[vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section title=”Overview” tab_id=”1535547096652-4a5b988e-bd41″][vc_column_text]The Virunga massif also popularly known as the Virunga Volcanoes range or the Virunga conservation area is comprised of a number of some of Africa’s unique and finest wildlife attractions. The region ranges from Northwestern Rwanda covering Volcanoes national park, southwestern Uganda covering Mgahinga gorilla national park and eastern Congo covering part of Virunga national park. This region though popularly known for the endangered mountain gorilla safaris that take place in the forested mountains of the three above mentioned national parks and golden monkey tracking, there way many other outstanding authentic experiences that nature lovers and adventurous tourists can enjoy while on an African safari in the Virunga Mountains. These range from forest walks, Volcano hiking, birding among others. Lets however explore more on hiking the various volcanoes the region has since its one of the less known but very interesting activity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Activities” tab_id=”1535547096526-92f6a428-cca1″][vc_column_text]Nature Walks in Virunga
Nature walking usually entails transferring from one destination to another for purposes of appeasing the mind, taking time to trail through various paths to spot different forms of nature like birds and relaxing from the noise of civilization and stress.
Walks in Virunga National Park are done to various areas like the Gorilla Orphanage center at Senkwekwe situated in Rumanagabo near the park headquarters where they will experience four gorillas that were saved from being trafficked by the poachers who hunt them in the thick forest vegetation for exportation and trade and also take part in tracking the chimpanzees at the thick forest of Tongo.
Birding in Virunga Park
Watching different species of birds using either your ears or eyes, telescopes, binoculars in their natural habitat is a way of relaxation and taking time. The sounds and noise from the tremendous bird species usually rise you up very early in the morning at around 5:00 am they sing with in the trees. You are compelled to get out of bed as these sounds extra ordinary and persuasive. This makes your experience Virunga National Park exceptional and rare to find anywhere else. In Virunga National park there a number of different bird species that inhabit the thick forest vegetation namely the Grey-throated Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Madagascar Bee-eater, Narrow-tailed Starling.
Mountain gorilla trekking
This is the most done tourism activity in the Virunga national park. There are six habituated gorilla families in the national park available for trekking. Virunga national park is one of the four national parks in the whole world with the surviving mountain gorillas alongside the volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park both in Uganda. Kabirizi is the largest family in the national park with approximately 32 members including 10 babies, 4 sub adults, I black back, 11 adults, five juveniles and 1 silver back named kabirizi. The other gorilla families in the national park are Rugendo, Munyaga, Humba, Mapuwa and Lulengo families.
Chimpanzee habituation
This is yet another interesting wild life activity done in virunga national park started by a zoologist named Frankfurt in 1987. Chimpanzees were made familiar to human beings and since the travelers have been flocking into the national park for chimpanzee habituation and trekking experiences. The chimpanzee habituation permit is sold at 100usd and allows travelers to interact with the chimpanzees learning more about them.
Nyiragongo hike
The experience does not only stop at wild life but also include hiking the Nyiragongo volcanoes. Virunga national park has the very active Nyiragongo volcano in its center whose summit harbors the largest large lava lake in the whole world. The volcano is very active in that records show that it has erupted over 34 times and the last one was in 2002 when the lava lake drained and lava flowed to the near by communities. Travelers hike up to the summit of the volcano and have a clear view of the dazzling lake with lots fumes coming out of melilite nephelinite.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Location” tab_id=”1535547565943-9e8691d0-8c11″][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][/vc_column][/vc_row]
