Tayna Nature Reserve- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Tayna Nature Reserve spans nearly 900 km² in North Kivu province and was formally recognized by the government in 2006, following land donations by local families and leadership from traditional chiefs in the late 1990s. It lies at a unique ecological crossroads—between the lowland forests of the Congo Basin and the highlands of the Albertine Rift—ranging from 850 to 1,850 meters above sea level. This transition contributes to its status as part of the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot, providing habitat for Grauer's (eastern lowland) gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, pangolins, and other species endemic to the region. Community-based conservation lies at the heart of Tayna's story. Managed by the Réserve des Gorilles de Tayna (RGT), the reserve was established through local initiative and remains governed by the communities around it. In 2021, a groundbreaking full reserve great ape survey estimated between 150–300 Grauer's gorillas, alongside eastern chimpanzees, supported by evidence of mother–infant gorilla pairs from camera traps—a promising sign of healthy family groups. Ongoing monitoring efforts—including foot surveys and genetic sampling led by trained local teams in partnership with GRACE—are deepening understanding of these gorillas' behavior, habitat use, and conservation needs.