Virunga National Park Wildlife

Virunga National Park wildlife is one that is severely diverse spreading all over the 7800 square kilometres of space that this UNESCO World Heritage Site covers. Virunga National Park was established in April 1925 to protect the mountain gorillas that inhabited the park, making it the very oldest national park in the entire African continent. Virunga National Park is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, along the Great Albertine Rift Valley. Virunga National Park is one of the very few destinations in Africa that is still wild and gives travellers a true African wilderness feel.

Virunga National Park is one of the three protected areas that make part of the Virunga Massif area, with the rest being Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda. Virunga National Park contributes greatly to the ecosystem of the Congo, and inhabits so many features and wildlife species.

Virunga National Park is a true gem of Africa, with running lakes and rivers, volcanic mountains, lush rainforest cover and the most diverse wildlife species. Virunga National Park wildlife varies, with 218 mammal species recorded to be in the park, 78 amphibians, 708 bird species and about 109 reptile species including the very fierce Nile crocodiles. Virunga National Park also has about 2000 plant species recorded.

The plant species in Virunga National Park, recorded at about 2000 species, has 15% of them endemic to the park. These plant species date back to thousands of years, with some of them being medicinal or even edible. Be sure to find out more about the plant species in the park from your guide during various activities in the park say nature walks, gorilla trekking among others.

Virunga National Park wildlife, with 218 mammal species recorded, has wild game like African bush elephants, savannah elephants, okapis, African leopards, bushbucks, checkered elephants, crested porcupines, Aardvark, African buffaloes, bay duikers, Lord Derby’s Scaly-tailed squirrel, hippos, giant forest hogs, waterbucks, Thomas kobs, among others. Given that Virunga National Park is adjacent to the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park of Uganda, the home of the tree climbing ions and other wild game, travellers can spot these various wild animals.

Virunga Elephants — Virunga National Park

Among the other ardent Virunga National Park wildlife is the variety of primates in the park, with about 22 primate species recorded to inhabit Virunga National Park. The endangered mountain gorillas do top this list of primates in Virunga National Park, which most travellers do travel far and wide to come and encounter them in their wild inhabitant, the wild Virunga National Park of Congo. Other primates that travellers can spot in Virunga National Park include the eastern chimpanzees, Blue monkeys, Central African Red colobus, Golden monkeys, De Brazza’s monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Dent’s Mona monkeys, Hamlyn’s monkeys, mantled Guereza, Olive baboons, among so many others.

Reptiles in Virunga National Park can be found in among others the Semuliki River which is actually the hotspot of Nile crocodiles, Lake Edward as well as the forested areas of the park. Snakes are a common sight in Virunga National Park, among other reptiles.

Virunga National Park birds also include a variety of wildlife species, totalling to over 706 bird species recorded in the park. among the various bird species that travellers in Virunga National Park can spot include but are not limited to the Ruwenzori turaco, Ruwenzori batis, Archers ground robin, red throated alethe, collared appalis, mountain masked appalis, strange weaver, regal sunbird, the Ruwenzori double collared sunbird, handsome francolin, grey-throated barbet, Angolan swallow, barred long-tailed cuckoo and the mountain greenbul.

Apart from the Virunga National Park wildlife, the park has so many other attractions. These include mountain gorillas, which are an endangered species found only in the Virunga Massifs as well as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which hosts about half the total world population of the mountain gorillas. Travellers can encounter mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park on a gorilla trekking adventure in the park, which requires one to purchase a Congo gorilla trekking permit which costs only USD400 per person per trek.

Other attractions include the volcanic mountains in the park which include the active Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Nyiragongo which has a large lava lake spewing at the summit, giving great scenic views even when at a distance. Climbing the other Virunga volcanoes is an experience that would leave travellers amazed with the scenic views they would encounter as well as the various wild life that can be seen, including the mountain gorillas themselves most a times.

Virunga National Park wildlife can be encountered with activities like gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, chimpanzee tracking, hiking Mount Nyiragongo, nature walks, boat safaris, bird watching, wild game drives and mountain climbing of any of the Virunga volcanoes in Virunga National Park. The Virunga National Park wildlife can be viewed and encountered all throughout the year, with the dry season being the best for gorilla trekking and game drives while the wet or rainy season is the best for bird watching safaris in Virunga National Park. Irrespective of the season however, you can still enjoy your stay in Virunga National Park, for so long as you have time for a safari. Reach out to your tour operator of choice and be able encounter the various Virunga National Park wildlife.