Virunga National Park in Congo; Gorillas, Safety, Activities & Map
Located in the Eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Virunga National Park is famous for its gorillas. It is one of Africa’s oldest National parks and a sanctuary of exceptional biodiversity.
The park was first established in 1925 by King Albert I of Belgium and he named it Albert National Park. It was created primarily to protect the endangered mountain gorillas that lived in the forests of Virunga mountains.
In the early 1930s, the park’s boundaries were extended to include Rwindi Plains, Lake Edward, and the Semliki River with the major aim of protecting its ecosystem.
In the 1960s following Congo’s independence, Virunga National Park faced potential challenges some of which included severe poaching and political instabilities.
In 1969 after Congo gained its independence and was undergoing a period of political and social changes, the park was renamed Virunga National Park to reflect its magnificent Virunga mountains which are a chain of 8 volcanoes spanning over 3 countries inclusive of Congo and the rest being Uganda and Rwanda.
Virunga National Park occupies an area of approximately 7,800 square kilometers which holds over 700 bird species, 200 mammal species, and numerous reptiles and amphibians. It encompasses diverse habitats, including savannas, forests, and glaciers.
Top Physical Attractions Of Virunga National Park
Mountain Gorillas
The park is one of the few places in Africa where visitors can see the endangered mountain gorillas, in their natural habitats, the rest being the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
It holds about 350 gorillas out of the world’s estimated number of 1,075 gorillas to be left in the habitats.
It is home to several gorilla-habituated families making gorilla trekking one of the major activity enjoyed by visitors to this destination.
Active Volcanoes;
Virunga National Park holds two of the major active volcanoes of Virunga Ranges namely Mount Nyiragong and Mount Nyamuragira.
Mount Nyiragong is one of the most active volcanoes in the world famously known for its persistent lava lake. Hiking it to its summit offers an up-close of a boiling lava lake, a unique and rare experience.
Mount Nyamuragira is known for its frequent Eruptions which lead to lava flows hence the frequent creation of new landscapes.
Diverse Habitats;
Virunga National Park features lush savanna, making it a perfect home to herbivores and wild animals such as elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, and kobs.
It features alpine forests found on the steep slopes of the mountains which offer the park a unique ecosystem.
It has swamps and marshlands, particularly around River Semiliki and Lake Edward which support a variety of aquatic life and bird species.
Lakes and Rivers
It harbors Lake Edward, the park’s largest lake attracting and offering life to a variety of wildlife species—habitats for hippos, crocodiles, different fish species, and wading birds.
It is also featured with some parts of Semiliki River, which forms part of the park’s western boundary, a very important water source for wildlife of the park.
Mountains and Peaks;
Although well known to be found in Uganda, the Rwenzori Mountains, known for their snow-capped peaks and glaciers, extend into the northern parts of Virunga National Park offering stunning views and hiking opportunities to hike enthusiasts to the park.
The Virunga mountains forming part of the Virunga landscapes namely Mount Karisimbi, Mount Mikeno, and Mount Sabinyo, offer hiking opportunities to visitors featured with unparalleled views of the park’s diverse ecosystem up close.
Wildlife;
In addition to the endangered mountain gorillas, the park is home to a variety of animal species namely chimpanzees, elephants, leopards, lions, okapis, different small vertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians, among others.
It is also a birding paradise documented to hold about 700 bird species inclusive of the rare notable species, the endemic and migratory species making it a perfect destination for bird lovers.
Hot Springs;
The park is featured with Tshibati Hot Springs, located near Rwindi offering a unique experience to visitors seeing them boil and evaporate from the earth’s crust.
Scenic landscapes;
Crater lakes formed as a result of volcanic activities are spread throughout the park offering scenic views. the park’s landscapes also feature different vegetation ranging from dense tropical rainforest to bamboo and alpine forests offering great views of nature.
Top Tourist Activities in Virunga National Park
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the adventures that tops the to-do list of visitors to this destination.
Virunga National Park is home to 8 habituated gorilla groups with the rest still in process. Each group is comprised of at least 20 individual gorillas inclusive of the infants and led by a dominant silverback.
A sizable group of at least 8 Gorilla trekkers at the park are led by an experienced guide and a ranger to the gorilla habitats usually found in the dense forests on the steep slopes of the mountains.
The treks are physically demanding activities requiring an individual to have a minimal level of fitness as they involve navigating through different challenging terrains, from dense forest, and slippery muddy trails, to hikes for a couple of hours mostly depending on the location of the assigned gorilla family.
While at the habitats, they are observed as they go on with their daily activities, watching their behaviors, interactions, feeding, playing, and nurturing up close.
Volcano Treks;
Hiking Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano rising up to 3,470 meters high (11,385 feet) up sea level is a very rewarding experience offering stunning views of deep large lava pool that is 2 km wide and 250 meters deep.
Hiking Mount Nyamulagira, one of the most active volcanoes in Africa rising about 3,055 meters(10,023 feet) high, above sea level offering the best adventurous experience.
Chimpanzee trekking/Habituation;
Virunga National Park offers chimpanzee habituation in its Muhura forest, a unique experience that offers visitors deep insights into the lives of these intelligent species.
Wild Animal Views;
During the 2012 wildlife census, the park was documented to hold about 218 mammal species. these included about 75 animal species, 22 primate species, 705 bird species, 65 amphibian species, and 109 reptiles.
This makes it the right and perfect destination for wild animal views best seen during game drives, boat cruises, and guided nature walks.
Bird Watching:
With over 700 bird species, Virunga is a birding haven for bird lovers.
Bird watching is best done during nature walks, in the dry seasons with an experienced birding guide to help spot different bird species in their habitats and to avail birders with more vital information about a particular bird species.
Boat safari;
These are done on Lake Albert and River Semiliki offering the best views of aquatic life.
Different wading bird species and other wild animals attracted by these water bodies are seen on the shores cooling off or resting in the nearby grasslands.
Permit Costs
Permits are required for different adventurous activities in Virunga National park.
Popular permits include the gorilla trekking permit which costs USD 400 and the gorilla habituation experience costing USD 600.
It is advised to book these permits in advance because of their limited availability and high demand.
Best Time to visit Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is open all year round for tourism but we recommend exploring it during the dry seasons as they are more favorable for hiking, trekking, and nature walks.
During these seasons, wildlife is very active in its habitat and can easily be spotted.
However each season offers a unique experience and some travelers will be interested in traveling during the travel seasons.
They come with numerous benefits like permit availability because of low traffic that come with them and potential discounts offered on accommodations, transport and permits.
Accommodation;
Virunga National Park offers a range of accommodation options suiting different traveler’s budgets and some of these include;
Mikeno Lodge: A luxurious located at the park headquarters, featured with stunning bungalows. It is an eco-friendly lodge with a restaurant serving different traditional and international dishes. It come with stunning forest views and different wildlife species most especially birds and monkeys.
Kibumba Tented Camp: A perfect camp to blend you in the wild featuring stunning views of landscapes. It is organized well maintained, clean, and ready to hold visitors in comfort.
Bukima Tented Camp: it is a budget-friendly accommodation with good services, located just adjacent to the park offering a very comfortable experience in the wilds of Virunga.
Map of Virunga National Park
Frequently Asked Questions
Which animals are found at Virunga National Park?
Virunga National park is a habitat to a variety of animals species among which include the primates namely Mountain gorilla, Eastern chimpanzee, Red colobus monkey, Blue monkey, Golden monkey, Olive baboon, and Black-and-white colobus.
Others include African lion, Leopard, African golden cat, Spotted hyena, Forest elephant, African buffalo, Hippopotamus, Okapi, Various antelope species including the bushbuck, waterbuck, and duiker, Banded mongoose, African civet, Giant forest hog, Nile crocodile, Various species of snakes, lizards, and turtles, butterflies, beetles, and other insects, Shoebill, African fish eagle, Rwenzori turaco, African green broadbi, sunbirds, hornbills, bee-eaters, among others.
Is Virunga National Park open for tourism?
Virunga National Park is open for tourism, but not offering all of the activities for example gorilla treks and Nyiragongo visits are on a temporary closure due to security concerns. Open activities are operated under various restrictions and specific guidelines to ensure visitor’s safety and the well-being of the animals and their habitats.
Is it safe to visit Virunga National Park?
Safety measures at the park include;
All the visitors on different activities in Virunga are accompanied by armed well trained park rangers to ensure their safety. Safety of tourists is prioritized by the park management compared to any other thing and it may temporarily close certain areas or all the all park if security concerns arise.
Visitors are advised to use trusted tour operators or park-arranged tours but not self-arranged transport due to the potential security risks.
Why is Virunga National Park in danger?
Virunga National Park is facing numerous threats that are endangering its biodiversity caused due to different reasons and some of these include;
Armed Conflict and Instability:
“Virunga National Park is located in an area known for political instabilities, including armed conflicts that have been ongoing for a long period of time. Various armed groups carry out operations both within and outside of the park, exposing the park to direct threats on its wildlife and their natural habitats. This situation also makes conservation efforts very difficult in the area
Poaching:
Poaching in the Virunga forests is primarily conducted by armed groups for food and by local poachers for financial gain. Animal parts from iconic species such as elephants, mountain gorillas, and hippos are highly valued on the black market, leading to an increase in illegal hunting.
Illegal Resource Extraction:
Virunga National Park is rich in natural resources, including precious minerals, timber, and charcoal, which are being illegally exploited for personal gain. The illegal harvesting of timber and charcoal has led to severe deforestation, resulting in the destruction of various animal habitats within the park. Armed groups residing in these forests often control these illegal activities, contributing to environmental degradation and significant habitat loss.
Habitat Destruction:
Severe habitat destruction, primarily caused by encroachment on the park’s land for agricultural expansion, settlement, resource extraction, and deforestation for timber and firewood most especially by the armed rebel groups, has posed potential threats to the park’s ecosystem. This has led to severe habitat losses for different animal species.
Political and Economic Challenges
The Democratic Republic of Congo faces political and economic challenges that hinder its effective conservation of natural resources, particularly wildlife and its habitats. Instabilities have led to limited resources and severe corruption, affecting the implementation of conservation strategies and laws meant to protect the park.
Human-Wildlife Conflict
The growth of the human population has resulted in significant encroachments on the park’s boundaries for settlements and agricultural activities, leading to the severe killing of various wildlife species to protect farms and livestock.