The Virunga Volcanoes are a chain of dormant volcanic mountains along the Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC border. They are believed to have been formed million years ago as a result of Volcanic action. Virunga Volcanoes Tour adventures enable you to take on Discovery Journeys to these mountain ranges. Thankfully, the mountains are diverse in terms of wildlife and are also attractions in their own right.
The Virunga Mountains are ten in total and DRC has the highest number of eight. Five of these are within the country while the three lie along the border with Rwanda and Uganda. Rwanda has five all shared between Uganda and DRC. Uganda has 3 shared along the border with Rwanda and DRC. All these are epicenters for adventure and below are some of the best Virunga Volcanoes Tour adventures you can be part of.
Gorilla Trekking Tour adventures
The Virunga mountains are home to the rare mountains. These are the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest plus adjacent Sarambwe forest are the only places you find mountain gorillas on the entire planet. Mountain gorillas are giant apes and among man’s closest primates. They have over 95% DNA similar to humans and live in a family setup just like humans do.
Virunga Volcanoes Tour adventures featuring gorilla trekking can be done in the three national parks the massif has. These include Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla Park, and Virunga National Park in DRC. Virunga National Park is currently closed due to insecurity issues but the other two are open. Volcanoes National Park has the highest mountain gorilla population with 20 gorilla families. 12 of these are fully habituated and open to tourism.
Mgahinga Gorilla Park has one habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi and offers exclusive Virunga Volcanoes gorilla Tour adventures. Gorilla trekking in the Virunga Volcanoes is doable any time of the year. For the best experiences and photography, it is however recommended to visit during the dry season. This has minimal rainfall disturbances and tracking trails are dry making it easy to hike through the forest.
Mountain Hiking
Most of the Virunga Volcanoes are Hikable. The only exceptions are the active volcanic mountains in DR Congo which include Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Nyiragongo. With the current situation in the country, it is not possible to do any tourism activities there.
The other mountains however offer incredible adventures and not just hiking but also with encounters of wildlife species. Mount Bisoke along the Rwanda and DRC border is among the most spectacular. It has a crater lake on its summit and while on its hike, you stand a chance to see mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and other species.
Mount Karisimbi is the tallest of all the Virunga mountains. It stands at an elevation of 4,507 meters above sea level. The mountain hike is completed in two days with an overnight in the mountains. The hike to the summit is very rewarding and the overnight in the mountain enables you to discover more of the hidden wildlife wonders. Mount Karisimbi is another iconic Virunga Volcanoes to hike. It is the only Mountain shared between the three countries and its summit is a central point where the countries meet. Mount Sabyinyo is famous for its shape depicting an old man’s teeth and it is on this basis that it was named Sabyinyo.
Cycling Tours
Cycling is among the most underrated tour adventures. It is best enjoyed in a less crowded countryside with impressive scenery and the Virunga Volcanoes offer exactly that. The Rwandan side of the Volcanoes has the best cycling tour stretch offering views of the mountains.
Rwanda has over the years hosted cycling events including the recently concluded Tour Du Rwanda. One of the stages of Tour Du Rwanda was in Musanze, the heart of Volcanoes National Park. The Congo Nile Trail also starts from there and one can cycle towards Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu.
On the Ugandan side cycling tour adventures are also possible even though they have not been tapped into. The Mgahinga Mountains stretch has an impressive view as well and is just the perfect spot for cycling.
Boat ride tour Adventures
Volcanic action in the Virunga mountains area led to the formation of several lakes. The Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo in Volcanoes National Park are the most famous ones. Other include Lake Mutanda, Lake Chahafi, and Lake Mulehe in southwestern Uganda. These lakes offer boat ride adventures done in locally made dug-out canoes.
Some of the lakes have islands that can be visited on a day excursion. Most of the islands have historical tales and those that are relatively large are inhabited by local communities. You therefore stand a chance to have an authentic cultural and community experience on a visit to any of these islands.
The view of the Virunga Volcanoes in the background of these lakes is impressive and provides one of the best magnificent views.
Birding
Birding tours are other best Virunga Volcanoes Tour adventures you can be part of. Being mountainous and forested, the Virunga Volcanoes are home to diverse bird species. The whole massif also lies in the Albertine Rift Valley with chances of spotting some of the birds endemic to the rift.
Birding safari tours are very exclusive when compared to other Discovery Journeys adventures. Beyond birds, they offer a great chance of seeing other wildlife species since birding is done in a general ecosystem where these other species live. The best time for birding safaris is from November to May when birds are in full plumage. It is also the time when migratory birds are present in the region.
Golden Monkey Trekking adventures
Golden Monkeys are rare primates endemic to the Virunga massif. Just like their name suggests, golden monkeys are covered in golden fur and offer great primate trekking experiences.
They live in the bamboo zone of the Virunga Volcanoes and can easily be spotted while on a hike. Golden monkeys live in communities of up to 20 individuals. They are also vegetarian with their diet mainly consisting of plant vegetation and shoots.
Golden monkey trekking can be done alongside Mountain gorilla trekking in both Volcanoes and Mgahinga gorilla parks. They however all start in the morning and have to be done on separate days. On each trekking day, you are expected at the park headquarters at 7:00 am for a briefing before being guided to the forest by rangers.
Virunga Volcanoes Tour adventures are exactly what you are looking for in primate and overall adventure discovery journeys. They are among our best-seller-featured activities alongside savanna wildlife experiences in Kenya and Tanzania. These feature big cats, big Five mammals, and the wildebeest migration among others. Contact us now to have your tour adventure customized.
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