Virunga National Park safaris and adventures were exclusive experiences travelers would look out for back in the day. Unfortunately, Virunga National Park has been closed because of insecurity and we are not sure when it will open again.
The Park is Africa’s oldest national park located in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It covers a land area of 7,768 square kilometers of diverse ecosystems. The Virunga National Park ecosystem ranges from the Volcanic mountains, open savannas, wetlands, tropical rainforest, and much more. All these ecosystems are home to various wildlife species that still make Virunga National Park Safaris truly remarkable.
Virunga National Park was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 because of its diversity. Virunga National Park safaris have never been easily executed because of security threats. Park rangers are often attacked and killed by rebels as they patrol this vast park. Because of this instability, several illegal activities including poaching and the park’s land encroachment have not been prevented.
Many wonder about the future of wildlife and safari experiences in Virunga and the Democratic Republic of Congo in general. The only good news is that Kahuzi Biega National Park in southern Kivu is open for lowland gorilla trekking adventures. Let us look at some of the key attractions that make Virunga National Park Safaris unique and enjoyable.
Virunga National Park is one of the few places in the region with mountain gorillas. The park has eight of the ten Virunga Mountains and it is in these mountains where mountain gorillas Live. 10 habituated mountain gorilla families in the park were open to tourism by the time of its closure. We can only hope that the park will open again with the same or more trekking opportunities.
Unlike the mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda, trekking in Virunga National Park is exclusive. This is because a few people dare to go to Congo because of the underlying security issues. This in turn enables wildlife enthusiasts who make it to get maximum time and exclusivity while with the gorillas.
Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Nyiragongo is among the active Volcanic Mountains in Virunga National Park. The mountain despite its volcanic action was open for tourism as adventure lovers would hike to the summit to see the lava lake.
Mount Nyiragongo has cabins on the summit edges where you can have accommodation on the 2-day mountain hike. The best time to see the lava lake was in the night and early morning necessitating an overnight in the mountain. Mountain Nyiragongo Hike is rewarding as one would get to see several wildlife including birds while hiking through the layer of the forest at the mountain base.
The mountain ascent would even be better with views of the Rift Valley graben and some lakes including Lake Kivu. The adventure climax of the Nyiragongo hike is the much-awaited Lava lake giving one a glimpse of active Volcanicity.
All these ended in 2021 when the mountain erupted leaving at least 32 people dead. The death resulted from the panic of evacuating the area. Lava from the mountain spread reaching as far as Goma City. With this, people had to be evacuated quickly for their safety. There was an electricity shutdown because the eruption disrupted the electric wiring system.
Tchegera Island
Tchagera Island is situated on Lake Kivu. It is crescent-shaped and believed to be the summit of a dormant volcano. At the moment it is the only place accessible of all the leading Virunga National Park destinations. Visiting Tchegera Island allows one to enjoy safari experiences on Lake Kivu.
A visit here features several water activities including Kayaking, swimming, and canoe riding among others. The island is covered with lush green vegetation and forests that are home to birds and some primates. Here one can enjoy guided nature walks, birding adventures, and a little bit of primate watching.
Tchegera Island is a gateway to the Virunga Safari adventures and the fact that it is open makes us feel better. While on the island you can catch a glimpse of some of the Mountains, especially Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira.
Hope for Virunga
There is a team of rangers who still monitor the mountain gorillas despite the security challenges they face. We are opportunistic that the mountain gorillas are well protected since they are endangered. The daily life of the mountain gorillas continues though as they thrive and even give birth.
In regards to Mount Nyiragongo, a team of experts from Goma Volcanic Observatory still monitor the mountain. We hope that Nyiragongo hiking will eventually be opened up for tourism as many would love to see live Volcanic action.
The Discovery Journeys team has ever greatly explored the Congo and we also keep monitoring the situation. We have several sample Congo safari Itineraries like the 5-Day Great Apes Virunga Adventure. The 6-day Virunga Classic safari is another great one with a provision for two gorilla treks and Mount Nyiragongo Hike. Once the park opens, we will curate more tailor-made itineraries to fully uncover the hidden treasures in the Congo. These will be done alongside other exclusive adventures in Uganda and Rwanda.
Other Congo Safaris
DR Congo has other safari destinations affected by the insecurity in the country. A case in point is Kahuzi Biega National Park located in the southern Kivu province. The park is home to Eastern Lowland Gorillas, birds and other mammals species. It is the only destination where you can see eastern lowland gorillas in the wild.
Kahuzi Biega National Parks operations have not been affected like Virunga National Park. You can therefore visit for lowland gorilla trekking and habituation experience.
Near Kahuzi Biega is the Lwiro Sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees, birds and other primate species. Lwiro can be visited after a lowland gorilla adventure in Kahuzi Biega.
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