Getting to Virunga National Park
Getting to Virunga National Park is not a hard task as it is easy and paths are clear for travelers that would like to experience gorilla trekking in Congo in the park. Virunga National Park is located in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the Albertine Rift valley.
Virunga National park was established in 1925 and it was the first park to be protected in Africa. The altitude of Virunga ranges from 700m in Semiliki River Valley to 6,000m in the Rwenzori Mountains to thrill while on Congo Gorilla Safaris Tours. The north to south which extends approximately 400km, it is largely found at the international borders of Rwanda and Uganda in the Eastern part.
The park covers an area of 9000 square km and it was listed in 1994 a World Heritage in danger. The park has two volcanoes, the Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo. The park is a habitat of Mountain Gorillas, faunal, floral species; endemic which is art the Albertine Rift, primates such as golden monkey and Wildlife.
One can opt to fly to Kigali International Airport, then connect by road through Gisenyi town, cross to Goma in DRCongo by the dirt road. Virunga National park from Gisenyi takes approximately 2 hours’ drive to reach the park headquarters at Bukima. Tourist from Uganda who are using the Bunagana border in Kisoro town, then take one hour drive to reach Bukima the starting point of Gorilla trekking.
Getting to Virunga National Park can be done when one flies with Ethiopian Airways which always operates once a week to Goma International Airport. The park has arrangements for private transport for one to be transferred to the headquarters. Contact the Virunga National park on how best one can travel to the park after your arrival. You will as well need rangers who will guide you through all the sectors of tourism.
Getting to Virunga National Park can not be done without one acquiring a VISA. You will need to ensure that you book earlier for a tour to the National park.
Before completing the process of getting to Virunga National Park, one needs to know that there are different activities that include Mountain Gorillas Trekking, Hiking Mount Nyiragongo hiking which takes you to the lava lake, Chimpanzee habituation, visiting the Senkwekwe Gorilla orphanages, wildlife viewing on the south-eastern shores of Lake Edward, Tchegera Island for Kayaking, snorkeling, beach walking, paddling and many more.
To get access you need to ensure that you carry a valid yellow fever vaccination card because if you do not have this card you will be denied access to the park as well as the country. In case you have lost one, you will be asked to take a shot at the border entry in order to access the park and country.
Before getting to Virunga National Park, you need to ensure that you have a valid passport that expires within a period of 6 months ahead of travel dates.
To be able to complete the process of Getting to Virunga National Park you will have to contact a trusted tour operator or direct contact the Virunga National Park. Your Congo VISA can only be purchased 2 weeks before your travel by the Direction General de Migration. The same VISA gives you access to visit the two National parks Kahuzi Biega and Virunga National Park. If one wants to visit Kahuzi Biega National park, you will have to book for a permit to trek the Mountain Gorillas as well pick your VISA from the Rusizi border with your invitation letter on arrival.
You will need to carry personal items such as a jacket, hiking shoes, headgears, head socks and these will be needed when climbing mountain Nyiragongo which is a chilly pace, yet you will also need waterproof backpackers.
The park inhabits over 3000 plant species, such as over 300 tree species and 300 plants endemic to Albertine Rift such as grasslands, wetlands, common reeds, papyrus, ambatch, paperback, cucurbits, and African elephants.
You will view mammals including mountain Gorillas, primate, Red tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, Hamlyn monkey, Olive baboon, mantled guereza, grey cheeked mangabey, African Bush Elephants, African Buffaloes, Blue Duikers, yellow baked duikers, Kobs, warthogs among others.
