A vast Congolese sanctuary bridges two worlds, yet struggles with a painful human legacy.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning 6,000 square kilometers, Kahuzi-Biéga National Park protects a rare transition from mountain rainforests to lowland equatorial jungles. While it serves as a critical refuge for the endangered eastern lowland gorilla, the park’s history is deeply complicated by the forced displacement of indigenous communities and ongoing regional instability.

Established in 1970 by photographer Adrien Deschryver, Kahuzi-Biéga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a biological powerhouse. It encompasses two distinct zones connected by a narrow corridor: a mountainous eastern sector in the Mitumba range and a vast western lowland expanse. This topography allows for a unique ecological gradient, hosting over 1,100 plant species and a remarkable diversity of mammals, including the forest elephant and the rare eastern lowland gorilla.

The park’s conservation success is shadowed by significant human rights concerns. When the reserve expanded in 1975, approximately 13,000 people from the Shi, Tembo, and Rega communities were forced from their homes. Tensions persisted for decades, culminating in a 2022 ruling by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The commission determined that the state had violated the rights of the Batwa people by evicting them from their ancestral lands without consent, a decision that gained public attention in 2024.

Beyond social friction, the park faces severe environmental and operational threats. Since 1997, it has been listed as a World Heritage site in danger due to wildlife exploitation, regional conflict, and illegal coltan mining, which degrades the forest canopy. Rangers tasked with protecting this biodiversity report poor working conditions, while reports from 2019 allege violent confrontations between park authorities and indigenous residents. Balancing the preservation of this irreplaceable habitat with the rights of those who have lived there for generations remains a profound challenge.

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