On a Congo safari, Virunga National Park is a popular safari destination. Virunga National Park is renowned as a habitat for primates, mammals, reptiles, bird species, and amphibians, among others. The park is located on the eastern edge of the Congo Basin, Virunga is ranked as the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest, and it is so beautiful because of the fire and ice for its diverse habitats ranging from the Rwenzori peaks to the savannah and volcanic plains that it is the first item on the safari bucket list. Virunga national park is one of the earliest national parks in Africa, having been established in 1925 primarily for the protection of the critically endangered mountain gorillas.
The Virunga national park consists of three sectors: the northern sector, which stretches from the Virunga massif in the south to the Rwenzori mountain bordering Uganda in the north; the central sector, which encompasses Lake Edward and the Ishasha River valley; and the southern sector, also known as montane tropical forests, which is home to active volcanoes and mountain gorillas on the slopes of the dormant Mikeno volcano.
Attractions in Virunga national park.Â
Mountain gorillas.
In Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, mountain gorillas are the primary safari attraction. The mountain gorillas in Virunga national park are so awe-inspiring and enticing to a variety of Congolese tourists, regardless of the variety of gorgeous things that exist on the planet. Virunga National Park is frequently visited on Congo safaris due to the park’s attractiveness and the presence of numerous gorilla species, which are housed by the park’s diverse forest inhabitants. The greatest opportunity to see mountain gorillas in the park is during mountain gorilla trekking safari, where you can observe them in their natural habitats.
Other animals discovered in Virunga National Park include elephants, buffalos, antelopes, topi, warthogs, waterbucks, Nile crocodiles, bushbucks, duikers, Giant forest hogs, and antelopes, among many others.
Chimpanzees.
Virunga national park is a safari destination for primates, with chimpanzees being the second most popular attraction in the park. Virunga national park is the ideal safari destination for travelers who enjoy primates. Virunga national park has an abundance of heavily sprayed chimpanzees, which draws visitors to the park.
Virunga Mountains.Â
The Virunga Mountains are the most popular tourist safari destination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Virunga mountains are shared by Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, three safari destinations. Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo contains the Virunga volcanoes. These incredible natural attractions provide the world’s finest hiking opportunities for visitors. Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira, Africa’s most active volcanoes, are located in Virunga national park.
Bird species.
Over 706 avian species reside in Virunga national park. Numerous travelers enjoy the park because it is home to a vast variety of bird species. Virunga’s abundance of colorful and attractive bird species, such as the Albertine rift, migratory, and resident species, makes bird viewing safaris in Virunga national park the most incredible in Africa. Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Stripe breasted tit, Black bishop, African goshawk, Kivu ground thrush, mountain masked apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, Yellow-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, and Madagascar bee-eater are among the bird species found in Virunga national park.
Activities to do in Virunga National Park.Â
Gorilla trekking.
 Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park is the most popular safari activity on a Congo excursion. During gorilla trekking, tourists explore the park by spotting the park’s numerous gorilla families, including rugendo, Munyaga, Mapuwa, Bageni, and others. At the park headquarters, gorilla trekking in Virunga national park begins with a briefing on the rules and regulations to observe during the trek. After the briefing, the visitors can be divided into groups of eight, with armed ranger assigned to each group.
The park guides led you into the jungles in search of the gorillas. During the safari activity, you were able to see various wildlife.
Hiking the Virunga Mountains.Â
A safari in the Congo is incomplete without ascending the Virunga Mountains. Virunga national park contains the active Virunga Mountains, which provide the finest natural safari experience when hiking. Mount Mikeno, Mount Nyiragongo, and Mount Nyamaragira are three of the eight Virunga Mountains found within the park. On a hiking safari in Congo, tourists are rewarded with the best hiking facts about the Mount Nyiragongo hike, including the active lava that can be seen plainly bubbling in the earth’s crust, as well as numerous other facts.
Bird watching.
Virunga National Park is the classic location for a bird viewing safari for bird enthusiasts. The park is home to over 706 bird species, some of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift, as well as migratory species that offer bird viewing safaris for bird enthusiasts. Shelley’s crimsonwing, stripe-breasted tit, Blue turaco, long-tailed cisticola, Chubb’s cisticola, olive pigeon, black kite, paradise fly catcher, blue headed coucal, blue-headed sunbird, regal sunbird, handsome spurfowl, alpine chat, Rwenzori batis, Narrow-tailed starlings, Madagascar Bee-eater, and Double-toothed Barbet can be observed during a bird watching safari in Virunga national park.
Chimpanzee trekking.
In addition to being home to a variety of primates, Virunga National Park is also home to a large population of chimpanzees, where travelers can engage in chimpanzee trekking safari. Chimpanzee trekking takes place in the forests of Virunga national park early in the morning after a briefing about chimpanzee trekking. After finding the chimps, you engage in various safari activities such as watching them play, feed, groom, and build their nests, among others.
Guided forest walks.
 Another Congo safari activity that takes place in Virunga national park is guided forest treks. This is the best way for visitors to explore Virunga National Park on foot with the assistance of knowledgeable guides, reaching all areas of the park inaccessible to vehicles. During the forest walks, tourists encounter animal species in the park such as zebras, duikers, lions, and other species while they are grazing, as well as bird species, green vegetation where the river flows within, and again during the activity, tourists are able to take beautiful photographs while walking through the plains against the backdrop of the breathtaking landscape.
Visiting Senkwenkwe orphanage center.Â
In Virunga national park, tourists can also visit the Senkwenkwe orphanage, which is located in Rumangabo close to the park headquarters. This institution cares for orphaned gorillas. There are four gorilla households at the Senkwenkwe orphanage, including Maisha, Ndeze, Matabishi, and Ndakasi. On a safari at the centre, you can observe the rehabilitated eastern lowland gorillas and participate in various activities such as feeding, observing them exercise, and many others.
Photography and landscape observing.
With its volcanoes, valleys clothed in montane and afro-alpine forests, Virunga national park has the most impressive landscape for landscape viewing and photography.