Tourist Attractions in Virunga National Park.
Tourist Attractions in Virunga National Park: Established in April 1925, Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is possibly the greatest national park to visit if you want to take in the genuine beauty of Africa. The fact that many people still choose to visit this park despite the occasionally unstable security situation in the eastern section of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a testimonial to its outstanding beauty and biodiversity.
Covering 7,800 square kilometers, the Virunga is Africa’s oldest national park. The game park borders Uganda to the west and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the east, both of which are situated along the Great Albertine Rift.
Visitors can engage in a variety of safari activities at the park, including hiking the Nyiragongo volcano, chimpanzee and mountain gorilla trekking, and nature walks. Savanna grasslands, marshes, rain forests, steppes, three volcanoes, and several bodies of water make up Virunga National Park. Poaching, park land encroachment, and rebel groups operating in certain areas of Virunga National Park pose the biggest threats to the park. Nonetheless, this article focuses on the Virunga National Park’s tourist attractions, which include
Gorillas in the mountains
In 2022 alone, six young mountain gorillas were born in central Africa’s Virunga National Park, which is home to one-third of the world’s population. The mountain gorillas in this park, which has lush forests on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, are the main draw for tourists traveling to Africa from all over the world. About 350 of the estimated 1,075 wild mountain gorillas in the world reside in the park.
These animals are part of the resource-rich Virunga highlands, whose exploitation poses a threat to the survival of the species. This magnificent giant ape is the true gem of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; it is far less plentiful and more exquisite than any raw material. Mountain gorillas are a rare and endangered species that can only be found in a few places worldwide.
These include the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
Other species of primates
One of the African national parks with a large number of primates, in addition to mountain gorillas, is Virunga National Park. Chimpanzees, Blue Monkeys, Central African Red Colobus, De Brazza’s Monkey, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Golden Monkeys, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Hamlyn’s Monkeys, Mantled Guereza, and Olive Baboon are a few of the amazing primates that can be found here.
Animals
With its wide variety of wildlife, Virunga National Park is one of the reorganized locations. More than 196 mammal species, 67 amphibian species, 708 bird species, and 108 reptile species—including the Nile crocodile—can be found in the park. Aardvarks, African Buffalos, African Bush Elephants, African Leopards, Bay Duikers, the Blue Duiker, Boehm’s Bush Squirrel, Bongo, Bushbuck, Checkered Elephant, Crested Porcupine, Emin’s Pouched Rat, Giant Forest Hog, Giant Pangolin, Lord Derby’s Scaly-tailed Squirrel, Marsh Mongoose, Okapi, Red River Hog, Tree Pangolin, Water Chevrotain, Western Tree Hyrax, and Yellow Backed Duiker are among the mammals that can be found here.
Birds
One of the most varied forests in the tropics, the Virunga Forest features a variety of ecosystems and landforms, including grasslands, swamps, and woods. A person on a birding safari will have the opportunity to witness and observe over 706 recorded bird species. The Yellow-billed Barbet, White-fronted Bee-eater, Red-throated Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, Olive Bee-eater, and others are among the bird species that can be found here.
The Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Banded Prinia, Little Rush Warbler, Eastern Rush Warbler, Bracken Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, and Common Reed Warbler are among the species of Cisticola that croak, short-winged, zitting, and wing-snapping Cisticola.
Bronzy Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Rwenzori Turaco, Francolinus nobilis, Musaphaga, shoebills, storks, egrets, grey herons, ibises, grey-throated barbet, Grauer’s swamp warbler, alpine swift, African olive pigeon, white-headed woophoopoes, Angolan swallow, Rwenzori batis, tropical boubou, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, and Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird are just a few of the other bird species you might see here.
Nyiragongo Mount
With 34 eruptions in the last few centuries—the most recent one taking place in 2002—Mt. Nyiragongo is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Thousands of people were forced to relocate as torrents of ash and lava poured down the mountainside and reached the shores of Lake Kivu, causing extensive destruction. The mountain continues to be a popular tourist site in spite of the damage, drawing thousands of tourists each who come to see its breathtaking natural phenomena, particularly the sight of bright red lava.
A rewarding trip, climbing Mount Nyiragongo offers hikers breathtaking vistas of neighboring volcanoes, lush forests, and the surrounding Virunga hills. More physical and mental preparation is needed for Mount Nyiragongo climbing than for gorilla trekking.
The ideal season to go to Virunga National Park
Situated in a tropical area, Virunga National Park is mostly covered in verdant rainforests. Rainfall in the park is erratic throughout the week due to its climate. There are, however, some best seasons to go, especially in the dry season, which runs from December to February.
In these months, it is easier to find gorillas because of the less forest and easier pathways. On the other hand, because of the thick vegetation and slick roads caused by the frequent rains that occur from March to November, many tourists steer clear of gorilla trekking during these wetter months.
How to go to National Park Virunga
The eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to Virunga National Park. You will first travel into Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport to get there. You will go to Gisenyi, a town close to the border, from Kigali.
You will reach Goma after entering Congo. The park’s headquarters at Kahuzi Beiga National Park and Virunga National Park are around two hours’ drive from Goma. Your exciting gorilla adventure will start here.
