We
will never forget our encounter with these gentle low land gorillas. On 28th
June 2013 I went with Paolo Neri and Patrizia Amadelli (from Modena, Italy) for
the trekking of low-land gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park. We spent the
night before at a beautiful lodge in the surrounding of Bukavu town, Coco
Lodge. The service was excellent, the place superb and you start feeling the
presence of the nearby gorillas, as many information are displayed in the lodge
itself.
In
the morning, after a short transfer by vehicle, we arrived at the Head Quarter
of the National Park. With a surprise, we were the only visitors taking the
activity. It is very unfortunate that the international image of Congo is so
bad, that even safe places like Bukavu and Kahuzi Biega National Park are
suffering loss of tourism because of the general image of the Eastern Congo
situation of unrest.
We
went with the rangers to a family of 37 gorillas, Chimanuka. The rangers were
the most professional; they even gave us masks to cover our mouth so that we
better respect the habitat and the gorillas. It took us less than 45 minutes to meet and
greet the friendly gorillas.
As soon as we arrived to the point they were, the
whole family was there watching us as we watched them, the babies in most cases
came closer to us, some wanting to touch our cameras because they were very
curious. We watched them feed, play and clap hands (interesting). When our
guide clapped his hands, the small babies and the juveniles also clapped and it
was such a thrilling adventure for us.
This
trekking was the most exciting; you really feel the real adventure, the real
remote tropical forest, in its full powerful presence. It is just incredible
that travelers miss out this trekking because they fear to enter the border of
Congo. As long as you have acquired a valid visa from an Embassy of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, you will only see how in Bukavu and Kahuzi Biega
everything is safe and well organized. Not only that: tourism will help conservation;
we need to support tourism in Congo because this is how the gorillas will be
always being protected.
Check
out our itinerary for the trekking of Low land gorillas or you can take the long program the Eden of Africa Safari. Thank you to Paolo Neri to give us the permission
to use his beautiful and amazing photographs for our gallery.
Allen
Natukunda
