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Virunga National Park is the Democratic Republic of Congo’s popular tourism destination and one of the most visited national parks in the country. Virunga is also the country’s gorilla trekking destination and the park attracts both domestic and international visitors annually who can’t wait to be part of the lifetime gorilla experience.
The vast park is the most bio-diverse protected area on the African continent and apart from the mountain gorillas that have made the spot popular, there are also other mammal and bird species sheltered in Virunga National Park.
The famous park is located in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo bordering the great Mountain Rwenzori in the western part of Uganda while covering about 7,769 km2 of the total surface area. Initially, the park has always faced external threats inform of political instabilities, poaching and illegal mining that have seen the park’s rich biodiversity deteriorate.
Tourism Activities In the Park. Apart From Gorilla Trekking.
Chimpanzee Trekking And Habituation.
Even though the park is famous as a gorilla trekking destination and one of the only remaining homes for the endangered mountain gorillas, there are also several primate species in the park including chimpanzees, baboons and monkeys that offer a breathtaking experience while watching them in their natural habitats. Chimpanzee tracking is the second most popular tourism activity in Virunga and was initially started in 1987 by Frankfurt. Chimpanzee tracking can take about about 2 to 6 hours depending on their location and once they are tracked, visitors can take away shots for memories and spend quality of only one hour with them.
Hiking Activities.
Virunga National Park is part of the Virunga ranges that shelters the mountain gorilla while spanning Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga in Uganda. Therefore the park features two volcanoes that are part of the Virunga volcanoes including Mountain Nyiragongo making Mountain climbing yet another popular tourism activity in Congo’s Virunga National Park. Nyiragongo is one of the Virunga’s active volcanoes and hiking to the summit is one of the most breathtaking experiences while on Congo tours. Hiking onto the Nyiragongo’s summit offers visitors the most spectacular views of the neighbouring volcanoes including Mount Bisoke, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Nyamuragira, to mention but a few. Hikers shall also be able to have a rare unique opportunity of witnessing the boiling lava lake on top of the mountain’s summit.
Birding Activities.
Virunga National Park is also another popular bird-viewing hot spot in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its domination by huge rain forests, rift valleys, several water bodies, mountains, wetlands and grasslands has attracted different bird species to the park making birding activities very common Virunga. There are over 700 different bird species recorded in the vast park including Madagascar bee-eater, narrow-tailed starling, Grey-throated barbet, and Ruwenzori Turaco, to mention but a few. Virunga is a world heritage site and all gorilla trekking safaris take place right at this spot.
Chimpanzee Trekking And Habituation.
Even though the park is famous as a gorilla trekking destination and one of the only remaining homes for the endangered mountain gorillas, there are also several primate species in the park including chimpanzees, baboons and monkeys that offer a breathtaking experience while watching them in their natural habitats.
Chimpanzee tracking is the second most popular tourism activity in Virunga and was initially started in 1987 by Frankfurt. Chimpanzee tracking can take about about 2 to 6 hours depending on their location and once they are tracked, visitors can take away shots for memories and spend quality of only one hour with them.
Hiking Activities.
Virunga National Park is part of the Virunga ranges that shelters the mountain gorilla while spanning Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga in Uganda. Therefore the park features two volcanoes that are part of the Virunga volcanoes including Mountain Nyiragongo making Mountain climbing yet another popular tourism activity in Congo’s Virunga National Park.
Nyiragongo is one of the Virunga’s active volcanoes and hiking to the summit is one of the most breathtaking experiences while on Congo tours. Hiking onto the Nyiragongo’s summit offers visitors the most spectacular views of the neighbouring volcanoes including Mount Bisoke, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Nyamuragira, to mention but a few.
Hikers shall also be able to have a rare unique opportunity of witnessing the boiling lava lake on top of the mountain’s summit.
Birding Activities.
Virunga National Park is also another popular bird-viewing hot spot in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its domination by huge rain forests, rift valleys, several water bodies, mountains, wetlands and grasslands has attracted different bird species to the park making birding activities very common Virunga.
There are over 700 different bird species recorded in the vast park including Madagascar bee-eater, narrow-tailed starling, Grey-throated barbet, and Ruwenzori Turaco, to mention but a few. Virunga is a world heritage site and all gorilla trekking safaris take place right at this spot.
How Much Is Gorilla Trekking Cost In Virunga National Park?
A gorilla trekking permit is a valid document that allows visitors to access and spend quality time with the endangered mountain gorillas and a permit in Virunga National Park goes for 600 USD per person per trek. Sometimes during the low season, the prices may even go lower to 400 USD per person per trek.
How Much Is Gorilla Trekking Cost In Virunga National Park?
A gorilla trekking permit is a valid document that allows visitors to access and spend quality time with the endangered mountain gorillas and a permit in Virunga National Park goes for 600 USD per person per trek. Sometimes during the low season, the prices may even go lower to 400 USD per person per trek.
When To Do Gorilla Trekking In Virunga National Park.
Gorilla trekking can be done throughout the whole year but for the ultimate full experience, the dry season of the year remains the best time to engage in this once in a lifetime activity.
The dry period between July to September and December to February is the best time for gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park. Unlike during the rainy season where manoeuvring through the dense forests and hiking becomes stressful and challenging as a result of muddy and slippery trails, the dry season is quite favourable as a result of reduced short vegetation that offers clear views of other mammal species in the destination and also making the searching of the mountain gorillas more fun and less challenging.
The tracking routes are also accessible and very easy to hike as a result of dried-up roads.
