Comparing Virunga National Park Vs Volcanoes National Park

Comparing Virunga National Park Vs Volcanoes National Park: Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park are both popular gorilla trekking safari destinations, offering everything from gorilla trekking to the golden monkey and chimpanzee trekking experiences.

A visit to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda can be combined with a short journey to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Because gorilla trekking in Rwanda is rather expensive, most people prefer to perform other activities in Volcanoes National Park before going gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which costs not less than USD 400 for a gorilla permit.

Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was founded as the Albert National Park in 1925. It was named after Belgium’s King Albert I. Virunga was designated as a national park in order to safeguard its varied and unique bio-diversity of plant and wildlife species, particularly mountain gorillas, which were being slaughtered by poachers for bush meat and during civil war clashes.

After the country’s independence from the Belgian colonial authority in 1960, the Albert National Park was renamed Virunga National Park in 1969. The park can also be identified by its French equivalent, ‘Parc National des Virungas.’

Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in the Albertine Rift Valley. The park has an elevation of 680 meters in the Semiliki River valley and 5,109 meters in the Rwenzori Mountains. The park also stretches into Uganda and Rwanda, totaling 8,090 km2.

To name a few, Virunga national park in eastern Congo is home to hippos, African Bush Elephants, African buffaloes, Okapi, waterbucks, topi, common warthogs, Uganda Kob, bay duiker, red river hog, bongo, harnessed bushbuck, African Leopard, gigantic pangolin, yellow-backed duiker, and blue duiker. All of these rare wildlife species are attractions that draw a large number of visitors to the national park.

About Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park is located in Rwanda’s northern region. The park headquarters are at Kinigi, which is ideally positioned in the Ruhengeri district. Upon its foundation in 1925, the park is one of the African continent’s oldest national parks. It has a land area of 160 square kilometers and is bordered by five of the Virunga Mountains’ eight volcanoes: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is part of the Virunga Conservation Area and is bordered to the west by Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to the east by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.

Comparing Activities in Virunga National Park Vs Volcanoes National Park.

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.

A trip to Dian Fossey’s grave site, hiking mountains Bisoke and Karisimbi, gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, Ibyiwacu village tour, and a visit to Musanze Caves are among the activities available to visitors visiting Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The national park is a premium gorilla trekking destination, as well as Rwanda’s sole national park where visitors may observe mountain gorillas in the wild.

Comparing Accommodations in Virunga National Park Vs Volcanoes National Park.

Visitors who plan on remaining longer in Virunga National Park can find lodging in the following facilities: Mikeno Lodge, Bukima Tented Camp, Tchegera Island Tented Camp, Nyiragongo Summit Shelters, and Lulimbi Tented Camp, to name a few.

Whilst on a Rwanda safari in Volcanoes National Park, tourists may choose from a variety of housing options. Bisate Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Kinigi Guesthouse, Mountain Gorilla View, and Gorilla Volcanoes Resort are a few examples.

Getting from Virunga National Park to Volcanoes National Park.

All of our Congo safari tours to Virunga national park begin in Kigali, Rwanda. Tourists may reach the national park via road after visiting Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Driving time from Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda to Virunga National Park in Congo is around 112 to 2 hours. Tourists must cross the Gisenyi-Goma border, known as ‘Le Grand Barrier,’ to reach Virunga National Park.

A Rwanda gorilla safari to Volcanoes National Park paired with a gorilla safari to Congo’s Virunga National Park is the ideal vacation package for any traveler. This tour combination is great for any traveler who wants to see a variety of primate species, and those interested should contact a reputable tour operator like Explore Rwanda Tours, which offers the best gorilla safaris to both Rwanda and Congo.