Tourist Activities in Virunga National Park in DR Congo
Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is now open for tourism effective 15 February 2019, following a few months of closure due to security concerns. Bamboo Ecotours is currently accepting reservations for hiking treks to the Nyiragongo volcano in DR Congo and gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park. See below a list of the proposed tours.
Background of Virunga National Park
The Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is part of the greater Albertine conservation area. The Virunga national park was established in 1925, making Virunga the oldest national park in Africa. The UNESCO heritage site is a habitat to about 300 of the remaining mountain gorilla population.
About half of the remaining wild mountain gorillas are found in the Virunga National Park in DR Congo. The rest of the gorilla population is found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mountain gorilla trekking and volcano hiking (especially Mt. Nyiragongo & Mt. Mikeno) are the major tourist activities in Virunga National Park.
Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking Trek
The spectacular Nyiragongo volcano is one of the currently active volcanoes in the eight mountains that form the Virunga ranges. Mount Nyiragongo, which is located close to Goma town in eastern DRC, last erupted in 2012. Bamboo Ecotours is working with tour operators in DR Congo to arrange hiking treks to the active Nyiragongo volcano.
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
The most popular gorilla trekking safari destinations in Africa are Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. While gorilla tourism is not as robust in DR Congo as is the case with Uganda and Rwanda, the DR Congo gorillas in Virunga National Park are also open for trekking. However, the insecurity in eastern DRC has occasionally hindered gorilla trekking growth in the Virunga National Park.
Top Things to Do in Virunga National Park
3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari in Virunga National Park
The three day Congo gorilla trek takes you to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The 3-day gorilla trek is planned to start in Kigali, Rwanda, and end in Kigali on day three. If you prefer a different start location, let us know, and we will adjust the pick-up location accordingly.
3-Day Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking Trek
The 3-day Nyiragongo volcano hiking trek takes you to Virunga National Park to summit the famous active Nyiragongo volcano. The hiking trek is planned to start in Kigali, Rwanda, and end in Kigali on day three. If you prefer a different start location, let us know, and we will adjust the pick-up location accordingly.
4-Day Congo Gorilla Trekking Safari & Nyiragongo Volcano Hike
The three day Congo gorilla trekking safari & Nyiragongo volcano hike trek takes you to Virunga National Park to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The 4-day trek is planned to start in Kigali, Rwanda, on day one and end in Kigali on day three. If you prefer a different start location, let us know, and we will adjust the pick-up location accordingly.