Climbing Mount Kahuzi- Hiking Adventures in Congo

Mount Kahuzi is an extinct volcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo located within the world heritage site of Kahuzi Biega National Park in congo, Mount Kahuzi was last active at the end of the Pleistocene.  At 3,317 metres (10,883 ft) it is the highest peak in the Mitumba Range, which runs along the west shore of Lake Kivu in the Albertine Rift.

The eastern part of the Kahuzi Biega National Park, lies on the slopes of the mountain.  The Zoological and Forest Reserve of Mount Kahuzi was created on 27 July 1937, and extended in 1951 to include the Biega forest. It was gazetted as a national park in 1970.

Flora, Vegetation includes wet lowland rain forest, transitional rain forest and Afro montaine vegetation that is dominated by tree heathers
Fauna, Gorillas are found in the region, including the mountain slopes. In 1993 the population around Mount Kahuzi was estimated to be about 275 individuals. Their population was devastated during the Second Congo War of the late 1990s. The extremely rare Mount Kahuzi Climbing Mouse has been found on its slopes. Only two specimens have been found, both in the same location in the highly threatened montane forest on Mount Kahuzi at an elevation of around 2,000 metres (6,600 ft)

Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse

The Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse is a rodent found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to illegal logging; it is also threatened by fire. Only two specimens have ever been found. Both were found within 100m of each other on Mount Kahuzi. Its body length (excluding tail) is 50-100mm and its tail length is 65-132mm. Its habitat is tropical forests, and to navigate these forests it may use its semi-prehensile tail to hold on to tree branches. Its markings are brownish on the top and white to yellow on its underside, with strongly dark rings around its eyes. As with other Dendromus, it has three well defined toes.