Virunga national park Map : Virunga national park formerly known as Albert National Park is the most biologically diverse national park on the African continent, the park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1979.
Virunga national park is one of the 4 mountain gorilla destinations in the world, and the other three gorilla destinations are Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
Mountain gorillas are critically endangered species are they are the main tourist attraction in Virunga national park, these gorillas live in the forests on the Virunga Volcanoes. Because of a good population of mountains in Virunga national park, it is one of the finest destinations in the world to do mountain gorilla trekking.
Location of Virunga national park
Virunga national park is located in the Albertine Rift Valley in the northeastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo with Goma as the nearest city, the park lies on the frontier with Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains in the North and Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park in the East.
Virunga national park is part of Lake Edward, the Semliki River Valley, parts of the Rwindi, Ishasha and Rutshuru valley south of the lake, the Virunga area within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and part of the Rwenzori Range.
Virunga national park lies in the Great Virunga Conservation Area comprising of Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
Geography of Virunga national park
Virunga national park is located in the Congo – Nile watershed area with its northern sector comprising of part of the Semliki River basin, as well as savanna and montane forests of the Albertine Rift.
In altitude, the northern sector ranges from 680 meters (2,230 ft) in the Puemba River valley to the highst peak of Mount Stanely at 5,109 meters (16,762 ft) within 30 kilometers. This sector is contiguous with Uganda’s Semuliki national park and The Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
Virunga national park covers an area of 7,768 square meters comprising of 3 of the Virunga massifs/volcanoes that are Mount Mikeno, Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Nyirangongo.
The central sector of Virunga national park encompasses of 2 thirds of Lake Edward up to the international border with Uganda in the East, along the western bank of the lake, there is a narrow corridor of 3-5 kilometers connecting the northern and southern sectors of the parks. The central sector of Virunga national park is contiguous with Queen Elizabeth national park.
The southern sector stretches to the shores of Lake Kivu and encompasses of Nyamulagira, Nyirangongo and Mikeno volcanoes with there covered by montane forests. This sector (southern sector) borders Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park.
Note: Mount Nyirangongo is still an active volcano and it last erupted in 2021.
Map of Virunga National Park
How To Get To Virunga National Park
To get to Virunga national park through 2 of the most convenient ways, one of the ways is flying to Rwanda using Kigali International airport then connect to the border of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo by road and to Democratic Republic of Congo in Gisenyi – Goma.
When booking your flight, it is advised you book a flight that will enable you reach the park a day before embarking on your tour activities so as you will have enough rest as you prepare for activities such as trekking and hiking.
From Kigali to Gisenyi – Goma border, it is a drive of about 4-5 hours and more about half an hour drive to connect from Goma to the park.
Alternatively, one can chose to fly to the Democratic republic of Congo using the Goma International Airport and connect to the park, this is the fastest and less tiresome way to get to Virunga. However you will miss out on sight – seeing in Rwanda, flights to Goma International Airport are offered by Ethiopian Airlines an International carrier that goes to Goma on a daily basis.
So as not to miss out on the scenic views of Rwanda, you may fly direct to DR.Congo when coming to Virunga national park and then pass via Rwanda on your return journey.
From Uganda, Virunga national park is accessed through Bunagana border post in Kisoro in Southwestern Uganda connecting to Bukina the starting point in Virunga national park.
