Guide to Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is one of the best national parks that exhibits the african natural beauty of the wilderness and is one of the oldest national parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. virunga national park is a Unesco cultural heritage site founded in 1952 with a coverage of 7800 square kilometers. this park is part of the Virungas that are shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC.
Virunga National Park is one of the most protected homes of the remaining critically endangered mountain gorilla species in the world. the park is composed of a tropical rainforest with two active volcanoes, mount nyiragongo and mount nyamuragira. the park is home to other wildlife species like lions, elephants, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and primates like mountain gorillas, bush babies, monkey species, and baboons, all of which reside in forest vegetation, savanna grasslands, lava plains, swamps and valleys.
Things to do in Virunga National Park
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the most sought-after activities in virunga national park. this activity involves moving into the jungles of the park in search of great apes. the park is said to have an estimated 300 gorillas divided into 8 families which include rugendo, mapuwa, munyanga, kabirizi, lulengo, nyakamwe, bageni and humba.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park starts with an early morning briefing at the Bukima patrol post. Afterward, trekkers in groups of eight are led by game guides and rangers into the jungles to search for the gorillas. Trekkers are allowed one festive hour in the presence of the great apes, though the hiking exercise takes 2-3 hours.
Gorilla permits in virunga national park cost $400 for foreigners, $200 for east african residents, and $20 for congo natives. this price is the cheapest compared to uganda which charges $800 and $1500 for rwanda. Trekking is allowed for individuals of 15 years and above.
Chimpanzee Trekking
this is another thrilling activity in this park. Chimpanzee trekking started after a successful habituation experience in 2014 when the chimpanzees were fully introduced to human presence. Chimpanzees are another group of amazing primates in the thick forests of the park. they are calm creatures unless provoked. Chimpanzee trekking begins very early in the morning when the park rangers move into the jungle to spot the nests where the chimpanzees spent the night. at 6:00 am, the rangers connect with the park guides, who lead the trekkers to the forest to find their human cousins. Chimpanzees are always moving so on interaction; trekkers keep on moving slowly following them, to see how they collect fruits and feed the young ones. the guides help to deeply explain the day-to-day lifestyles of these animals. after one experiential hour, trekkers return to the tracking center. the activity is a bit tiresome but more adventurous.
Hiking Mount Nyiragongo
Virunga National Park offers hiking experiences. the park consists of two volcanoes that is mount nyiragongo and nyamuragira. Hikes are carried out in Mount Nyiragongo. the journey to the top of the active volcano takes you through magnificent sceneries of a forested area and the Virunga range. the forested slopes are home to various wild animal species like chimpanzees, duikers, and bushbucks. Hiking to the summit of mount nyiragongo takes 4-6 hours so hikers must be physically and mentally prepared for the activity. since Virunga National Park comprises a rainforest, hikers are expected to carry warm waterproof clothing as rain is expected at any time of the day.
Guided Nature Walks
Virunga National Park has divergent biodiversity. a guided nature walk through the park exposes you to stunning sights of the landscape, the active volcanoes of nyiragongo and nyamuragira, as you walk through the forest. you luckily spot different wildlife species of birds, reptiles, mammals, and primates. Guided nature walks in Virunga national park expose to clear views of Rwenzori Mountain and the Virunga ranges shared by DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda
Batwa Cultural Visit
Batwa formerly inhabited Virungas until they were evicted by the governments of Uganda and Rwanda with a need to conserve and protect wildlife. these people went on and settled on the outskirts of the parks. in Virunga National Park in the Buniga area. the batwa trail in the area is led by the batwa themselves where visitors get a chance to interact with them and enjoy their interesting life stories, songs, and dances, watch them prepare food locally, and play local musical instruments and hunting skills.
When to Visit Virunga National Park
Virunga national park can be visited at any time of the year depending on the visitor’s activity of interest. the park has both wet and dry seasons. the dry season from July to September and December to february is more convenient for activities like gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. this is because the tracking trails are dry and passable. when you decide to visit the park in the wet season you must be prepared to move with proper hiking shoes and waterproof garments.
The rainy season which comes from october to november and march to june is very conducive to activities like birding. the visitors are always few, which provides you the chances of having a full exploration of the park. therefore, the time for visiting the park depends on one’s interest in adventure.
How to access virunga national park.
Virunga National Park can be accessed from both Rwanda and Uganda using either water roads or air transport. this can be by use of private or public means.
while traveling from Uganda to Congo, take a chartered flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airstrip to kisoro airstrip which takes only 30 minutes. From here, connect using a private vehicle to transfer to the park via the Bunagana border.
when using road transport, travel from Kampala or Entebbe to Kisoro which takes 7-9 hours then cross the park using the Bunagana border post. from the border, drive for 2-3hours to Goma in Drc.
while traveling from Rwanda, take a flight from Kigali International Airport to Goma, a town very close to the park.
when you opt for road transport, drive for 4 hours from Kigali to Gisenyi, a town close to Congo. at the border, provide key documents like a vaccination card, valid passport, and visa, then proceed to Goma in less than an hour.
using water transport is so adventurous. as you transfer from Rwanda to Congo. in this case, use Lake Kivu, which is shared by both countries, to use a public boat for safety and sail for 3 hours as you enjoy scenic views of the rolling hills in Rwanda and the Virunga ranges.
What to pack for a safari to virunga national park
virunga national park is a tourist destination with many amazing activities that catch the attention of many adventure lovers. some of them include gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, birding, nature walks, and cultural tours among others. for tourists to fully participate in these activities, there are essentials one should carry and have memorable moments in the park. some of these items include
clothing: since the park is found in a rainforest zone, you should carry warm clothing like waterproof jackets, sweaters, long stockings, long-sleeved shirts and t-shirts. carry light clothes for relaxation at the lodge and at night. Don’t forget good hiking boots as the terrain of the park is rugged and slippery when it rains.
travel documents. for one to be allowed into the democratic republic of congo, he/she should have valid travel documents like a passport, visa, and different vaccination cards that say Yellow fever. in addition to these documents, travel with your medical insurance documents for security in case any health issues arise.
Cameras and binoculars
Virunga National Park is endowed with diverse natural beauties that are so adventurous. visitors have to carry cameras to take photos of the animals, forests, the beautiful vegetation, and binoculars are so convenient for bird lovers.
it is also necessary for one to carry some pocket change for easy purchase of souvenirs in the different places visited on the safari and for tips to porters who help you in hiking and trekking experiences.
when you get into the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is advisable to acquire a local sim card to help you communicate in case of any problems like getting lost or accidents. you should also carry travel maps and travel itinerary.
Accommodation in virunga national park.
the park has different accommodation facilities both within and outside it. there are some places gazetted for camping within the park and the accommodations outside the park range from budget to mid-range and luxurious services. some of them include Virunga lodge, virunga inn resort and spa, mikeno lodge, kibimba tented camp, tchegera tented camp, virunga home stays, virunga hotel and campsite, Urugano virunga palace and hotel riviere ruzizi bukavu among others. all these provide quality services that suit different travel budgets.