Virunga national park also known as Parc National des Virunga formerly named Albert national park is located in Congo. The park stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the south, the Rwenzori Mountain in the North and the Eastern border Democratic Republic of Congo bordering the volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Queen Elizabeth national park of Uganda.

Virunga national park is under the management of Congolese national park authorities, this park was created in 1925 as the first national park in Africa to protect the mountain Gorillas. It was established in the same year it was created and later on was recognised as a world heritage in the 1979 then extended to Rwanda, Rwenzori Mountain, and Lake Edward covering a total surface of 7,800 square kilometres.

Some of the Animals in the Virunga national park

It’s covered in thick Bamboo forest, savanna and low land area making it suitable for the mountain Gorillas to inhabit the park. There are also other animals inhabiting the area like the chimpanzees, elephants, baboons, lowland gorillas, reptiles, okapi, and many more.

At this same park, there are a number of bird species and tree species which one might spot out as you admire the lava lake of Nyiragongo as well as the caves and water falls.

Activities in the Virunga national park

At Virunga National park, there are different activities one can encounter including hiking, birding, both Gorillas and chimpanzee trekking expeditions, nature walks and many more.

Gorilla trekking is the park’s main activity and a home to 200 mountain Gorillas which are managed and protected by the Congolese National park authorities.

Although it’s recorded that a number of Gorillas have reduced in 7years ago due to poaching and 10 gorillas were killed but now the number is increasing because of the game rangers who risk their lives to protect the mountain Gorillas.

You can book for a trip with African Adventure Travellers to trek the only mountain Gorillas left in the world. The trekking takes approximately 3 hours after the briefing at the park headquarters and 1 hour is allowed to spend with the mountain Gorillas as you experience their day to day life in the wildness.

Mount Nyiragongo hiking is a beautiful volcano covered with vegetation, sometimes it’s dusted with snow which features the largest lava lake in the world. Its 3,470meters in the Virunga Mountain in the north town of Goma and Lake Kivu west of the border with Rwanda.

The crate at Nyiragongo is about 2km wide and contains a lava lake. The Nyiragongo Lake has at times been the most voluminous lava lake in history of Congo and in the world. It’s the nearby Nyamuragira both are responsible for the 40% of Africa’s historical volcanic eruption since in 1882. It has erupted 34 times in record.

The mountain is a home to variety of animals including the chimpanzees, monkeys, bush bucks and more. Nyiragongo is greatly feared because of eruption which occurred in 2002 and reached all the way to Lake Kivu. The climbs always begins at 10am at the briefing station with game rangers and porters for assistance are always available.

Nature walks in Virunga national park

The nature walk takes place trailing different paths as you relax your mind from a mess of noise and you can only hear the bird songs.

There are also other various areas like the Gorilla orphanage centre at Senkwekwe which is near the park head quarter, you will experience the 4 Gorillas that were saved by the game rangers during poaching.

Birding

The birds of Virunga national park wake up as early as 5am with different songs of bird species. Spot out different bird species including the Narrow tailed stiles, yellow billed barbet, toothed barbet, Madagascar scar bee eater, grey throated barbet, and many more using your bear eyes, telescopes and binochars and many more in their natural habitats.

Chimpanzee trekking

The trekking starts as early as 7am, well you trail the forest in search for chimpanzees. Have an encounter with them as you experience their day to day life as they feed, carry their young ones, groom each other and experience how they display their nests for their night shift.

Enjoy an experience in the Virunga national park for those who like to spend an over night

Accommodation options

• Lake Kivu hotel
• Bukima tented camp
• Tchegera Island
• Tented camp