Introduction
Virunga National Park, situated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a park in the Albertine Rift Valley at 8,090km2 created in 1925, making it Africa’s oldest national park. It is one of Africa’s most biologically diverse protected areas and is famous for its population of endangered mountain gorillas. The park also has two active volcanoes, Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira, which have significantly shaped the park’s diverse habitats and wildlife, and is located in the center of the Albertine rift. Virunga National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979 due to its rich diversity of habitats, exceptional biodiversity, endemism, and globally threatened species; and in 1994 listed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the civil unrest and increased human presence in the region.
Being one of the most biodiverse places on earth with a variety of plant and animal life due to its unique landscapes, Virunga National Park is surely not lacking. The park’s diverse vegetation is influenced by its varying altitudes, from lowland forests to high alpine regions; the park has rainforests, montane forests, bamboo forests, afro-alpine vegetation, savannas, swamps, and wetlands, making for perfect habitats for the diverse wildlife in the park. The park has 218 mammals including the popular mountain gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas, eastern chimpanzees, golden monkeys, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, dent’s mona monkeys, de brazza’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, okapi, lions, bushbucks, waterbucks, red-fronted duikers, hyenas, and many more; 708 bird species like shoebill, African fish eagle, mourning collared-dove, Rwenzori turaco, forest ground thrush, grey herons, skimmers, grey-throated barbet, Angolan swallow, Rwenzori batis, alpine swift, African olive pigeon, tropical boubou, papyrus warbler, egrets, and many more; 108 reptiles species like pythons, vipers, monitor lizards, geckos, chameleons, and many more; and 78 amphibian species like crocodiles, frogs, toads and many more.
Activities in Virunga National Park
Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
Gorilla trekking is one of the most amazing wildlife experiences as it allows visitors to come face-to-face with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats within the deep forests of the park. This will start with a briefing in the morning at the headquarters where one will be allocated a gorilla family, guide and ranger to ensure a smooth experience for both the visitors and gorillas. Once briefing is done, the group will head into the forest to track the gorillas and this will take between 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family. Once located, the visitors will spend an hour observing the primates while they nest, feed, groom, care for their young ones, and take photos. During the trek, visitors will also spot other primates like monkeys, baboons, and mangabeys with birds like Rwenzori turaco, forest ground thrush, grey-throated barbet, Angolan swallow, Rwenzori batis, mountain masked apalis, red-throated alethe, warblers, kivu ground thrush, and many more.
Chimpanzee habituation
Virunga offers visitors a chance to observe wild chimpanzees as they get accustomed to human presence. Unlike trekking, this experience lets visitors witness the process of habituation, which takes a few years. Visitors will gather for a briefing very early in the morning, with researchers and rangers who will lead the trek, and it will take anywhere between 1- 6 hours. Once the chimps are located, visitors will watch them in their natural habitat and observe them foraging, grooming, playing and communicating with each other. This helps visitors and researchers gain insights into chimpanzee behavior, conservation efforts, and research methods.
Mount Nyirangongo hike
Hiking Mount Nyirangongo is another thrilling adventure in the Virunga National Park. The hike takes you to the summit of the mountain at 3,470m, home to the world’s largest active larva lake, offering a breathtaking view of the glowing red-hot magma at night. With the starting point at Kibati ranger post, the hike will take about 6-7 hours, starting after a briefing and gear check by the rangers. The trail is steep but manageable, however, one’s fitness is very key, on top of the several resting points. During the trek, visitors will go through a rugged terrain, steep slopes and slippery stones, however, once they summit, they will enjoy amazing views of the beautiful scenery, especially the glowing lava lake at night. The hikers will descend by 3- 4 hours after visitors have enjoyed the sunrise.
Bird watching
Virunga National Park is a bird watcher’s haven with over 700 known bird species, including many endemic and rare birds. The park’s diverse landscapes create the perfect habitat for a wide range of birdlife, offering trails like Rwindi, Lulimbi, Ishasha River, Lake Edward, and Rumangabo forests. Expect to spot birds like the Rwenzori turaco, great blue turaco, white-bellied robin-chat, shoebill, African fish eagle, pelicans, egrets, grey crowned crane, secretary bird, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Rwenzori nightjar, dusky crimsonwing, blue-spotted wood dove, alpine swift, mountain greenbul, black-headed waxbill, blue-headed sunbird, chestnut throated apalis, tropical boubou, and many more with an experienced bird guide taking about 1-3 hours.
Guided nature walks
The nature walks allow visitors to explore the park’s breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unique ecosystems more intimately as the walks provide an immersive experience in the park’s lush forests, savannas, and volcanic foothills. With expert rangers and guides, most walks begin at Rumangabo or Lulimbi tented camp for about 1- 4 hours, based on the fitness of the visitors. The trails like Mikeno forest, Lulimbi, Rwenzori Mountain, Lake Edward, and River Ishasha vary from easy to moderate. While hiking, visitors will view lush tropical forests with rare trees and flowers, birds, monkeys, valleys, rivers, and mountains.
Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage Center
This is the only mountain gorilla sanctuary located at Mikeno lodge, and it facilitates rescues and rehabilitation of orphaned gorillas by providing them with lifelong care and protection. Named after Senkwekwe, a dominant silverback who was killed in 2007 by armed poachers, the center was established in 2010 and is run by expert veterinarians, caregivers, and conservationists who work alongside the park rangers and gorilla doctors to ensure the rescued gorillas receive the best care. Visitors can observe the rescued gorillas in a semi-wild enclosure and watch how close the gorillas are with their caregivers, something similar to a family unit, and also learn about the conservation and rehabilitation process, which includes feeding, medical care, and socialization. Visitors will watch the gorillas play, interact, and feed in a safe environment.