The gorillas
The largest kind.
Forest Service, USDA — Public domain · Cedrickarungu921 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cedrickarungu921 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Joseph Lionceau — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Joseph Lionceau — CC BY-SA 4.0
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is a protected area near the city of Bukavu in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, close to the western shore of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border. It is known for eastern lowland gorillas, the largest of all gorillas, and it is one of the biggest parks in the country. The first reserve here, on Mount Kahuzi, was created in 1937. It became a national park in 1970 through the Belgian photographer and conservationist Adrien Deschryver and was enlarged to about 6,000 square kilometres in 1975. It became a World Heritage Site in 1980 and has been on the list of World Heritage in Danger since 1997. In the mountainous eastern part you see peaks covered in thick forest and bamboo, and from high on Mount Kahuzi a wide view over rolling green hills under the clouds. Huge black-furred gorillas live in the forest, and purple flowers and bright butterflies fill the grass. The park entrance is about 24 km from Bukavu in a straight line. Gorilla visits are by permit only, with rangers. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to South Kivu, and tourist visits have been suspended several times, so read the current advice before any planning.
The largest kind.
From Mount Kahuzi.
Thick forest.
West of Bukavu, South Kivu, DR Congo
Eastern lowland gorillas, the largest of all gorillas.
Yes, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to South Kivu.