Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Congo located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Albertine rift valley. Virunga 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 mountain gorillas. Virunga Park 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 square km.
Founded in 1925, Virunga was originally established as Parc Albert and the first national park in Africa. Its primary role was to protect the mountain gorillas living in the montane tropic forests of the Virunga massif. After the independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1960, by then Parc Albert was renamed to Virunga National Park in 1969 and after ten years, Virunga National Park was designated as a United Nation Educational, Scientific, Conservational Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site.
Virunga National Park stretches the high peaks of Mount Rwezori in the north to the dormat volcanoes of the Virunga massif in the south. This has enabled Virunga National Park is a sensational place to visit because it consists of a great number of tourist attractions and activities in the area. Virunga National Park is a home for numerous wildlife such as the chimpanzee, mountain gorillas, different species of birds, monkeys and also great insights for tourist attractions like hiking, mountain climbing, bird watching among others.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
In Virunga National Park, mountain gorillas are the major attraction in Virunga. These endangered gorillas are can only be found in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. Virunga National Park is a home for a third of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. This has increased gorilla trekking in Virunga.
The mountain gorillas are habituated into families or groups which make it easy for trekking with in Virunga national park. Normally trekking begins at Bukima Patrol post and takes around 2 hours of hiking. The travelers are given an experienced park ranger who tracks down the group of mountain gorillas to be visited. The travelers are given surgical masks to wear during their encounter with the mountain gorillas. This is done to protect the gorillas from getting infections from the visitors since their immunity is weak. Travelers who want to engage in this memorable experience in Virunga need a gorilla trekking permit that goes for about USD 400 per day.
Chimpanzee Habituation
Chimpanzee Habituation experience is done on a daily basis by travelers that travel to Virunga National Park. The guides leave for the forest at around 4:30 am to track the chimpanzees’ location and travelers start trekking at around 6 am in groups of four members. Travelers with illness issues such as fever, having a cold are advised to cancel the chimpanzee habituation walk. This is done to safeguard the lives of the chimpanzees in the Tango forests. For the chimpanzee, habituation permits go for a cost of USD 100.
Birding in Virunga National Park
Virunga has numerous bird species that live in the dense forests of the area. These tremendous bird species make pleasant sounds that give travelers a natural experience of the ecosystem in Virunga National Park. To have better insights into the birds in the forest, you need to carry binoculars, if it is possible to carry your telescopes but also the eyes can do. The birds give a natural feeling of life in the deep forests, memorable and adventurous experiences in the Virunga. Some of the species that you can find in Virunga include; Madagascar Bee-eater, Narrow-tailed Starling, and Double-toothed Barbet.
Mount Nyiragongo Hiking
Mount Nyiragongo is a spectacular volcano that features the world’s largest lava lake and it is located in the Virunga. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo takes around five to six hours and begins at 6525ft and ascending is about 11382ft. Mount Nyiragongo is covered with vegetation that gives travelers a spectacular view at the top and the hot lava in the crater can be viewed before it gets dark. Travelers planning to hike on Mount Nyiragongo have to carry their rain gears and jackets because the conditions at the top are cold and below freezing points. You have to also be physically strong and in good health condition to have the perfect hiking of Mount Nyiragongo.
Natural walks in Virunga National Park
Natural walks in Virunga happen to be one of the sport activities to do in Virunga National Park. The walks mainly happen within the trails that have been put through the deep forests that enable the travelers to relax their minds and also act as a getaway from the noise of the cities. The travelers can move to one of the gorilla orphanage centre at Senkwekwe that is located in Rumanagabo near Virunga National Park’s headquarters. This is the only center in the world that gorillas are kept under captivity. The center has four orphaned gorillas that were abandoned and others neglected in the deep forests so the center was created to look after them.
Accommodations in Virunga National Park
Accommodations in Virunga range from luxury, midrange and budget. Most of the travelers prefer areas close to the Virunga to give them a head start to their encounter and expedition of Virunga National Park.
Kibumba Tented Camp: Kibumba Tented Camp is within Virunga 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 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 like the elephants, buffalos, warthogs during the game drive.
Other lodges to try out when you visit Virunga 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.
How to get to Virunga National Park
Most of the travelers to Virunga prefer using Kigali International Airport that is located in Rwanda. On reaching the airport, you have to connect by road via Gisenyi town and head to Goma in the Democratic Republic Of Congo and it is about a 2-hour drive to Virunga Park’s headquarters at Bukima.
Best time to visit Virunga Park
The Democratic Republic of Congo mainly in the Virunga experiences frequent rain because of the deep forests that cover up the area. But also the place has some dry months mainly in the months of July to September. Those traveling for gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, these are the best months in the area.
