Democratic Republic of Congo – The Virungas
The Virungas National Park
Situated in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Virunga National Park is Africa’s oldest National Park and one of the world’s most biodiverse treasures, offering exceptional wildlife and dramatic landscapes for the intrepid traveller. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park abounds with vast bubbling lava lakes, glacier-clad mountains, dense jungles and vast savannah plains.
The DRC is one of just three countries where endangered mountain gorillas can be viewed in their natural habitat – an unforgettable experience that is hard to capture in words, and surely ranks at the top of most travellers ‘must do’ trips.
Adventurous visitors can hike up Mt. Nyiragongo, an active stratovolcano, and camp on its crater’s rim for the night. The volcano’s forested lower slopes are home to a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bushbuck. Nyiragongo’s summit rim is largely devoid of vegetation and is sometimes dusted with snow. From the rim, visitors can peer down into a churning lava lake and see and hear hot gases exploding up though a mosaic of molten lava. (This hike has been temporarily suspended due to the recent eruption)
Kick back on Tchegera Island, set in the turquoise waters of Lake Kivu. On clear nights, spectacular views of Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira greet guests, as their glowing red lava pierces a star covered sky. Birdlife abounds on the island – including African eagles, cormorants, herons and gulls. Whether one chooses to relax on the beach or explore the island and it’s surrounds in a sea kayak or by paddle board, Tchegera is the perfect escape.
We operate set departure packages (which our directors have personally travelled on) to specific areas only, that are run with strict safety measures in place. As such, our trips are subject to change at the discretion of the Virungas National Park, always putting our guests’ safety first.
Democratic Republic of Congo Packages
- Kahuzi Biega Gorillas & Rwanda explorationConner Mackenzie2024-04-15T10:35:35+00:00
Kahuzi Biega Gorillas & Rwanda exploration