Virunga National Park is Democratic Republic of Congo’s magnificent safari destination that 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 a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its numerous numbers of the mountain gorillas, Virunga National Park is such a stunning and memorable tourist safari destination worth visiting, the park offers a couple of safari activities which are very amazing and memory offering to participate in while your safari in the park, with great attractions and activities.
Activities to do in Virunga National Park.
Animal species.
Animal species is the major attraction in Virunga national park is a major draw for the visitors with the park that has incredible a variety of the iconic and endangered species that found nowhere else on earth. The park’s lush forests and sprawling savannas are home to over 218 mammal species and over 700 bird species. Some of the attractive animal species including the mountain gorillas which are the park’s star attraction and a major reason why many visitors flock to Virunga. In addition to other incredible creatures such as the chimpanzees, okapi, and forest elephnats as well as a host of other fascinating animal species thus making Virunga national park a true wildlife lover’s paradise and a must-visit safari destination for anyone interested in experiencing the incredible diversity of the African wildlife.
Bird species.
Virunga national park is a stunning birding safari destination in the world with a number of over 700 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 African fish-eagle, parrots, Narrow-tailed starling, sunbirds, 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.
Mountain gorillas of the Virunga national park are one of the park’s most attractions in the park where the visitors from around the world come to witness these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. The park is a home to over 200 mountain gorillas that are divide into several habituated groups that can be tracked and observed by the visitors, offering a unique and unforgettable safari experience that allows the visitors to get up close with the mountain gorillas. The visitors trek through the park’s forests and be rewarded with the breathtaking landscapes while experiencing the gorillas, during the gorilla trekking the gorilla trekkers are given one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas. This is both humbling, exhilarating making the mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park an absolute must-see attraction for anyone visiting Virunga National Park.
Virunga volcanic mountains.
Virunga national park consists of the volcanic mountains these are breathtaking and majestic attraction 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. The Virunga Mountains dominates the park’s landscape, offering the visitors a unique experience that combines stunning natural beauty.
Activities to do in Virunga National Park.
Mountain Gorilla trekking.
Mountain gorilla trekking is the main highlight of Virunga national park, the park is one of few safari destination 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 safari, the activity involves hiking through the hilly forested slopes of the park’s volcanoes while searching for the mountain gorillas. Mountain gorilla trekking starts with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking, after the briefing you will be grouped into various groups of 8 members per group, and then each group led by the well experienced guides from African Vacation Safaris. The 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 various 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 30 minutes 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. After locating the gorillas the gorilla trekkers are given a period of one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas, that is watching them play, watching them feed, witnessing the mother gorillas grooming their young ones, taking pictures and recording the gorillas through using the less flush cameras or no flush cameras because the cameras disrupts the gorillas.
Chimpanzee trekking.
Virunga National Park is not only a habitat to the mountain gorillas but it is also a home to other primates like chimpanzees which live in the thick forests of the park, during the chimpanzee trekking safari, these chimpanzee are trekked are habituated a process which started in February of 2014 and because of this successful safari experience these chimpanzees are used to human presence and no harmful to them, the chimpanzee trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during chimpanzee trekking, the intention of sighting the chimpanzee while in their nests, collecting fruits and feeding their young ones. Chimpanzee trekking is a very rewarding experience and each trek only four people are allowed to participate in the activity and they need to have a chimpanzee trekking permit.
Bird watching.
Virunga National Park is a home to very many bird species which live 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 on your journey to 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 with the experienced safari guide, The bird species that inhabit Virunga National Park are over 700 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 fascinating 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.
Visiting in the Senkwekwe orphanage center is located in Rumangabo near the Virunga national park, is a deeply moving and unforgettable experience that allows visitors to connect with the park’s incredible orphaned gorillas in a unique and the intimate way. Senkwenkwe orphanage centre is the only facility in the world that cares for the orphaned mountain gorillas, providing them with a safe and nurturing environment until they are old enough to be reintroduced into the wild. As visitors tour the centre, they are given the opportunity to observe these incredible gorillas very close, learning about their behavior, habitat and preserving these incredible creatures and their habitat. The visit also provides a unique opportunity to support conservation of the park and the orphanage, making it a truly enriching and rewarding experience that leaves a lasting impression on all who visit.
Guided nature walks.
Guided nature walks in Virunga national park offers visitors a unique and immersive opportunity to explore the park’s natural beauty, diverse wildlife and fascinating ecosystems, all under the expert guidance of the experienced and knowledgeable park rangers. The tourists experience the park on foot as they are able to slow down and truly connect with the world, 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.
Batwa cultural experience.
The Batwa cultural experience in Virunga national park is a fascinating that allows the tourists to experience in the history, traditions and daily life of the Batwa people, these are the people that lived in harmony with the park’s forests and the wildlife for centuries. Through the guided tour, the visitors are welcomed by the Batwa community, where they are immersed in the tribes’ vibrant culture, learning about their unique customs, art, music as well as their intricate knowledge of the forest and its medicinal plants. Visitors also have the opportunity to witness traditional Batwa hunting and gathering practices, and to participate in lively music and dance performances, thus creating a truly immersive and unforgettable experience that not only provides information into the lives of the Batwa people but also supports the conservation of their cultural heritage and the protection of their ancestral lands within the park.
