One of the first national parks established, Virunga National Park is situated in Goma, in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mountain gorillas, which are in risk of extinction, can be found in the park, which has an area of 8090 square kilometers. Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda are located close by the national park.
In order to safeguard and preserve its mountain gorilla population, Virunga national park in the Congo was designated as a national park in 1925. More than 706 bird species, 218 mammal species, including Forest Elephants, Buffaloes, Topis, Duikers, Hippos, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, Giant Forest Hogs, Rare Ground Hogs, Lions, primate species including the famed Mountain Gorillas with about 8 habituated gorilla families that are available for trekking on a daily basis, Chimpanzees, Red-tailed Monkeys, Black and White Monkeys, Olive Baboon
Attractions and Activities in Virunga National Park, Congo.
Primates, Numerous primates can be found in the Park, including the 200 or so well-known mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys, among others.
Mammals, Over 200 creatures, including buffalo, bush elephants, leopards, duikers, gigantic forest hogs, giant pangolins, marsh mongoose, bush squirrels, hippos, warthogs, and antelopes, among others, can be found in the national park.
Birds, Because it is home to 708 different bird species, including the grey-throated barbet, white-headed wood hoopoe, thick-bellied sea eater, blue-headed sunbird, black-headed waxbill, blue-spotted wood dove, and weird weaver, the park is referred to as a birder’s paradise.
The vegetation in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is primarily made up of tropical rainforest, with smaller amounts of savannah woodland and grassland, alpine vegetation, and swamp. The park’s vegetation provides the animals with food and a place to live.
a mountain in A live volcano can be found in Virunga National Park called Mount Nyiragongo. The largest lava lake in the entire globe is located beneath the mountain peak, which rises to a height of 6500 feet. With the most recent eruption occurring in 2002, Mount Nyiragongo has erupted roughly 34 times. The top of this site offers breathtaking views, including those of the Virunga forest, many animal and ape species that can be viewed when hiking, and more.
The only orphanage in the world that cares for gorillas is the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage. The orphanage was established in 2010 and is situated close to Mikeno lodge in the park’s administrative center. A medical gorilla doctor at Senkwekwe treats the orphaned gorillas there, among other things by giving them food.
Activities in Virunga National Park Congo.
Gorilla Trekking:
Virunga National Park charges $400 USD per person to go gorilla trekking. Activities for gorilla trekking in the park start at Bukima Patrol Post. Three to eight hours can be spent tracking, with an hour spent in close proximity to the gorillas. Visitors to the park can also search for the Bageni, Humba, Mapuwa, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, and Rugendo gorilla families.
A third of the mountain gorilla population in the world is housed in the national park. There are 8 habituated gorilla families that visitors can track in the national park, with the Kabirizi gorilla family being the biggest and most popular group. There are 34 members in this gorilla group, which is located in the Bukima sector.
Chimpanzee trekking
Early in the morning, visitors to the Virunga national park in the Congo park receive a training before being divided into groups and given a park guide who will lead them throughout their journey into the jungle. Visitors will spend an hour with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat after they have been located because chimpanzees are a nomadic animal that like to wander from one spot to another in search of food.
Chimpanzee habituation
In the process of chimpanzee habituation, chimpanzees are taught to get accustomed to human presence. A naturalist named Frankfurt began chimpanzee habituation in the park in 1987, and it was made public in 2014. A group of researchers, park rangers, park guides, and tourists conduct chimpanzee treks. In contrast to chimpanzee trekking, which lasts only an hour, chimpanzee trekking is a full-day excursion that permits a maximum of four participants to spend four hours with the chimpanzees. Therefore, chimpanzee trekking provides people visiting the national park with exceptional and breathtaking experiences.
Mount Nyiragongo hike:
Nyiragongo Mountain can be hiked on by visitors to the Virunga National Park in the Congo. Tourists can go on hiking excursions to the lava lake on Mountain Nyiragongo, a stratovolcano located inside the national park. A 30-minute drive from Goma city and an hour from Mikeno Lodge, the Kibati Patrol post is where hiking activities to the mountain start. Excursions on foot begin at precisely 9:00 am and run between one and six hours.
Virunga National Park also offers guided nature tours, scenery viewing, bird watching, and mountaineering Mount Rwenzori.
Best time to visit Virunga National Park
The best time to visit the Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is between the months of June and September and between December and February during the dry season. Most activities, including going in search of gorillas, taking a nature walk, and climbing Mount Nyiragongo, among others, will be successful during the dry season, which is also known as the peak season because there is less rain. In contrast to the rainy season, which lasts from March to May and from October to November, when there is considerable rainfall that makes the trail wet, muddy, and slippery, the gorilla trekking, nature walk, and hiking trails are manageable during the dry season.
How to get to Virunga National Park in Congo.
Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is simpler and more accessible for tourists from Kigali, Rwanda. To get to Goma in the Congo, travelers must drive for three hours from Kigali to Gisenyi town and then pass the Rwanda-Congo border at Le Grande Barrier. Goma to the park’s administrative center is a 1- to 2-hour journey.
As an alternative, travelers to the park can fly on Ethiopian Airlines from Kigali International Airport to Goma International Airport. All gorilla trekking excursions in the Congo depart from Goma.
Accommodation in Virunga National Park
There aren’t many lodging options in the Virunga National Park, but they do range from upscale to modestly priced. These include the Lake Kivu hotel in Goma, the Mikeno Lodge, the Bukima Tented Camp, the Tchegera Island Tented Camp, the Nyiragongo Summit Shelter, the Kibumba Tented Camp in the southeast of the Virunga, and the Lulimbi Tented Camp in the east. In addition to great scenic views of the forest and the nearby communities, views of wildlife species, spacious and comfortable beds, and preparation of both local and foreign dishes for the visitors to enjoy their stay during the safari in Congo, lodges in the park offer a quiet and conducive atmosphere for relaxation, especially after going gorilla trekking.