Virunga National Park is found in the eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and lies in the Albertine rift valley, the park is one of the oldest protected area in Africa gazetted in 1952 covering an area of 7,768.93 square kilometers. Virunga national park is a great ecological system created by a series of vegetation cover such as montane forests with over 3000 floral species, the park is also a habitat to the most endangered species of animals on earth that is the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Virunga National Park is such a fascinating and memorable tourist safari destination worth visiting, the park offers a couple of Congo safari activities which are very amazing and memory offering to participate in while your safari in the park, with great attractions and activities.
Attractions in Virunga National Park.
Wildlife.
Virunga national park is a home to abundant wildlife, including the elephants, whose numbers began decreasing in the late 20th century, and lions, which also face various threats, hippopotamus, rare mountain gorillas, okapis, antelope, blue monkeys, bushbucks, duikers warthogs and many others, the tourists who visit the can be lucky to spot many animal species because the park has a vast number of the wildlife.
Bird species.
Virunga national park is a birding haven in the world with a number of over 706 bird species that are protected in the park and of which 24 are considered to be endemic to the Virungas. The various bird species which inhabit forest vegetation’s such as Narrow-tailed starling, Madagascar bee-eater, Grey-throated Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Rwenzori turaco, Black bishop, Red-throated alethe, Stripe breasted tit, African goshawk, Olive sunbird, White-headed wood hoopoe and many others.
Mountain Gorillas.
Virunga national park is a home to 22 primate that is the mountain gorillas that attract millions and millions of the visitors to Congo specifically for gorilla trekking safari, the mountain gorillas are the main attraction of the visitors in the park.
Virunga volcanic mountains.
Virunga national park consists of the volcanic mountains of which are shared with other countries like Uganda, Rwanda including Mount Nyirogongo and Mount Nyamuragira which are the active volcanoes and other dormant volcanoes include Mount Mikeno and Mount Kirisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Sabyinyo which is shared by the three countries Uganda, Rwanda and Congo these volcanoes increase of the tourism for the country through the Virunga volcanoes mountains that are attracted by the most of the tourists.
Vegetation.
Virunga National park is composed of the most attractive forest vegetation, savannah, lava plains, erosion valleys, wetland and swamp vegetation with shrubs, plants an grasses, montane forests, open grasslands, woodlands, rainforests, heath and alpine vegetation in the highlands these are such vegetation types that are unique thus attracting more tourists to the park.
Activities done in Virunga National Park.
Mountain Gorilla trekking.
Mountain gorilla trekking is the main highlight of Virunga national park, the park is one of few remarkable areas in the world habiting the endangered mountain gorilla which are trekked on a mountain gorilla safari, gorilla trekking safari is abit challenging expedition but very rewarding and memorable, the activity involves hiking through the hilly forested slopes of the park’s volcanoes while searching for the mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas in Virunga National park live and are found in groups which is an amazing sight to see and the park’s forested area are home to the mountain gorilla with 8 habituated mountain gorilla groups as Kabirizi Gorilla group, Humba Gorilla group Rugendo Gorilla group, Mapuwa Gorilla group, Lulengo gorilla group, Munyaga Gorilla group, Nyakamwe gorilla group and Bageni gorilla group. Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park begins at Bukima patrol post and it is a trek of 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of the mountain gorilla and the family you are to trek, your head guide always has an idea of where the mountain gorillas are to be found.
Bird watching.
Virunga National Park is a home to very many bird species which habit in the forests of the park and easy to view on a bird watching safari in the park, the bird watching activity starts in the morning an embark on your hike into the park, as you hike through the forested park you get to enjoy the beautiful melodic sounds and views of birds with the help of the telescopes, binoculars, The bird species to be spotted includes Double-toothed barbet, Black kite, speckle mouse bird, olive woodpecker, regal sun bird, stray seedeater, Rwenzori batis, bronze sunbird, paradise fly catcher and many more.
Hiking Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira.
For any interesting hiking safari in Virunga national park, it should not be done anywhere except the Mount Nyiragongo and mount Nyamuragira, these are most active volcanoes in the world. Nyiragongo Mountain has erupted 34 times and the recent time being 2002. The hiking safari by the tourists to make to the summit to the top of the volcano rewards hikers with breathtaking scenery of the Virunga ranges, the beautiful forests and other volcanoes in the area, also hiking Mount Nyaragongo requires one to be having greater mental and physical preparedness than even gorilla trekking.
Visiting Senkwekwe Orphanage Centre.
Senkwekwe orphanage center is located in Rumangabo near the Virunga national park, it is well known as the only facility in African that caters for the orphaned mountain gorillas. The tourists during their safari to the park can also visit the orphanage to see the orphaned mountain gorillas.
Landscape viewing and photography.
Virunga National Park is dominated by a landscape dominated by the volcanoes and valleys which are covered by the montane and afro alpine forests which makes the park a perfect destination for the landscape viewing and photography.
Guided nature walks.
Virunga national park is well known for diverse of plant and animal species, so the nature walks safari rewards the guests with the most beautiful scenery and landscape like wonderful sights of volcanoes like Nyiragongo, during the nature walks the tourists easily connects with nature and they can spot all kinds of wildlife in the park ranging from the primates, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, bird and among others
The Batwa visit and trail.
The Batwa cultural trail is led by the Batwa themselves and offers the visitors a chance to learn how they make their huts, eat some of their locally prepared foods, dance to songs or tunes from local their local music instruments and learn their hunting skills, also the guests do enjoy various activities during the batwa community visit like learning how to harvest honey and also their unique ancient farming methods.
Best time to visit Virunga National Park.
Democratic Republic of Congo as a country straddles the equator experiencing both the hot and warm climatic conditions, and the eastern part of the DRC consists of dense forests that enable the place to get frequent rains throughout the year. The most popular time to travel and visit Virunga National Park is during the months of July through to September and by far the driest months of the year.
Where to stay during your safari to Virunga National Park.
There are various accommodation facilities where the guests can stay during their safari to Virunga National Park as these are such suitable and comfortable to the guests as they are categorized into the Budget, Mid-range and Luxury accommodations such as Virunga Inn Resort and SPA-4 star hotel, Tchegera island tented camp, Bukima Tented camp, Lulimbi tented camp, Nyiragongo volcano summit shelters and many more.
