Getting to Virunga National Park
Getting to Virunga National Park
Getting to Virunga National Park: Virunga National Park is the only destination in Congo where tourists can see the rare mountain gorillas from. Other destinations where you will find mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda.
Virunga national park in Congo is situated in the eastern part of Congo in Goma and it is one of the oldest national parks in the world following its establishment in 1925. The park is listed as one of the endangered heritage sites in the world under the IUCN.
The national park is home to about 218 species of mammals, including 22 types of primates like; the Red Tailed Monkey, Black and White Monkey, Olive Baboons, Chimpanzees and so many more. Virunga national park is also home to over 706 bird species such as the yellow white-eye, Mackinnon’s Shrike, the Mountain Sooty Boubou, the tropical Boubou, and the narrow-tailed starling.
How to get to Virunga National Park in Congo.
Air transport
The national park can be accessed by the use of Air where visitors can book flights through the Ethiopian airways which operate single flights once a week and other domestic flights to Goma International Airport in Congo. The flights should be booked in advance and after arriving at Goma airport you will hire a private 4WD vehicle or if you booked your safari via a tour operator, the tour company vehicle will pick you from Goma Airport to Bukima park headquarters which is a starting point for gorilla trekking and it takes about 1 hour drive.
Air transport means can also be used by visitors who are travelling from Rwanda where they will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect by road through Gisenyi or Goma border to Bukima park headquarters and the journey takes about 3 to 4 hours from Kigali to Bukima.
Road transport
Virunga national park in Congo can be accessed by road. The national park can be accessed from Kigali city in Rwanda via Gisenyi town to Bukima which is the starting point for gorilla trekking safaris in Virunga national park.
The national park can be accessed from Uganda. When you are using this route you will fly to Entebbe airport then drive to Kisoro town, this route is quite tiresome because its along distance from Kampala capital city of Uganda to Kisoro though rewarding with scenic views, stop over like at the equator among others. You will have an overnight in Kisoro town because you will reach Kisoro in the evening and then connect to Bunagana border the next day and to Bukima park headquarters which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive. The road from Goma to Bukima park headquarters is not in good condition though it is passable hence not safe during the night and need to use 4WD tour vehicle.
Virunga national park can also be accessed from Bukavu town in case you are coming from Kahuzi Biega national park. You will drive to Bukima patrol post and the journey takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive. During this journey you will have beautiful views on your way such as landscapes among others.
When coming from Bukavu, you can also use water transport means like a ferry, hire speed boats or public boats from Lake Kivu to Goma and then you will hire a private vehicle from Goma to Bukima park headquarters.
Visitors who want to visit Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda and Rwanda will cross from either Gisenyi border in Rwanda or Bunagana border in Kisoro-Uganda. You will need to have the important requirements that will be needed while crossing at the borders in order to be allowed to access Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Passport which should be valid for at least six months
- Congo Visa which should have been obtained two weeks before the travel date
- Yellow fever card which should be acquired in advance before departure and in case you don’t have it, you will be tested on arrival.
- Gorilla trekking permit which is also acquired in advance and is presented at the border as identification for the reason why you are visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There are a number of activities for tourists to do in Virunga National Park such as gorilla trekking which is the most done activity in the park where visitors will be able to trek gorillas in the jungle and also spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Other activities are chimpanzee trekking and habituation, bird watching, Hiking Nyiragongo volcano, Nature walks, visiting Senkwekwe Orphanage Centre which is the only facility that takes care of the orphaned gorillas in Africa, Landscape viewing among others. The activities are enjoyable and adventurous hence giving visitors on a safari in Congo with lifetime experiences.
