Guide to Safari activities to do in Virunga National Park Congo : Virunga national park is located at the Eastern edge of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the parks is a UNESCO World Heritage Site created in 1925 with an aim of conserving the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park is part of the enormous Virunga massif shared by Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Mgahinga National park of Uganda and currently over 200 mountain gorillas habituated in 8 gorilla communities call the jungles of Virunga National Park their home. Virunga National Park is relatively unexplored as compared to other destinations where the mountain gorillas are found because fewer visitors make their gorilla trekking safari here, hence making it the perfect destinations to enjoy been fascinated by this stunning primates. Beside Mountain gorilla trekking, the park offers a lot of activities to visitors in Congo safaris in the park such as opportunity to see the mountain gorillas, hiking volcano summits, embarking on wildlife safaris, bird watching, and cultural encounters among others. This article presents to you the guide of activities visitors undertaking Congo safari to Virunga National Park can be fascinated with;
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is the highlight of every safari in Virunga national park, gorilla trekking is a main activities offered to visitor in Virunga national park. this activity involve walking in the jungles of the tropical rain forest in search for mountain gorillas in their communities, embarking on mountain gorilla trekking adventure in Virunga National Park give an everlasting safari adventure. Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is a guided adventure safari where trekkers are guided by experienced guide to venture in to the verdant forest of the Virunga massif in search for this captivating mountain gorillas. Trekking through the thick tropical rainforest offers visitor with chances of spotting these majestic primates in their community, observing how they carry out their daily activities while contributing to their conservation efforts. Visitors planning to trek the mountain gorillas in the Virunga national park are required to purchase a valid gorilla permit at US$400 per person trekking in a day
Chimpanzee trekking
Virunga National Park is a home to the most thrilling and playful chimpanzees, chimpanzee trekking in the lush tropical rainforest is an exciting activity that allows visitors to observe these fascinating primates swerving through the tropical trees, tourists also gets an opportunity to have a closed interactions with this amazing primates in their natural habitat learning how this fascinating chimps carry out theirs daily works like breastfeeding, jumping over tree to tree and many more. Visitors planning to undertake this exhilarating activate are required to purchase a valid permit that allows maximum of 4 persons to trek one chimpanzee community in a single day at the cost US$ 100.
Wildlife viewing
Virunga National Park offers an opportunity to visitors on a Congo safari to the park with the chance of seeing wildlife, Virunga national park is a home to over 200 different kinds of wildlife, wildlife viewing in Virunga national park is normally conducted in the park center Lulimbi due to its vast and stunning landscape attracting a lot of mammals such as, African elephants, lions, hippos, topi, Uganda Kobs and warthogs, hyenas, leopards, Congo buffaloes, red river hog, giant tree pangolin, bongo and forest giraffes.
Bird watching
Virunga National Park is known as paradise for birdwatchers, the park is home to over 700 different kinds of bird species of which over 24 are endemic to the Albertine rift. Bird watching in Virunga national park starts early morning at 5:00am and this is the perfect time to start birding in the park. When in the forest , you will have an opportunity to spot almost all the birds species that makes the forest their natural habitat such as Rwenzori Turaco, Francolinus nobilis, Musaphaga, skimmers, shoebills storks, egrets, grey herons, ibises, grey-throated barbet, Grauer’s swamp warbler, alpine swift, African olive pigeon, white-headed woophoopoes, Angolan swallow, Rwenzori batis, tropical boubou, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet ,Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Bee-eater, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Bronzy Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Olive-bellied Sunbird, Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Woolly-necked Stork, European White Stork, Saddle-bill Stork, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Regal Sunbird, Little Bee-eater among others
Volcano hiking
Virunga National Park offers the best of the hiking safaris experiences in Africa, hiking to the summit of Nyiragongo volcano offers travelers with unforgettable hiking experience ever. Hiking to the summit of mount Nyiragongo is a challenging experience but offers a rewarding safari adventures. Mount Nyiragongo is a home to the largest world’s larva and hiking on it offers visitors with astonishing views of the stunning landscape of the democratic Republic of Congo as well as the neighboring countries of Uganda, Rwanda. While in the hiking safari, you will also spot some of the wildlife species that dwell in the park such as primate’s species, mammals, birds as well as the stunning vegetation cover.
Cultural encounters
Virunga National Park also offers a chance to visitor to encounter and witness the verdant cultural traditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cultural encounter in communities around the Virunga 4e3431`q34o0=ikl;.
q8 National Park is an exciting activities that every visitor to the park should not miss. Cultural encounter offers visitor with the chance to engage with the local communities where you will learn about traditional customs, craftsmanship, and cuisine. Visitors will have a chance to participate in cultural performances and dance rituals, gaining insights into the rich cultural heritage that adds depth and meaning to the park’s natural beauty.
Best time of the year to visit Virunga National Park
The best time to visit Virunga National Park is during the drier months that runs from June to September and December to February are the perfect time to carry out most of the activities in Virunga National Park because they are characterized by little or no rainfall which makes the trekking and hiking trails less slippery, the vegetation in the park is short giving clear views of the park animals, and the roads leading to the park are passable
