Virunga National Park Weather and Climate

Virunga National Park weather and climate is a factor travellers intending to visit the park do and should put into consideration. Virunga National Park is the oldest national park in Africa, having been established in April 1925. Virunga National Park is the largest and one of the visited Congo national park for various reasons. Located in the eastern part of the Democratic of the Congo, Virunga National Park is a lush tropical rainforest area with a number of dormant and active volcanic mountains. 

Virunga National Park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area which encompasses the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda, all of which are gorilla destinations; in addition to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of Uganda. In the Congo, it is only in Virunga National Park that the mountain gorillas can be found, endangered giant but gentle apes. It is the mountain gorillas, volcanoes like Mount Nyiragongo which has the world’s largest lava lake, Mount Nyamulagira, Mount Mikeno, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Sabinyo, and Mount Bisoke among others which all grace the park and give great scenic views; and do inhabit a variety of wildlife.

Virunga National Park with all the lush thick vegetation and volcanoes is an inhabitant of a variety of wildlife with the endangered mountain gorillas being the most sought after in the park. Virunga National Park has about 218 mammal species that travellers can encounter. Other Virunga National Park wildlife that travellers can look out for while in the park include the bush elephants, bush buffaloes, chimpanzees, blue duikers, giant forest hogs, hippos, bongos, and so many others. Virunga National Park birds, recorded to be more than 706 bird species that roam the park are also reason enough for travellers to visit Virunga National Park. Travellers do visit Virunga National Park to take part in various activities in Virunga National Park like gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, hiking mount Nyiragongo and other Virunga volcanoes, bird watching, community encounters, enjoy nature walks to explore more of the park, visit the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage among so many other activities. 

To enjoy the various activities in Virunga National Park, travellers do have to look into the Virunga National Park weather and climate so as to put together the perfect Virunga safari in the Congo. Virunga National Park is crossed by the Equator, making the park have high temperatures sometimes. Virunga National Park experiences moderate temperatures which range from 23-28 degrees Celsius in the lowland areas of the park, while at the high altitude areas the temperatures range from 16-24 degrees Celsius. The dry season months in Virunga National Park fall in months of December to February, and June to August. This is when most travellers do visit Virunga National Park for it is considered by many as the best time to visit Virunga National Park. Rains however do fall at any time of the day, irrespective of the season.

The park experiences both tropical and equatorial climate all throughout the year, and receives on average annually 500mm at the Lake Edward area, and 900-1500mm on the plains south. Rain falls in Virunga National Park almost all year round, given that the park is a rainforest in the forest place and also for the physical features all present here. The wet season in Virunga National Park usually falls in the months of March, April, May, September, October and November, having the park receive large volumes of rains then and the temperatures do drop very lowly in the night time. 

Virunga National Park is a dense rainforest area, with volcanic mountains resulting in some parts of the park having a high altitude, which results into cold or chilly temperatures most of the time especially in the night. Virunga National Park has or is in near vicinity to a number of water bodies including Lake Kivu, Lake Edward, Lake Albert, River Congo, River Semuliki, River Ishasha and River Nile thereby giving the park cool breezes.

Virunga National Park weather and climate is an aspect that travellers do consider when planning their Congo safari holiday in the park. However, it should be noted that Virunga National Park is a rainforest area that receives rainfall anytime of the year, even during the supposed dry season. Travellers should therefore carry appropriate clothing irrespective of the time of travel