The park is really pretty. It has tall mountains with snowy tops and deep valleys. The volcanoes are impressive too. Some parts of the park, like Sinda and Ishango, have amazing views. Lots of different animals live here, like elephants and buffalo. There are also many hippos living near Lake Edward and some rivers.

Virunga National Park is in a special place called the Albertine Rift, part of the Great Rift Valley. This is where the earth’s crust is stretching, making the land change. The park has eight volcanoes, and two of them, Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo, are very active. Nyiragongo has a lake of lava at the bottom of its crater, which sometimes spills out and causes big problems for nearby communities.

Overall, Virunga National Park is a really cool place with lots of different landscapes and animals. It’s important because it’s one of the few places where you can see active volcanoes in Africa.

Virunga National Park is a top destination in Africa, full of history and legend. Located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it offers vast landscapes and impressive wildlife, including endangered Mountain Gorillas, the famous Nyiragongo,Volcano, golden monkeys, and chimpanzees and  It also borders Rwenzori and Queen Elizabeth National Parks in Uganda.

About Virunga National ParkFormerly known as “Albert National Park,” Virunga National Park is known for its beautiful tropical rain forest. It is one of Africa’s first national parks and covers 7,800 square kilometers (about 3,000 square miles). The park is in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, stretching from the Virunga mountains in the south to the Rwenzori mountains in the north.

What to Expect When Visiting Virunga National ParkVisiting Virunga National Park offers an amazing outdoor experience. The park features untouched tropical rain forests, home to mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and Eastern chimpanzees. You can enjoy hiking trails, see thousands of bird species and other wildlife, and learn about the world’s most diverse ecosystem. The park is home to many animals, including forest elephants, hippos, okapis, lions, buffaloes, and kobs. It also has the largest concentration of hippopotamuses in Africa, with 20,000 hippos living on the banks of Lake Edward and along the Rwindi, Rutshuru, and Semliki Rivers.

How to Get to Virunga National ParkLocated near Goma, you can reach Virunga National Park in several ways, each with different costs.

By RoadRoad transport is the best way to explore the landscapes and terrain of Congo. It takes about 5-6 hours to drive from Kigali International Airport to the Goma or Gisenyi border crossing. Most planes arrive at Kigali International Airport in the afternoon, so you’ll need to spend the night in Rwanda and leave for Congo the next morning since the border doesn’t operate 24/7. Virunga is 32 km west of Goma town, the capital of North Kivu. Transportation from Goma to the park’s base can be arranged by trusted tour operators from the Association of Congolese Tours Operators and Travel Agents (ATOAV-RDC) or local car rental companies, though the latter is less advisable.

By AirFlights to Goma International Airport have become more accessible in recent years, with Ethiopian Airlines being a good option. Goma International Airport is the main airport for this region, although it was heavily affected by eruptions in 2002. The airport has been developed to boost tourism in eastern Congo.

Combining TripsVirunga National Park can be easily combined with other trips, including hiking the Nyiragongo Volcano, trekking to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzee habituation, and nature walks. You can plan trips that also include Uganda and Rwanda.

Using FerryIf you are already in Bukavu, a city in eastern Congo, and want to visit Virunga National Park, you have a few options. Bukavu is a few hours away from Virunga National Park by road, but the road is often in poor condition. The best option to reach Virunga is by ferry. Depending on the type of ferry (big ship or speedboat), it can take between 2 to 6 hours to travel on Lake Kivu to Goma. From Goma, you can then proceed to Virunga.

Enjoy your adventure to Virunga National Park, a place of breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable wildlife experiences!