Virunga national park

Virunga national park

Virunga National Park is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the democratic republic of Congo and is located in the Albertine rift valley in the eastern part of Congo. Virunga was one of the 1^st gazette national parks in Africa which puts it among the oldest national parks in the continent. Virunga National Park was established in the year 1925 by King Albert the 1^st of Belgium and it recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and the park covers a total area of 8090km.sq. The park is blessed with quite a number tourist attractions including mountains like mount Nyiragongo and mount Nyamulangira and also harbors quite a number of wildlife species with the Mountain gorillas being its greatest export in terms of tourism.

Attractions in Virunga National Park

Mountain Gorillas

Mountain Gorillas are the top Virunga National park attraction and travelers from all over the world visit the park to explore these amazing endangered gorilla species. Mountain Gorillas can also be found in the neighboring countries of Uganda and Rwanda. In Uganda, mountain gorillas can be found in Mgahinga gorilla national park and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which harbors over half of the world’s total population of the Mountain gorillas. Rwanda Boasts of Volcanoes National Park also located in the Virunga Ranges. Virunga National Park has about 6 gorilla families. Gorilla families are the different habituated groups of gorillas in which individual gorillas grow and groom each other as a unit/family. The gorilla families in Congo include Munyaga Family, Kabirizi Family, Lulengo family, Humba Family, Mapuwa Family, and Rugendo Family. Congo Safaris are nothing without a traveler taking a detour to the amazing Virunga national park for the gorilla trekking activity.

Mount Nyiragongo

Mount Nyiragongo is one of the most famous Virunga Volcanoes located in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountain raises to an elevation of about 10660 ft and a depth of about 2000 ft. Mount Nyiragongo is one of the world most active volcanoes and has erupted 34 times with the latest eruption being the 2002 eruption of mount Nyiragongo. The volcanoes eruptions have been estimated to be occurring about after every 30 years. The mountain is one of the top attractions in Virunga national park and travelers love to explore the mountain by engaging in the Mount Nyiragongo hike. The mount Nyiragongo Hike is an amazing one and takes a traveler 2 days to complete the hike and descend back.

Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are yet another of the top attractions in Virunga national park and can be found in the Mahura Forest. Chimpanzees in Virunga National Park have been habituated and now are ready to be visited.

Activities in Virunga

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park of Congo is quite an amazing activity that travelers can engage in as they enjoy their Congo Safaris. The gorilla trekking activity in Congo is governed by the Virunga Authorities and a traveler to be allowed to engage in the activity must purchase a gorilla trekking permit from the authorities. The gorilla trekking permit is a documentation/pass chit that a traveler must purchase and present at the gorilla trekking starting point to be authorized access to the park. Gorilla trekking permits in Congo are the cheapest compared to the other surrounding countries that harbor mountain gorillas i.e. Uganda and Rwanda. Gorilla trekking permits in  Uganda cost $700, Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost $1500 (most expensive), and Congo Gorilla trekking permits cost $400 making it the cheapest. On the day of gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, a traveler must have picked their gorilla trekking permits from the Virunga Tourism office at the Goma boarder by 11:30 am on the previous day. You wake up early morning with your permit and go for briefing at the gorilla trekking starting point where you will be pared in groups of 8 and meet the ranger guides. They later lead you into the forests to search for the gorillas and this usually takes 3-5hours depending on the location of the gorillas. Given chance you could find them in less than an hour. When you find the gorillas, you are given one hour to observe the gorillas, take photos and explore their behaviours. After the one hour the you return to the starting point and later proceed with your Congo safaris itinerary.

Mount Nyiragongo Hike

The Mount Nyiragongo Hike is one of the best Virunga national park activities and a traveler is advised to always include this travel plan in their Congo Safaris itinerary. Hiking mount Nyiragongo is an activity governed by the Virunga tourism authorities and a traveler must also purchase a hiking permit from the offices at the Goma border. A Nyiragongo hiking permit costs $300 dollars per person and once you have this permit, you must present it at the Kibati Ranger post on the day of hiking. At the kibati ranger post, you are allowed to hire a porter who will help you to carry your luggage as you ascend the mountain. It usually takes about 5-6 hours to get to the top where you will enjoy the captivating views of the Hot red boiling lava lake. Take pictures and enjoy the views after which you will take a nap at the Nyiragongo Summit Shelters. On the next day wake up have a snack and then you will descend the mountain back to the starting point from which you will continue with your Congo Safaris tour.

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking in Virunga national park is one  of the top Virunga activities that travelers can engage in the Mahura Forest. For one to visit the chimpanzees they are advised to join the habituation team in Rumangabo and the activity is included in the Virunga Expedition package. The package lasts about 11 days and will ensure that a traveler gets to explore the best of the Virunga national park. The chimpanzee trekking activity is limited to 4 people only.

Visiting Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage

Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage is one of the amazing destinations in Virunga National Park where young abandoned gorilla species are habituated and given a chance to belong to a gorilla family. Travelers can visit the orphanage and be able to engage in the habituation process of feeding and taking care of the young gorillas. Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage located adjacent to Mikeno Lodge and the activity is organized by the lodge.

Birding

The bird lovers are not left out as the park harbors quite a number of bird species totaling to about 706 bird species. Travelers are meant to wake up early morning and set out into the forest to be able tosspot different birds species accompanied by an expert in birding and a ranger. Travelers are encouraged to use the birding books provided for them to easily identify the spotted bird species and to also record any new bird species sighted. Some of the common bird species include African olive pigeon, handsome francolin, white headed wood hoopoe, thick bellied sea eater, and many others.

Cultural

Cultural Tours are usually done in the communities that surround Virunga National Park when the travelers are having their relaxation time. Travelers can visit the communities where they meet different locals from who they can learn their ways of living and engage in tradition activities like dancing, cooking, dressing, singing and many others. Some of the tribe you will find around Virunga National Park communities include the Mbuti People, Batwa, Hutu and the Tutsi people.

Nature Walks

Nature walks in Virunga National Park are one of the other adventurous activities that travelers can engage in when they visit the park premises and these are usually done after the other main activities. On these nature walks, travelers get a chance to spot other amazing features like rivers, some water falls, and other primate species like monkeys, baboons, including wildlife species like hippos, buffaloes, okapis, antelopes, and some bird species.

How to access the park

Getting to Virunga national park is quite an interesting journey as travelers are given many options.

From Uganda: A traveler can decide to begin their journey in Entebbe and transfer to Kampala in Uganda then embark on the journey where they will cross into Rwanda through the Uganda Rwanda Boarder of Katuna. This is not a short journey and you will have to rest in the evening in Gisenyi. After you can set of to the Goma Boarder where you can get you essentials i.e. gorilla and hiking permits. Then later proceed to Virunga National Park.

From Kigali: A traveler can fly into Kigali and embark on a journey to Bukima but crossing through the the Goma Boarder by car. This is a 4 hours journey and a traveler will reach the park after going through the Virunga tourism office.

From Goma: This is the shortest journey that a traveler can make to the park and one can fly into the Goma international Airport and later transfer to Bukima in Virunga.

Accommodation in Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park in the democratic republic of congo is blessed with all sorts of accommodation facilities where travelers can decide to spend a night and below are some of the lodges:

• Mikeno Lodge
• Lulimbi Tented Camp
• Bukima Tented Camp
• Tchegera Island Camp
• Mount Nyiragongo Summit Shelters
• Kibumba Tented Camp