Cultural tours in Kahuzi-Biega National Park: Kahuzi Biega National Park is not only known for wildlife safaris but rather also known to be a great destination to carry out cultural safaris while at the national park.
The national park is geographically located near different local communities that are known for their different cultural activities and this surely has made the national park a famous destination for all kinds of safari activities in the democratic republic of Congo.
Some of these local communities surrounding the park include the Pygmy communities, who have lived in the region for centuries and have a rich cultural heritage.
Visitors get the opportunity to learn about the traditional way of life, customs, and beliefs and lots more about the tribes in the country, Visitors can participate in guided tours with experienced guides who are knowledgeable about the local culture and traditions.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is located in the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo covering an area of approximately 6,000 square kilometers and the largest primates on the planet call the national park home.
The park is also home to other wildlife species, including forest elephants, chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and over 330 bird species and when mentioning wildlife it’s hard to skip the most endangered species in the national park which include the eastern lowland gorilla.
Engaging in cultural tours in Kahuzi-Biega National Park is one of the best ways to support the local communities who live around the national park and also get to have further knowledge about the local people.
There are different places in Kahuzi-Biega National Park that visitors can visit in order to have a worthwhile and memorable cultural experience.
Ethno-botanical tours
visitors get a chance to visit the traditional local herbal doctors where you will get to learn about the traditional medicines practiced by indigenous communities this opportunity to explore the traditional plantation farms on a guided tour to learn more about the uses of plants and herbs. during your tour, you will be allocated a local well-experienced guide who will lead you through the forest, pointing out various herbal trees/plants and explaining their uses in traditional practices
Heritage tour
Sightseers get a chance to carry out a heritage tour which is basically for a cultural culinary experience this takes sightseers through different cultural experiences where you will engage in different activities like preparing local, seeing the different cooking techniques, and the different foods as well as learning about the cultural rites and rituals in the Congo culture among others.
Local community visit
Sightseers on a cultural visit at Kahuzi-Biega National Park can also engage in local community visits, just very close to the national park which is surrounded by several local communities, including the Pygmy communities, this offers guided visits to nearby villages where you can interact with local communities and get to learn about their traditional way of life, culture firsthand, witnessing traditional dances, learning about local crafts and artistry as well as participating in cultural ceremonies.
Visiting the South Kivu Museum
Visitors also get the chance to engage in a visit at the South Kivu Museum as they get to know better about the destination, the museum is located in Bukavu and contains a display of images and pictures showcasing the Congolese traditional cultures and beliefs, On your lucky visit, you may encounter cultural, performances, and festivals celebrating the artistic talents and cultural traditions of South Kivu’s diverse communities where you will get opportunities to participate in various experience like live music, dance performances, storytelling, and other cultural expressions among others.
Visiting Bukavu Tourism Office
This is the largest city located just close to the national park and serves as a common entry point for visitors to the national park, getting to sightsee the Bakavu tourism office on your cultural tours will enrich you with a lot of information about the park including permits, guided tours, accommodations, transportation options, and safety guidelines, plus also getting more details about cultural attractions and activities in the region, including opportunities to learn about the cultural heritage of indigenous communities near the park.
Best time to go for a cultural tour in Kahuzi-Biega National Park
To carry out cultural tours in the national parks it’s best to do so during the dry seasons of the year though the destination can be visited all year through, during the dry seasons it is easier to explore the national park with no barriers of slappy trails and these dry months occur from June to September and December to February, is considered the best time to visit Kahuzi-Biega National Park for cultural tours. During this time, the weather is usually more stable, with lower chances of rainfall, making it easier to explore the park and nearby communities.
Where to say during a cultural visit around Kahuzi-Biega National Park
While at the national park carrying out cultural visits sightseers have a lot of options of accommodations to reside in as they get to rest after the venture and some of these include; Tchegera Island Camp, Kahuzi Biega Lodge, Lwiro Primates, Campsites, Bukavu Hotels, Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Lodge Coco, Hotel Begonias, Orchids Safari Club, and Exodus Bukavu among others.
