Attractions In Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is an archetypal allure for its breathtaking exuberant beauty and endangered mountain gorillas. The park is situated in Eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo in the Albertine Rift Valley. Virunga national park was the first park to be established in Africa to protect the endangered mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga massif in 1925 as Albert national park. It covers an area of approximately 8,090 km2. In 1979 Virunga was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.
The fragment of Virunga’s bountiful mixed ecological community includes volcanic mountains, block mountains, the Albertine rift, rain forests, open grasslands, craters and crater lakes, woodlands, marsh and wetland vegetation among others elongate to Bwindi impenetrable forest, Semliki, Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori and Mgahinga national parks in Uganda and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
Mammals
In the Virunga National Park, there are 218 different types of mammals. Primarily as a result of its vastness and ecosystems, the park boasts a lot of species. It is home to sizable herds of elephants, buffalo, and kobs from Uganda. Along the shores of Lake Edward, there is also reported to be the greatest number of hippos in all of Africa. Lions, Blue Duikers, Aardvarks, Bushbucks, Water Bucks, Giant Forest Hogs, Topis, Hippopotamuses, Warthogs, Okapis, Leopards, Tree Pangolins, Marsh Mongooses, Bush Pigs, etc. are some of the other creatures found in the park.
Diverse primate species, including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, Dent’s monkeys, De Brazza’s monkeys, mantled Guerezas, Central African Red Colobus, and Hamlyn’s monkeys, exist in the park.
Birds
The Albertine Rift and Congolese endemics are among the 706-bird species that call the Virunga National Park residence, which makes it a popular destination for excellent birdwatching excursions. The majority of the birdwatching takes place with an equipped ranger escort in the park’s woodland area. Red-billed Teal, Mourning Collared Dove, Alpine Swift, Red-knobbed Coot, Black-billed Turaco, White-fronted Plover, Common Redshank, and Montagu’s Harrier are among the birds to watch for. Cardinal Woodpecker, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Lanner Falcon, Green Wood-hoopoe Red-backed Shrike, Yellow-crested Helmet-shrike, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Thick-billed Canary, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Blue-headed Sunbird, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Brown Thrush Babbler, Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Moustached Grass Warbler, Bracken Warbler, Northern pintail, Mozambique Nightjar, Black winged stilt, White thighed hornbill, Albertine, Brown crowned Tchagra, African Paradise flycatcher, Flappet Lark among others.
Flora
2,077 different plant species may be found in Virunga National Park, including 230 indigenous to the Albertine Rift and 264 tree species. The grasslands and wetlands that make up the arid regions of Virunga National Park are primarily composed of papyrus hedges jointed flats edge common, sacaton grasses, ambatch, and conkerberry, all of which are important for grassland seed dissemination.
High trees characterize the montane forest in the southern region between 1,800 and 2,800 m. At elevations between 2,300 and 2,600 meters, African alpine bamboo thrives. Subalpine vegetation can be found above 2,600 meters, with the tallest species reaching 3,000 meters. Up to 3,700 meters above sea level, damp slopes are covered in mosses and tree heather. Species of Senecio and Lobelia thrive in large clearings and can reach heights of up to 8 meters
Climate
A number of sources of water encircle Virunga; Lake Kivu, Lake Edward, Lake Albert, the River Congo, the River Semuliki, the River Isasha, and other streams provide generate breezes that result in a climate that is a combination of tropical and equatorial with a normal rainfall of 190mm. The Virunga climate is significantly influenced by the Rwenzori Mountains as well. Rainfall is continual because the park is situated on the leeward side of a hill that has glaciers year-round. The highlands have a variety of ecosystems at various altitudes, including moorland that is similar to that in the Alps above 4,000 meters and montane forest between 2,000 and 3,000 meters.
When the rainy season arrives in March, April, and May, as well as September, October, and November, the region experiences heavy rainfall and extremely chilly nighttime temperatures.
The equator passes through the Virunga national park, which is why the area experiences hot temperatures. In the lowlands, the average temperature ranges from 23 to 28 degrees, whereas in higher elevations, it ranges from 16 to 24 degrees. Virunga’s weather is always pleasant for visitors, and there are often tourist activities going on there.
Popular Safaris
- 10 Days Kibale Forest Chimp Trek
- 15 Days Kibale Primates Safari
- 20 Days Unique Primates Of Kibale
- 8 Days Chimps & Red Tail Monkey
- 7 Days Kibale Birding In The Forest
- 25 Days Colobus Monkey Kibale
All About Kibale
- History Of The Park
- Things To Do
- Places To See
- Getting There