How to get to Virunga National Park

How to get to Virunga National Park is an easy aspect that can be handled by any experienced and knowledgeable tour operator: any traveller, therefore, planning to visit Virunga on a Congo safari tour should not worry about getting to Virunga National Park. This write up is here to pitch together some information worth knowing by anybody visiting Virunga, especially those sole travellers who do really going the wild and adventurous way.

The Park is a great Congo national park, the oldest and most visited or sough after Congo destination by a number of travellers who opt to visit the park. Virunga is one of the four mountain gorilla destinations in the world that travellers can visit all year through for various activities including mountain gorilla trekking. The other mountain gorilla destinations include Virunga Massifs’ Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda; as well as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda that hosts over half the world population of mountain gorillas with the rest being shared by the other three mountain gorilla destinations.

Virunga covers about 8000 square kilometres, located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Apart from mountain gorillas, Virunga National Park has over 706 bird species, 218 mammal species which include among others forest elephants, buffaloes, topis, hippos, bushbucks, rare ground hogs, and primates like chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, among others. Virunga also has reptiles, amphibians, various vegetation types and tree species, butterflies and so much more which travellers could encounter while on various activities in Virunga like gorilla trekking, bird watching, nature walks, among others. With volcanoes including Mount Nyiragongo which has a boiling lava lake at the summit, mountain hiking is another activity that is very captivating and a reason for many to visit Virunga. Knowing how to get to Virunga therefore is something to consider.

Located in the eastern part of the second biggest country on the continent of Africa, Virunga can be reached by both air and road given the development of the both road sector and aviation industry in the country.

How to get to Virunga National Park by Road

By road, getting to Virunga National Park can be done using a number routes, depending on one’s location. These routes on how to get to Virunga by road include;

From Uganda to Virunga. when in Uganda for Uganda safari tours or are in the country but would like to visit Virunga National Park in the Congo, travellers can transfer from Kampala to Kisoro, or if already in Kisoro, you shall transfer to Bunagana border post of Uganda and the Congo, on a 2-3 hour’s drive to Bukima the park headquarters of Virunga. The road drive from Kampala to Kisoro is quite long but scenic and with a number of stop overs which has travellers having an opportunity to stretch and refresh. Having a 4WD vehicle is advised given the nature of some parts of the road to Bukima in Virunga.
From Rwanda to Virunga National Park. This is the most commonly route used by a number of visitor travelling to experience Virunga National Park. Travellers fly into Kigali International Airport of Rwanda, and then transfer to Bukima the starting point of all gorilla treks in Virunga, through Gisenyi. The drive is also very scenic.
The Bukavu in the Congo route. This route is used by travellers already in Bukavu in the Congo. Travellers get to drive to Bukima patrol post on a transfer of about 5-6 hours. The amazing landscape views on this route are what shall keep you captivated during the drive. From Bukavu still, travellers can also water transport to get to Virunga. There are speed boats for hire as well as public boats on Lake Kivu which operate to Goma from where one can get a ride to Virunga.

For travellers getting from one like Uganda and Rwanda to the Congo are required to have proper documentation including visas to be allowed into the other country. Carefully plan out this arrangement with your tour operator.

How to get to Virunga National Park by Air

Virunga National Park can be accessed by air transport, thanks to the growing aviation industry in the Congo and the region. Ethiopian Airlines operates flights to Goma International Airport, from where travellers can then transfer by road to Virunga on a one hours’ drive.

The Park has a number of activities which travellers can enjoy once they do visit the Congo on any of the available Congo safari packages. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo, gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, nature walks, visiting Senkwekwe Orphanage Centre, gorilla habituation experience, bird watching can be enjoyed in Virunga National Park. Take time to plan for a Congo safaris tour to visit Virunga, with a reputable tour operator such that you don’t have to worry about knowing how to get to Virunga for they shall have everything under control: just pack your luggage and get on the road.