Virunga National Park is a geographical and ecological marvel in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Covering over 7,800 square kilometers, it contains some of the most striking natural formations and unique wildlife found anywhere in Africa. The park’s position within the Albertine Rift makes it a region of immense geological activity, with active volcanoes, crater lakes, and ancient lava flows shaping its landscape.
Virunga’s ecosystem supports various species, including endangered mountain gorillas, forest elephants, and tree-climbing lions. Its terrain transitions from dense forests to open grasslands, freshwater lakes, and high-altitude glacial peaks, creating a visually and ecologically dynamic environment.
This guide explores Virunga’s most remarkable natural sights—the landscapes, key species, and geological features that define the park’s identity.
Virunga National Park is one of the most biologically diverse protected areas on the planet. Half of all the biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa can be found in Virunga. The park is also a geologic wonder and contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes. For much of its long history, though, Virunga National Park has been severely threatened by armed conflict. Thanks to the dedication of the park’s rangers and wardens, Virunga has been able to survive. Certain politicians, the European Union, conservationists, philanthropists, and private donors have also played a vital role in Virunga’s survival.
About Virunga National Park
Virunga National park is one of the few places in the African continent which is famous for mountain gorilla and almost a third of these great apes is hosted in this national park. Though the park has been threatened by different political conflicts in the country –Congo, it has survived and has been recently opened.
First referred to as Albert National park since it was established by the then King of Belgium Albert 1 in 1925, Virunga national park is the oldest national park in the African continent. Its main purpose of establishment was to protect and conserve the mountain gorillas from the poachers. Covering an area of approximately 7800 square kilometers, Virunga national park borders the Virunga Mountains in the south and the Rwenzori mountains in the North. The park is mainly known for hosting the mountain gorillas though it is home to other species like birds, mammals, primates, reptiles and others.
Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Virunga National Park is one of the best gorilla trekking destinations besides Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National park because of its low trekking costs and less congestion in it. Other attractions in the park are mammal species which are about 218 in number, 22 primate species, over 706 bird species, 109 reptiles, 264 tree species, over 65 amphibian species and others. Examples of the notable mammals are waterbucks, lions, buffalos, warthogs, bay duikers, blue duikers, yellow backed duiker, topis, kobs, elephants, hippos, leopards and others. Other primates to be encountered during mountain gorilla trekking include blue monkeys, golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, central African red colobus mantled guereza, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and others.
Things to Do in Virunga National Park
Besides gorilla trekking, travelers can also take part in different activities including chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, Nyiragongo hikes and others.
Chimpanzee trekking
This is the second most done activity in Virunga National Park besides gorilla trekking. The experience involves walking and hiking through the rainforests and vegetation of the park in search of the chimpanzee families that are used to human presence. These adventurous tourists are given an hour to interact with the chimpanzees.
Also, travelers are allowed to have chimpanzee habituation experience if they need to. The activity gives the travelers a whole day interaction with the chimpanzees in their nests. This full day gives the travelers a chance to learn more and observe the aspects of the chimpanzees like the feeding ways, mating ways, how they defend themselves and others.
Nature walks
Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the scenery of Virunga National park. The park is made up of the dense vegetation, montane forests and also alpine rainforests. The nature walks in the park involve moving through the trails of the park and during these walks, view different species like trees, butterflies, birds, primates and also some mammals. The walks also introduce the traveler to other amazing features in the park including the different volcanoes and others.
Bird watching
Virunga National Park records over 706 bird species including the migratory from the rift Albertine and the residential birds. A number of these birds can be sighted during the bird watching expeditions and nature walks. Among these birds include the Ruwenzori turaco, grey throated barbet, Madagascar bee-eater, African fish eagle, Narrow – tailed starling and others.
Nyiragongo hike
Test your sense of bravery by taking part in the adventurous experience of hiking the Nyiragongo active volcano. On this volcano, eruption takes place on the lave lake throughout the year. Hiking to the top of this volcano provides a great opportunity to the travelers to view the geographical forces as the boiling molten lava gush out of the earth’s crust.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga mountains
Gorilla trekking involves hiking through the thick tropical rainforests of the African continent in search of the mountain gorillas from their habitats. In Africa, this experience is what mostly attracts the travelers from different continents so as to enjoy the presence of the endangered giant apes and also learn more about their ways of living. Mountain gorillas can be trekked in only destinations and in three countries in Africa – Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga gorilla National park, Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park and Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga National Park.
Gorilla trekking in the Democratic republic of Congo will lead the travelers into the rainforests, montane forests and the alpine vegetation of Virunga National Park so as to search for the endangered mountain gorillas from their habitats. Virunga National park habituates six families of mountain gorillas which are open for tourism purposes. Among these families, Kabirizi family is the most popular to the trekkers. This family has the largest members approaching to about three dozen members. This big number of members comes due to the fact that Kabirizi is a prominent polygamist silverback among all other members. During this interesting experience, the trekker will be allowed to spend some good time (about an hour) with the mountain gorillas after allocating them in their habitats.
Transportation
Virunga National Park is offering round trip transportation for the following locations. You can also find transportation options specific to the various lodging and activities from within their booking pages.