Volcano National Park (Parc National Des Volcans)
Volcano National Park is home to the mountain gorilla, discovered by Europeans in the early 1900s. The peaks of the Virunga Mountains, heavily forested extinct volcanoes, serve as a border with Zaire and Uganda and are part of the waterŽshed between the Zaire and Nile river systems.
This 46-square-mile (120 km2) park supports several vegetation zones from lowland forest to luxuriant mountain forest to Afro-alpine. From 8500-11,000 feet (2590-3350 m) primary forest is dominated by hagenia trees growing 30-60 feet (9-18 m) in height. Hagenia have twisted trunks with low branches covered with lichen out of which parasitic orchids often grow.
Volcano National Park borders Virunga National Park in Zaire and the Kigezi Mountain Gorilla Game Reserve in Uganda. The park receives a high amount of rainfall, averaging 40 inches (1020 mm) per year. Daytime temperatures average about 50° F (10° C).
The mountain gorilla is larger and has longer hair than the lowland gorilla. It grows to over six feet (2 m) in height and weighs more than 440 pounds (200 kg).
Mountain gorillas form themselves into fairly stable groups of three to 30. They are active by day and sleep in nests at night.
Mountain gorillas eat leaves, buds and tubers (like wild celery). They are continuously on the move, looking for their favorite foods. They eat morning and afternoon, their dining habits interspaced with a midday nap.
Fourteen species of primates are found in these forests, including the red colobus and the crested mangabey. Other wildlife in the park includes forest elephants, giant forest hog, black-fronted duiker (very common), yellow-backed duiker and buffalo. Over 90 species of birds have been recorded, including spectacular mountain touracos and black partridges.
Forest elephants are smaller than those found on the savannah and are most often found in the lower forest zone. Forest elephants do not hesitate to climb the steep slopes of the volcanoes and are known to climb to the bamboo zone where they eat the young bamboo shoots. However, they are seldom seen.
Related Information
Volcanoes
Volcanoes The Region Around Goma Is A Highly Volcanic Area Of Constant Activity. On My First Visit Here, I Discovered That A New Volcano Had Been Born Recently, And We Hiked Ten Miles Into The Bush To See It. In The Event Of An Eruption, We Camped Uphill From The Volcano, Which Was Scarcely 300 Feet (915 M) High And Watched The Fabulous Fireworks All Night. For Some Unknown Reason, A New Volcano Usually Pops Up In This Active Region About Every Other Year. I Just Missed Visiting Another Lava-Filled Caldera In 1984, Which Cooled A Few Weeks Before My Arrival. In
Curepipe
Curepipe Curepipe, A Large Town Located On The Central Plateau, Is A Good Place To Shop And Cool Off From The Warm Coast. The Extinct Volcano, Trou Aux Cerfs, May Be Visited Nearby.
Grand Bassin
Grand Bassin Grand Bassin Is A Lake In An Extinct Volcano; It Is The Holy Lake Of The Hindus Who Celebrate The Maha Shivaratree, An Exotic Festival Held Yearly In February Or March.
Goma
Goma Goma is the tourist center for eastern Zaire and the administrative center for Virunga National Park and Ny-iragongo and Nyamulagira Volcanoes. Fortunately tourism has done little to change this typical African town. Goma is situated on the northern shores of Lake Kivu, one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa, with Mt. Nyiragongo (volcano) forming a draŽmatic backdrop to the north. Three boats per week depart Goma for Bukavu across Lake Kivu. Le Nyira is a good restaurant in town. Goma has an international airport. Air charters are available.
Lake Natron Region
Lake Natron Region Lake Natron, Located Between The Ngorongoro ConserŽvation Area And The Kenya Border, Is A Shallow, Alkaline Lake Approximately 38 Miles Long And 15 Miles Wide (60 X 25 Km). This Remote Lake Is One Of East Africa's Largest Breeding Areas For Flamingos. South Of Lake Natron Is Oldoinyo Lengai, The Only Active Carbonatite Volcano In The World And Holy Mountain Of The Masai. This Steep Mountain Takes About 10 Hours To Climb And Return To Its Base. The Gol Mountains, Located Between Lake Natron And The Serengeti, Is An Interesting Area For Hiking.
Gisenyi
Gisenyi Gisenyi is a picturesque resort on the northern shores of beautiful Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu has some nice sandy white beaches and is believed to have little or no bilharzias. Crocodiles are absent from the lake due to volcanic action eons ago which wiped them out, making swimming safer. Accommodation - Deluxe: Hotel Izuba Meridian, an excellent hotel with 68 double rooms and four suites with private facilities, is located 1%-hours' drive from Volcano NaŽtional Park. Situated on Lake Kivu, the hotel has a swimming pool, tennis courts and solarium. Tourist Class: Hotel Palm Beach has 112 rooms, some with
Bukima (Rumangabo Station)
Bukima (Rumangabo Station) Bukima Is The Most Accessible Reserve In Zaire For Visiting Mountain Gorillas {Gorilla Gorilla Beringei). As Of This Writing, The Zunguruka Group Was The Only Group Being Visited. Another Group Was Recently Taken Over By A New Silverback And Will Require Some Time To Be Habituated. To Reach Bukima, Go North On The Goma/Rutshuru Road And Turn Off At The Park Headquarters At Rumangabo Station. You Then Hike Uphill For About 40 Minutes To Bukima Lodge White Porters Carry Your Luggage, Trekkers Usually Spend The Night, And The Following Day Hike For About 11/2 Hours Through Cultivated Land And
Djomba (Jomba) Gorilla Sanctuary
Djomba (Jomba) Gorilla Sanctuary The Djomba Gorilla Sanctuary Covers Much Of The Zaire Side Of The Virunga Mountains, Which Are Shared With Rwanda And Uganda. Here, Two Groups Of Mountain Gorillas Have Been HabituŽated To Man's Presence. Both Groups Are Named After Their Leader (A Silverback) And May Be Visited By Up To Six Persons Each At A Time. National Parks Guides Must Accompany Each Group. Djomba Camp Is The Base From Which Gorilla Trekking Begins. To Reach Djomba (Also Spelled Jomba), Drive About 40 Miles (65 Km) North From Goma Past Nyiragongo And NyamuŽlagira Volcanoes. Two Miles Before Reaching Rutshuru, Turn Right And
Nyungwe Forest Reserve
Nyungwe Forest Reserve (La Foret De Nyungwe) The Nyungwe Forest is one of the most biologically diŽverse high-altitude rain forests in Africa. Located in southwestŽern Rwanda bordering the country of Burundi, this 375-square-mile (970 km2) reserve is home for 12 species of primates including a rare subspecies of black and white colobus monkey, the rare golden monkey, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and chimpanzees. In addition to a variety of butterflies and orchids, over 275 species of birds have been recorded. Some of the over 250 species of trees and shrubs grow to over 165 feet (50 m) in height. This mountainous reserve has
The West Mt. Elgon National Park
The West Mt. Elgon National Park Seldom Visited, This 65-Square-Mile (169 Km2) Park Is A Huge, Extinct Volcano Shared With Uganda, And At 14,178 Feet (4321 M) Is The Second Highest Mountain In Kenya. Mt. Elgon Also Has The Giant Afro-Alpine Flora Found On Mts. Kenya And Kilimanjaro. The Forests Are Often So Thick That A Full-Grown Elephant Could Be Standing 20 Feet (6 M) From The Road And Not Be Seen. Buffalo, Waterbuck, Andbushbuck Are More Likely To Be Spotted. Kitum And Makingeny Caves Are Unique In Having A Good Portion Of Their Size Created By Elephants. Small Herds Often Enter