-wise, trekking gorillas in the DRC is much cheaper, with the local permit costing around 50$ and the tourist permit being around 400$. However, rumor has it that if you show up on the day, it can be even cheaper.
The Trek
By 9 am, it was time to head out on the trek. Heading out with us today were two other guests, 3 rangers, a guide, and the main ranger. Typically, if you are trekking the gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda, there will be eight people in your group, so the DRC is much more quiet.
Alright, let's discuss the elephant in the room, or at least my room: snakes. During the trek out, you will typically be heading through the bush. Yes, Black Mambas are present in the DRC/Rwanda/Uganda, but one will rarely ever see one. I was still scared, though...
Depending on the time of year (wet seasons versus dry seasons), the trek time to see the gorillas can change. The rangers head out in the morning to track the gorillas so that guests are not just wandering aimlessly and report back to the lead ranger through a walkie-talkie.
Eventually, we came out of the bush as we neared the gorilla, and the main ranger informed us to stop. He mentioned that the gorillas were up ahead and reaffirmed some of the rules.
Do not get too close to the gorillas.
Do not speak loudly when you are around the gorillas.
Wear a mask at all times due to the protection of the gorillas.
Always listen to the Rangers.
Machetes plowing through the bush, it was time to see the gorillas in person.
A couple of minutes later, we laid eyes on the most magnificent being I had ever witnessed: the Silverback of the Eastern Lowland Gorilla. This being was ginormous, and the first thing we saw it do was take a poop.
Note: Guests only get one hour total with the gorillas at all locations...
The interesting part about trekking gorillas is that they tend to move around quite a bit. For some reason, I always thought of them as relatively lazy creatures, but it turns out that they move from place to place, looking for food. We continued following the group for the whole hour, witnessing them feeding, playing, and the kids being kids 😅. The babies are so adorable ugh.
Traditionally, you will normally only see one silverback per group when it comes to the Eastern Lowland Gorillas. This one was a decent size, with an estimated weight of 300-400 lbs.
Towards the end of the adventure, we decided to take a group picture with us all and, of course, with the AK-47. For those uncomfortable with guns, this is primarily for precautionary safety reasons in case of something happening with the gorillas or rebels in the area.
I met a new friend during the trip, the guy in the green shirt. It's always lovely when people are welcoming, and I have experienced the most welcoming people all over Africa during my time there.
Once the hour had been completed, the rangers informed us that it was time to head back to base camp. The trek on the way back was much quicker, taking around 25 minutes in comparison to the hour out.
Back at base camp, we tipped the rangers and headed back off on the hour-long drive to Bukavu!
Final Thoughts
Trekking the gorillas in the DRC was one of the most invigorating experiences I've had the pleasure of doing. If you are debating whether or not to visit gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, or the DRC, that decision is entirely up to you. However, in my opinion, I was happy I did it in the DRC as getting crammed into a group of 8 people for an exorbitant price doesn't sound worth it to me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never ever forget.
Side note: if you would like to book this tour, feel free to reach out to my email konradtillman@icloud.com
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