Distance to Virunga National Park From Kigali

Distance to Virunga National Park From Kigali: The road distance between Kigali and Virunga National Park is roughly 187 kilometers, and the journey takes approximately 5-6 hours. Thousands of visitors from all over the globe visit Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo to see the endangered mountain gorillas that can only be seen in this area.

Congo’s Virunga National Park is one of the few areas in the world where mountain gorillas can be found, and they have made their homes in the dense tropical rainforest. The national park is home to approximately 8 mountain gorilla families that are available to tourists all year. The national park also has 706 bird species, 200 animals, 20 primates, and 109 reptiles.

How to access Virunga National Park From Kigali?

Virunga National Park is accessible by road from Kigali. Most visitors prefer to fly into Kigali International Airport and then take a three-hour car trip to the Goma border near Lake Kivu. After being approved at the border (you must have a passport, Congo visa, and a yellow fever vaccination card), drivers from Virunga National Park carry you to the park or lodge, which takes around 2.5 hours and is accompanied by a military convoy.

Aside from driving, you may fly from Nairobi, Kenya, to Goma International Airport with Jambo Jet. The trip is 2 hours long, and when you arrive at the airport, drivers from Virunga National Park will be waiting to pick you up and transport you to the park, where you will check into your booked accommodation.

A brief Background on Virunga National Park in Congo.

Virunga National Park was established in 1952 to safeguard the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Today, the national park is home to more than a quarter of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla species. The national park preserves eight gorilla families, all of which are available for gorilla trekking: Kabirizi, Humba, Munyaga, Bageni, Rugendo, Mapuwa, Nyakamwe, and Lulengo. Other mountain gorillas may be found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park, while the remainder can be found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park.

Mountain gorilla trekking is the most popular activity in Virunga National Park, and it entails a group of trekkers following a briefing from park wardens into the bush with armed ranger rangers. The activity leads hikers through several forest routes in search of the unusual apes that share 98% human DNA.

During the search, trekkers may see okapi, buffaloes, elephants, red river pigs, giant forest hogs, aardvark, bushbuck, olive baboons, blue monkeys, topis, red-tailed monkeys, birds, and various flora species.

When trekkers get to the mountain gorillas, they are given an hour to learn about their routines, snap photographs, and observe them doing everyday activities such as eating, hunting, nesting, and much more.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Virunga National Park.

Chimpanzees may also be found in Congo’s Virunga National Park but in smaller numbers. Some of the chimpanzees have been trained for trekking activities, and the activity, like mountain gorilla trekking, begins with a briefing before the trekkers are led into the bush to look for these primates by armed ranger guides. When the trekkers come across monkeys, they are allowed an hour to observe their daily routines, take photographs, and learn about their behaviors.

Volcano Climbing in Virunga National Park.

Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is home to three Virunga volcanoes: Nyiragongo, Nyamuragira, and Mikeno. Mount Nyiragongo is the most visited volcano in Virunga National Park, and with good reason: it is the world’s most active volcano, with the biggest lava lake at its top.

Hiking to the peak of any of the mountains begins with a briefing, and the activity takes varying amounts of time depending on the terrain. Hiking usually takes 5-6 hours because of the steep slopes and harsh terrain.

Hikers encounter many park animals and birds, and once at the peak, they get spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes, including Virunga National Park, Kahuzi Biega National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Kivu, plantations, and homesteads.

Birdwatching in Virunga National Park.

The rain forest of Virunga National Park is home to over 706 birds, which may be viewed during various park activities, including birdwatching. Red-faced woodland warbler, red-chested cuckoo, white-necked raven, stonechat, mountain illadopsis, white-browed crombec, banded Prinia, mountain oriole, tambourine dove, olive woodpecker, and grassland pipit are among the birds found in Virunga National Park.

Other birds in the national park include narrow-tailed starling, northern puff back, white-starred robin, African olive pigeon, grey-crowned crane, blue-headed sunbird, collared Apalis, Rwenzori turaco, narina trogon, white-eyed Slaty flycatcher, western tinkerbird, chin spot Batis, pin-tailed whydah, streaky seedeater, Chubb’s cisticola, and cardinal woodpecker among others.

When is the best time to visit Virunga National Park?

Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is open all year, however, there are some months that are better than others, and these are the dry months. The drier months of June to September and December to February are ideal for visiting Virunga National Park because they have little or no rainfall, which makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is thin, allowing for clear views of the park’s animals, and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Travelers may still visit Virunga National Park during the rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November, to take advantage of significant discounts on lodging and gorilla trekking permits. However, during the above months, there is a lot of rain, the hiking routes are muddy and slippery, the foliage is dense, making it difficult to see the park animals, and the roads leading to the park are impassable.

Where to stay during your visit to Virunga National Park?

There are various housing options for travelers to utilize when on safari in Virunga National Park, so they don’t have to worry about where they will stay. These lodging options range from inexpensive to mid-range to luxury and include Lulimbi Tented Camp, Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters, Bukima Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island, Kibumba Tented Camp, and many more.