Virunga National Park Congo

Virunga National Park Congo. Virunga National Park is in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It shares borders with Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. With 7900 square km, this park is one of the most biologically diverse protected places in Africa. What the name comes from is that it is close to the Virunga mountain, which was formed in the early 1900s. There are swamps, snowfields, lava plains, and savannahs in the park, among other types of landscapes.

There are different types of ecosystems on the flat areas between volcanoes, in the Ruwenzori Mountains, and on the Virunga Volcanoes. The park’s varied landscape makes it a great place for people of all hobbies to have fun.

Along with the eroded valleys, the volcanoes, which erupt regularly every few years, make the scenery stand out.

The most popular thing to do in Virunga National Park is gorilla tracking. Chimpanzee tracking was just added to the list of popular things to do. There are more tours for birdwatching now that Virunga is home to over 700 kinds of birds. You can go climbing in the Rwenzori Mountains, which are inside the park. The mountain range of Virunga in the Congo is in this park. Most of the climbing is done on Mikeno, Nyiragongo, and Nyamuragira.

Things to do in Virunga National Park

Mammals: The African bush elephant, the hippopotamus, the African buffalo, the Kob, lions, leopards, waterbuck, buffalo, and many other species have been seen in Virunga National Park. When you go on a game drive in the park, you can see all of these animals and take pictures of them.

Primates: There are 12 kinds of primates living in Virunga National Park. These include mountain gorillas, chimps, golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and more. You can spend time with these cute and friendly animals in the park and even take pictures with them.

Animals: Virunga National Park is home to about 706 different bird species. These include endemic birds like the Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, regal sunbird, strange weaver, and others; and non-endemic birds like the African hobby, harrier hawk, common buzzard, mountain buzzard, and many more. Go to the park and listen to these birds’ sounds that sound like songs. They will make you forget about your problems for sure.

Different kinds of reptiles and frogs: You can see about 106 different kinds of reptiles and 65 different kinds of amphibians in Virunga National Park, which is near Lake Edward, Albert, and the Semliki River. There are snakes, but Nile crocodiles have been seen among them.

Things that are done in Congo’s Virunga National Park

Going on a gorilla trek:

You can’t go on a safari in Virunga National Park without seeing the critically threatened mountain gorillas. In Virunga National Park, there are eight groups of gorillas that live together. The Kabirizi family, which has 32 members, is the most popular and largest group. There is usually a lecture early in the morning before gorilla trekking, no matter which group you follow.

Once everyone is ready, Park Rangers lead the walkers to look for the gorilla family. It takes anywhere from one to four hours to find the group. Each person of the group has an hour to feed, groom, and care for the young while you watch and take pictures.

Gorilla passes in Congo cost $450, which is a lot less than the $700 and $1500 fees in Uganda and Rwanda. Before going on safari, you should make sure you have enough time to book your gorilla passes.

Where Chimpanzees Live

This is one of the best things you can do in Virunga National Park for only $100 USD. Frankfurt, a biologist, started getting chimps used to living in Virunga National Park in 1987. This project was paid for by the Frankfurt Zoological Society.

The chimp habituation experience is something that researchers and park guards watch over. Because they share about 98% of our DNA, chimpanzees are one of a kind and very interesting. The process of getting used to chimpanzees can begin as early as 5:30 am, when the monkeys start their busy day. The chimps look for food on the ground and in trees, and people watch them as they do it.

Forest walks and hikes:

Enjoy the guided nature walk through the forest to see the park’s breathtaking beauty and learn about the different tree and bird species that live there. Virunga National Park is mostly tropical rainforest greenery.

Hike up Mount Nyiragongo:

This is likely the best place to visit in DR Congo if you haven’t already chosen. Of all the volcanoes in the world, Mount Nyiragongo is one of the most active. In the past 100 years, the Mountain has exploded 34 times.

The most recent time was in 2002. Thousands of people had to leave their homes because ash and liquid lava poured off the peak and quickly spread to nearby places, including the shores of Lake Kivu. Even though there was a lot of damage, the mountain still looks beautiful. Every year, thousands of people go to the volcano just to see boiling red lava up close, which is one of nature’s great wonders.

When you get to the top of the volcano, you’ll be able to see the Virunga ranges, lush woods, and other volcanoes in the area. Even more emotional and physical preparation is needed to climb Mount Nyiragongo than to go gorilla trekking. For the walk, don’t forget to bring enough water and snacks to keep you going. People can hire porters at the base of the mountain to help them carry their heavy bags, but you should be pretty fit to enjoy the walk.

Trail for the Batwa Community’s Culture

Batwa pygmy groups have lived in the woods of Virunga, Volcanoes, Bwindi, and Mgahinga National Parks for a very long time. It’s too bad that society has caught up with them and made things worse. They had to leave their homes in the forests of Uganda and Rwanda and now live in towns outside the parks. Like the Buniga in Virunga National Park, they have been pushed to the edges of the forest.

The Batwa lead the culture trail where people can learn how they build their huts, eat some of the foods they make themselves, dance to songs played on local instruments, and learn how they hunt.

The best way to get to Virunga National Park

How to Get to Virunga National Park from Rwanda

This is the path that most tourists take. The best way to plan your trip is to get tickets that get you to Kigali in the late afternoon or evening. The Congo Border is closed at night, so it would be too late to start the trip now. It would be better to book a place for the night and get ready for the trip to Congo the next day.

It takes four hours to drive from Kigali to Gisenyi, which is the closest town to the border with Congo. There are both private and public ways to get to the border. A private cab costs $100, but public transportation is very cheap. To get to the border between Rwanda and Congo, take a cab when you get to Gisenyi.

One important thing you need to cross the country is a yellow fever vaccination card. Another is a valid passport and a Visa. Before crossing to the Congo side, travelers are given a stamp from the Rwandan side. They then show these documents and get another seal. After getting off the Congo side, the trip goes on to Goma town, which is only 30 minutes away and is very close to Virunga National Park.

How to Get to Virunga National Park from Uganda

There are two ways for tourists to get to the border between Uganda and Congo after arriving at Entebbe International Airport. One is by car, and the other is by plane. It takes at least eight hours to drive from Entebbe to the border. If you want to take the bus, you can book with a number of different companies, such as Horizon buses, Jaguar buses, Bismarkan buses, or Post buses. Kisoro is the town closest to the border with Congo at Bunagana. It costs $15 to $20 to get there by bus.

The drive from Entebbe to Kisoro takes eight hours. People who don’t want to drive can book a private flight from Kajjansi flying school, which is between Kampala and Entebbe. It doesn’t take long to get from Bunangana to Virunga National Park—less than an hour.

When is the best time to visit Virunga National Park?

There are both hot and warm weather conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo because it is close to the equator. It rains a lot all year long in the eastern part of the DRC because it is covered in thick forests. July through September is by far the driest time of the year and the busiest tourism season in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is also thought to be the best time to visit Virunga National Park.

Most of the time, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s low season starts in November, which is also the month with the most rain. Because not many people visit Virunga National Park in October and November, as well as March and May, many of the hotels have great deals.

You can visit the Nyiragongo volcanoes at any time of the year, but keep in mind that the weather can change quickly. For example, in some months, it rains a lot and the trails in Virunga National Park become too wet and muddy for climbing.

Places to stay in Virunga National Park

There are many places to stay in and around Virunga National Park, depending on your price. There are three types of hotels and lodges: cheap, moderate, and high-end. All room types offer high-quality services, but some extras might not be offered in budget rooms. Book your hotel and room ahead of time to get the best deals.

Mikeno Lodge

The Mikeno Lodge is a fancy lodge that is outside of Goma town. The lodge has 12 fancy rooms with grass floors that are made of lava rocks and mahogany. Each room is big and cozy, and it has its own bathroom with a curved tub or a stone shower. There is a fireplace, a bar, and a dining hall in the lounge room, among other things. Blue Monkeys, Chimpanzees, Colobus Monkeys, Golden Monkeys, and birds singing sweet tunes next to your room windows are easy to see from the Mikeno Lodge because it is in a good spot.

Kibumba’s tent camp and home

The Kibumba Tented Camp and camp is a brand-new camp in Virunga National Park. There are all three types of accommodations here: cheap, moderate, and high-end. The rooms are either tents or fixed buildings. The rooms have their own kitchen, living room, and dining space. There is also linen furniture, a bar and restaurant on-site, and other features.

The Lac Kivu Lodge:

Lac Kivu is in the park and has 20 rooms that are styled after African homes. The grounds around the hotel are very well kept. The Lodge has large rooms with views of Lake Kivu and features like Italian showers, Nespresso coffee machines, an exercise and beauty center, meeting rooms, a pool, WiFi, and power that never goes out.