Which is the oldest national park in the D.R Congo? There are many national parks in Congo because of their size. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest country in Africa and the largest in Central Africa. This fascinating country sits at the border of Uganda, Rwanda, the Central African Republic, Angola, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. Congo is blessed with incredible biodiversity (Wildlife and vegetation) and will become among the most visited countries in Africa in the future.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the only country where one can spot both lowland and mountain gorillas. The country is not all about gorillas. Congo offers opportunities to hike volcanoes, explore unique cultures, meet unique tribal groups like pygmies and spot all of Africa’s famous animals. A safari in Congo also offers a chance to spot rare species like the Congo peafowl, bongo, okapi, pygmy chimpanzees (bonobos) and much more. Congo is different because it remains untamed, unspoiled, raw and waiting to be discovered. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the few countries that still offers tourists a chance to explore the Africa that you read about in old hunting or safari books.
Virunga National Park is the oldest national park in the democratic republic of Congo. It was at one time the largest national park before it was split from the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. The park was established in 1922, it’s one of the oldest UNESCO World heritages designated because of its incredible biodiversity and hosting one of the remaining populations of mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park is located in the Eastern part of the country close to the border with Rwanda and Uganda. The park is home to three volcanoes – Mikeno, Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo. Because of the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Congo, Virunga has been declared a site in danger. Apart from mountain gorillas, Virunga is home to the rare okapi, chimpanzees, forest elephants, African buffaloes, Ugandan Kobs, hippos, giant forest hogs, waterbucks, warthogs, topi, duikers, lions, colobus monkeys, and blue monkeys. There are 706 species of birds, 65 amphibians and 109 reptiles.
Safari experiences offered at Virunga National Park
Mountain gorilla trekking
mountain gorilla trekking is one of the most and famous safari experiences in Virunga National Park, mountain gorilla trekking is an activity that involves trekking through the jungles or thick dense forests due to the fact that the mountain gorillas do live in the forested area. Trekking through them offers a remarkable safari experience to every visitor on a Congo gorilla safari. The national park is one of the destinations still containing a large population of these fascinating creatures. Gorilla trekking safari is an adventurous safari experience that offers visitors a marvelous opportunity to explore the lush forest and have access to interact with the mountain gorillas in their naturally habituated family on how they behave in the wild. Gorilla trekking is an unforgettable safari experience to meet with these fascinating primates up close. During a Congo gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, you’ll have added opportunity to encounter other park features such as rare okapi, chimpanzees, forest elephants, African buffaloes, giant forest hogs, waterbucks, warthogs, topi, duikers, lions, colobus monkeys and blue monkeys and different colorful birds on your way. upon encountering these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat, you will be allowed one hour of interaction while observing how they carry out their daily activities such as playing and feeding their young ones among others.
Bird watching
Bird watching in the park also offers the best adventure safaris to every bird lover, Virunga National Park is home to over 702 bird species, making it the best birding destination chosen for every bird enthusiast. while in a Congo birding safari in the park, you will get to spot a variety of different kinds of birds such as White-throated Bee-eater, Olive Bee-eater, Croaking Cisticola, Short-winged Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Banded Prinia, Little Rush Warbler, Eastern Rush Warbler, Bracken Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Cassin’s Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Grey-throated Tit Flycatcher, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Bee-eater, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Bee-eater among others.
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking is another thrilling activity in the Virunga National Park that has tracked a huge number of tourists. Chimpanzee tracking in Virunga is an activity done as mountain gorilla trekking, it’s a process that involves walking through the verdant forests of Virunga in search of these fascinating chimpanzees in their natural habitat and once encounter them, you will have a chance one hour interact with them in their natural environment. Chimpanzee tracking in Virunga National Park starts early in the morning and it takes about 30 mins to 4 hours depending on where these fascinating primates are allocated since they move from one place to another in search of food. While on a Congo chimpanzee tracking safari in Virunga, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with other wildlife species including mammals, birds and primates among others. Upon encountering them, visitors are only allowed in their presence for only one hour observing their characteristics in the wild and photographs.
Nature walks
Nature walks are among the activities done in the Virunga National Park whereby visitors follow the trails to different destinations of amazing interest in the tropical rainforest to different wildlife spots. Nature walks in the Virunga Forest are one way you can explore the hidden treasures of the park’s ecosystem including its exceptional wildlife species. Visitors engage in nature walks so as the relax from the tiresome activities of the day. During a nature walk, they’ll be able to see the endangered mountain gorillas, monkeys, okapi, chimpanzees, forest elephants, African buffaloes, Ugandan Kobs, hippos on the water banks of lake Edward, giant forest hogs, waterbucks, warthogs, topi, duikers, bird species like Bronzy Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Rwenzori Turaco, Francolins nobilis, Musaphaga, skimmers, shoebills storks, egrets, visit the Senkwekwe Orphanage among others.
Wildlife viewing
Virunga National Park is home to a vast number of wildlife including its giant mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, the park has inhabited diverse species of wildlife such as eastern lowland gorillas, forest elephants, okapi, hippos, buffaloes, bushbucks and duikers, predators like leopards and spotted hyenas, and smaller mammals such as mongooses and bush babies among others. The park offers wildlife viewing safaris to travelers to embark on their safari adventure experience, though taking part in this remarkable safari tour is when you will be enriched with diverse knowledge about the wildlife characteristics in the wild. The park offers a lot of options to visitors who wish to take part in this enthralling activity such as on foot viewing, by vehicle, or by taking a boat safari along the shores of Lake Kivu
Nyiragongo volcano hike
Nyiragongo volcano hike offers a remarkable kike of 3,470m and above the sea level. It covers with diversity of snow and vegetation and it has the world’s largest lava lake. Nyiragongo volcano last erupted in 2002 but it has erupted over 32 times. You’ll spend about 30 min. drive from Goma using a car and 1 hour from Romagambo to Nyiragongo volcano. During the Nyiragongo volcano hike, you’ll come across different impacts of the different eruptions on the environment and upon reaching the peak, you will be granted with astonishing close view of the Ava lake at a safe distance. You’ll also have an opportunity to see lava boiling underneath the earth’s crust, which is one of the most rewarding experiences and the climax of your hiking adventure.
Landscape viewing
Landscape viewing is among the most thrilling activities within the park due to the fact that the park has better landscape viewing than all the national parks in Africa and these include the Rwenzori mountains, volcanoes in the Virunga conservation area, afro-alpine vegetation, Tchegera islands, eroded valley, forest covers that can be seen in the Isgango and Sinda regions. here you can get a nice photograph and an unforgettable experience that will last for a long.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information about which is the oldest national park in Congo and Book with our tours and travel companies such as; Achieve Global Safaris who offer the best tour packages while on Congo safari.
