How to Get to Virunga National Park from Rwanda
How to Get to Virunga National Park from Rwanda: Virunga National Park might be the ideal safari holiday spot for you and your family. The national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a great destination for Congo vacationers. The national park is also a popular gorilla trekking site in Congo.
Congo’s Virunga National Park is one of the few areas in the world where people may walk some of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas can only be found in three nations throughout the world: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to a recent mountain gorilla census, there are at least 1,004 mountain gorillas in the globe.
The IUCN Red List classifies the species as severely endangered. The Virunga Massif, which includes Virunga National Park in Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, is thought to be home to 604 mountain gorillas.
Virunga National Park in Congo is the continent’s oldest national park, having been established in 1925. The national park is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern region and has an area of 8090 square kilometres.
It was designated as a national park in order to safeguard and conserve the park’s endangered animal species, which include mountain gorillas, chimps, forest elephants, and the highly sought after Okapi species, among others.
The national park is home to approximately 218 animal species, including 22 primates such as the Red Tailed Monkey, Black and White Monkey, Olive Baboons, Chimpanzees, and many others. Over 706 bird species live in Virunga National Park, including the yellow white-eye, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Mountain Sooty Boubou, tropical Boubou, and narrow-tailed starling.
The Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo provides tourists with a variety of tourism activities such as gorilla trekking, chimp trekking and habituation, bird viewing, nature walks, visiting Senkwekwe Orphanage Centre, and ascending Mount Nyiragongo, among others.
How to get to Virunga National Park from Rwanda.
Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is best accessed by road or plane. Visitors who choose to come to the national park by car have a higher chance of seeing the lovely beauty of Congo.
Accessing Virunga National Park from Rwanda by Road.
Visitors to Congo’s Virunga National Park can easily access the park from Gisenyi border at “Le Grande Barrier.” This route takes visitors to the national park from the Rwandan side. Travelers must fly into Kigali International Airport in Rwanda and then travel to Gisenyi town, which is located in Rwanda’s western province. Travelers can drive from Gisenyi town to Goma town across the ‘Le Grand Barrier’ border. Travelers would need around 4 hours to drive from Kigali airport to Virunga National Park in Congo.
Virunga National Park is also accessible from Bukavu in Congo. This path is typically used by travellers who have trekked with the eastern lowland or mountain gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Visitors taking this route will have to drive to the Bukima patrol post, which will take around 5- 6 hours. Travelers that use this route will benefit from more attractive vistas such as lakes and lush, green landscapes.
Visitors travelling from Bukavu can choose to take a ferry, public boats, or a speed boat from Lake Kivu to Goma town. After that, visitors can take a private vehicle from Goma to the Virunga headquarters in Bukima.
Visitors must submit their Congo visas to immigration officers before crossing the border at Goma or Bunagana. If you don’t have one, you’ll have to buy one at the border. However, it is recommended that travellers get Congo visas at least a month in advance.
Visitors who desire to obtain a visa to the Democratic Republic of the Congo should have the relevant qualifications, such as a valid passport, a valid Yellow fever card, and a gorilla trekking permit if climbing mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.
How to Get to Virunga national park from Rwanda by Air.
Virunga National Park is approximately one hour’s drive from Goma. Visitors can also fly into Rwanda’s Kigali airport, drive to Gisenyi, and then cross the border to Goma. Virunga may be reached in 3-4 hours by taking this route.
Visitors to Virunga National Park in Congo are required by law to have a Congo Tourist Visa, a valid yellow fever card, a valid passport, and a gorilla trekking permit if they intend to do gorilla trekking tour in Virunga.
