How to Get to Virunga National Park
How to Get to Virunga National Park? This is a simple question that can be solved by knowing 1st the location of Virunga National Park and the rest is a procedure. Virunga National Park is one of the most visited national parks during the Congo safaris which are mainly done by the visitors in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When one talks about gorilla trekking in Congo, the first thing that strikes their mind is Virunga National Park which is widely known for protecting and inhabits mountain gorillas the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Virunga National Park is one of the oldest national parks located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Albertine rift valley and is located in the Virunga massif that is shared with two other countries that is to say Uganda and Rwanda and covers an area about 7,800 km2. Virunga National Park is a United Nations Educational, Scientific Conservational Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site that has a diverse ecosystem and offers protection to wildlife such as the endangered mountain gorillas. Its primary role was to protect the mountain gorillas living in the montane tropic forests of the Virunga massif and today it is a home for a number of wildlife such as the chimpanzees, golden monkeys, the different eye-catching bird species that make pleasant and relaxing sounds in the montane forests, buffalos, forest elephants, and reptiles.
Activities in Virunga
Additionally, Virunga National Park features a great number of tourism activities that tourists will be guaranteed of getting once they step into the country. Some of the activities in Virunga Park include the famous mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking in the Tongo forests, bird watching in the tropical forests, monkey trekking, hiking Mount Nyiragongo to view the crater, nature walks, and game drives. To have all this adventurous experience, this is the way to get to Virunga Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The ways to get to Virunga National Park
There are many ways to get to Virunga Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Visitors mainly use road, air and water transport to find their way to Virunga National Park and based on their preferences, they all come with different costs and implications.
Using road transport to Virunga National Park: Many visitors use the Kigali route because, during gorilla trekking in Rwanda, travelers always opt to also head to Virunga National Park. And some travelers head to Virunga in Congo direct From Kigali. It takes about four hours driving from Kigali to the city of Gisenyi and on crossing the border it takes around one and a half hours to reach the Virunga National headquarters in bukima.
Additionally using the route from Uganda is also possible and travelers need to stay overnight in the Kisoro district in the southwest of Uganda and cross to the Democratic Republic of Congo through the Bunagana border the following day. For all the road trips in Congo, you will need an international driving permit for this rule most visitors use tour operators that have drivers with these permits.
Using air transport to reach Virunga National Park: There are direct flights from Ethiopia to Goma and it is once every week. Those who are able to use air transport land at Goma International Airport. From there Virunga National Park is about 32 km west of Goma and visitors mainly hire a car. The only challenge with this mode of transport is that the direct flights are only conducted once every week. This means if travelers have fewer days than the seven days, they have to use the Goma to Kigali route to use the Kigali International Airport as an alternative for their return flight.
Using water as a means of transport: This is mainly used on Lake Kivu that connects two national parks that is Kahuzi Biega National Park and Virunga National Park. So visitors that want to visit Virunga mainly use this means of transport because the distance is short and you can use either speed boats that take around 2-3 hours and the slow boats take around 3-4 hours to drive on the waters of Lake Kivu.
Additionally, things to note when you are traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo include being sure that all the needed paperwork is completed in order to pass via the custom and immigration staff, a valid yellow fever vaccination card has to be displayed, you will also need 4x4 vehicles because some of the roads in Congo are not car friendly. You are advised to travel during the day for your security purposes.
Accommodations facilities that are in or near Virunga National Park
Many visitors prefer getting close to Virunga National Park because this saves them the burden of looking for the national park on the following days. Virunga Park Congo has some of the best lodges in the area and ranges from upmarket/luxury, mid-range and basic accommodation facilities. Visitors always have the priority to choose what soots them better and some of these hotels include the following;
Kibumba Tented Camp: Kibumba Tented Camp is within the park and features 18 tents and a good spot for those that are to go for gorilla trekking and hiking in Mount Nyiragongo. The lodge offers tents filled with all necessities plus amazing food at its restaurant and bar. It also has a comfortable bed and the guests are able to relax at the lodge and share their experience in Virunga.
Bukima Tented Camp: The camp is located near the Virunga Park boundary and features classy and luxurious suite facilities. The site gives guests a spectacular view of Mount Mikeno whose peak goes up to the gorilla division and the red glow given off by the lava lake at Mount Nyiragongo.
Mikeno Lodge: The lodge has about 12 rooms at the lodge each with a unique setting and nears the spot where those travelers are to start hiking Mount Nyiragongo. The lodge offers an excellent restaurant that offers indoor or outdoor dining, with complimentary breakfast and additional meals. The lodge is also surrounded by a forest and guests are able to listen to pleasant sounds of the different species of birds.
Lulimbi Tented Camp: Lulimbi Tented Camp is located in the eastern part of Virunga National Park in the Ishasha sector and it is dominated by the savannah plains. The campsite enables guests to have great insights on the wildlife in the southern sector of Virunga National Park like the elephants, buffalos, warthogs during the game drive.
Other lodges to try out when you visit Virunga National Park are such as Orchids Safari Club, Lodge coco, hotel Begonias, Exodus Bukavu, lakeside Hotel Bukavu, Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Tchegera Island Camp, and Mount Nyiragongo summit shelter.
In general, Virunga is totally accessible at all times throughout the year no matter the means of transport you use. Visitors that have tried Congo safaris, Virunga Park, in particular, have had the best remarkable, memorable, and adventurous holidays spent in Africa.
