Virunga National Park (Parc National Des Virunga)
Virunga National Park, Previously Called Albert Park, Is The Oldest Reserve In Africa. It Is The Best Game Park In Zaire And Is One Of The Finest And Least-Known Parks In All Of Africa. With Approximately 4600 Square Miles (11,900 Km2) In Area, It Is One Of The Largest On The Continent As Well. Altitudes Range From 3000 Feet (915 M) On The Grassy Savannah To 16,794 Feet (5120 M) In The Ruwenzori Mountains, Resulting In A Tremendous Variety Of Topography, Flora And Fauna.
Virunga Is About 185 Miles (300 Km) Long And 25 Miles (40 Km) Wide And Is Divided Into Several Sections, Each Requiring Separate Entrance Fees. From South To North: Nyiragongo And Nyamulagira Volcanoes, Tongo, Bukima (Rumangabo Station), Djomba Gorilla Sanctuary, Rwindi, The Ruwenzori Mountains, And Mt. Hoyo. Guides Are Compulsory And Their Services Are Included In The Park Entrance Fees.
Related Information
Volcano National Park
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
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.
Ishango
Ishango The Ishango Region Of Virunga National Park Is Situated At The Northern End Of Lake Edward (Idi Amin). This Seldom-Visited Region Of The Park Is Predominantly Open Savannah Similar To The Rwindi Area And The Southern Shores Of Lake Edward. Wildlife Is Also Similar To What You Find In The Rwindi Region, Except There Are No Elephant. Water Birds Are Prolific, Especially Where The Semliki River Empties Into Lake Edward. From Beni, Travel East Past The Turnoffto The Ruwenzon Mountains And Onward Toward The Ugandan Border To Kasindi. Then Turn Right (South) And Continue To Ishango.
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
Rwindi
Rwindi Continuing North Towards Rwindi Are The Rutshuru Waterfalls And Maji Ya Moto Hot-Water Springs, Both Near Rutshuru. Rwindi Is The Chief Game-Viewing Region Of Virunga NaŽtional Park. Predominantly Composed Of Savannah Plains And Swamps, Rwindi Has The Greatest Concentrations Of Hippo In The World (About 23,000). Lion In Rwindi Are Known For Their Unusual Ability To Kill Hippo. The Kabasha Escarpment Rises Up To 6000 Feet (1830 M) Above The Plains Below And Provides A Dramatic Backdrop For Wildlife Which Includes Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo, Lion, Hyena, Jackal, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, Bushbuck, Topi, Thomas Kob, Defassa Kob, Crocodiles And Numerous Aquatic Birds. The Fishing Village
Kibira National Park
Kibira National Park (Parc National De La Kibira) Kibira National Park and the Kibira Forest are the best areas in Burundi to look for chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys and crested mangabeys. This 155-square-mile (400 km2) park is situated 30 miles (48 km) or more to the north and northeast of Bujumbura and has a network of over 100 miles (160 km) of tracks (poor roads).
National Park
National Park Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated on the slopes of Mts. Muhabura and Gahinga in the southwestern corner of Uganda, bordering Rwanda and Zaire. A joint commission has been set up by Uganda, Rwanda and Zaire to protect the mountain gorilla in the Virunga Mountains where the borders of the three countries meet. Gorillas are much less likely to be sighted here than in the Volcano National Park in Rwanda or in Rahuzi-Biega National Park or Djomba Gorilla Sanctuary in Zaire. The Ugandan side of the mountains is dryer, providing less moisture to grow the vegetation gorillas prefer eating. However, the
Ruvubu National Park
Ruvubu National Park (Parc National De La Ruvubu) Ruvubu National Park is 193 square miles (500 km2) in size and covers a strip of land from one to six miles (1.5-10 km) wide along both sides of the Ruvubu River in eastern Burundi. Wildlife in the Ruvubu basin and Pare National de la Ruvubu includes hippo, crocs, buffalo, leopard, antelope, monkeys and some lion. More than 425 bird species have been recorded. The closest road access to the park is 134 miles (216 km) from Bujumbura. The park has about 30 miles (50 km) of tracks. Accommodation is available in a
Queen Elizabeth (Ruwenzori) National Park
Queen Elizabeth (Ruwenzori) National Park The park contains about 770 square miles (1995 km2) of tremendous scenic variety, including volcanic craters and craŽter lakes, grassy plains, swamps, rivers, lakes and tropical forest. The snowcapped Ruwenzori Mountains lie to the north and are not part of the park itself. The park is being extended to give migratory species more protection while moving to and from Virunga National Park in Zaire. The launch trip on the Kazinga Channel, which joins Lakes Edward (Lake Rwitanzige) and George, affords excellent opportunities for viewing hippos and a great variety of water-fowl at close range; this is a
Mountain Climbing
Mountain Climbing Hiking in the beautiful Virunga Mountains is in itself an adventure. Trails lead to the craters or peaks of the park's five volcanoes, upwards through the unique high-vegetation zones of bamboo, hagenia-hypericum forests, giant lobelia and sene-cio, and finally to alpine meadows. Views from the top, which overlook the lush Rwandan valleys and into Zaire and Uganda, are spectacular. Some travelers spend a day or two searching for gorillas interspaced with hikes to one or more of the volcanoes. Karisimbi (14,786 ft. /4507 m.), which is occasionally snowcapped, is Rwanda's highest mountain. It is the most arduous ascent, requiring two days