Top Things to do in Virunga National Park.
Top activities in Virunga National Park The oldest protected area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park is situated near the borders with Rwanda and Uganda in the country’s eastern region.
The 7,800 square kilometer national park is home to a variety of animal species, including primates like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, and birds like mourning collared doves, black-tailed godwits, brown-throated wattle eyes, blue-headed sunbirds, and thick-billed canaries, as well as mammals like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, warthogs, duiker, and bush pigs.
The best activities in Virunga National Park
Gorilla trekking
One of the main attractions of Virunga National Park that draws a lot of people to the nation is gorilla trekking. In Virunga National Park, gorilla trekking begins with a briefing at the park headquarters in the morning. Following this, you will be paired with a gorilla family to travel with a park guide who is familiar with the jungle’s routes.
There are nine habituated gorilla families in the park, and daily hiking is possible. Mountain gorilla hiking in the park takes between thirty minutes and six hours, and while trekking, you may see baboons, red-tailed monkeys, and several bird species, among other animals.
After locating the mountain gorillas, you will get the opportunity to spend an hour with them in their natural environment, allowing you to witness their behaviors, lifestyle, and how they feed, nurse, play, and groom their young. You will also be able to snap pictures and document the moments to share with friends back home.
Hiking Mount Nyiragongo
Another exciting adventure that you shouldn’t miss when on safari in Virunga National Park is hiking Mount Nyiragongo. Mount Nyiragongo, one of the eight volcanic mountains in the Virunga conservation area, is 3,470 meters above sea level and is the biggest active lava lake in the world. After a briefing at the starting location, the hike up Mount Nyiragongo begins at around 9:00 am and lasts for five to six hours. Due to the difficulty of climbing Mount Nyiragongo, travelers must be in good physical condition.
You will encounter lower elevation, lava rocks, steep slopes, slippery stones, and harsh terrain while walking. Once you get to the peak, you will be able to take in breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, smell the bubbling and boiling lava, and spend the night there. After breakfast the next day, you will begin the approximately three-hour descent down the volcano. You will be treated to breathtaking vistas of the park, Lake Kivu, and other volcanic mountains as you descend.
Chimpanzee trekking
Another activity that has drawn many visitors to the area is chimpanzee trekking. Finding chimpanzees in the forest and spending an hour with them in their natural environment are the objectives of the activity. Because chimpanzees like to roam about in search of food, trekking with them in Virunga National Park begins early in the morning and lasts anything from thirty minutes to four hours, depending on the chimps’ location.
Mammals, primates, and birds are among the numerous animal species you might see while hiking. Once the chimpanzees have been located, you will be permitted to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, allowing you to see how they play, hunt, fight, feed, take pictures, and film movies.
Visiting the Gorilla Orphanage Center in Senkwekwe
The only mountain gorilla refuge in Virunga National Park is the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage Center. The Virunga Foundation runs the orphanage, which is free to anyone staying at the Mikeno Lodge. Six orphaned gorillas from the Virunga and Kahuzi Biega national parks, who lost their parents to poachers, rebels, and pet dealers, are housed in the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage.
A group of caretakers and veterinary professionals look after the orphaned gorillas, who were brought to the center for treatment and rehabilitation. Visitors may get up close and personal with the orphaned gorillas at the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage, where they can see them feeding, playing, and building nests. They can even feed the mountain gorillas while being watched by the caregivers.
Virunga National Park birdwatching
Virunga National Park is one of the greatest places to go birdwatching in Congo since it is home to over 706 documented bird species, including Congolese, woodland, and Albertine Rift unique species.
When you go bird watching in Virunga National Park, you will be escorted by a knowledgeable guide who will assist you in identifying various bird species, including the following: mountain wagtail, cinnamon-breasted bunting, mourning collared dove, black-winged stilt, white-fronted plover, blue-headed sunbird, grey-headed sparrow, snowy-crowned robin chat, willow warbler, red-backed shrike, blue-cheeked bee-eater, striped kingfisher, spot flanked barbet, and blue-headed sunbird.
When to go to Virunga National Park is best.
The greatest time to visit Virunga National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February, although you may go at any time of year. Access roads and gorilla and chimpanzee trekking paths will be dry and practicable during the dry season since the national park receives less rainfall than during the rainy season, when the trekking pathways become muddy and slick, making walking challenging.
Accommodations in the Virunga National Park
During the safari, guests may stay at a number of lodging options in the park. Bukima Tented Camp, Hotel Begonias, Exodus Bukavu, Lodge Coco, Orchids Safari Club, Tchegera Island Camp, Kibumba Tented Camp, Lulimbi Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, and Lakeside Hotel Bukavu are just a few of the luxurious, moderate, and affordable lodging options available.
