Getting to Virunga National Park is very simple and one has to follow through a few simple procedures in order to reach the park successfully. There are several ways of getting to Virunga National Park and it might be the use of Air, road or another optional by water transport. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a very big country comprising of many protected national parks. Virunga national park is far from the major international airport but still, there is a possibility of reaching DRC through Kigali International Airport. Virunga national park is located in the eastern direction of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park has got its main touristic attractions i.e. the great apes ‘mountain gorillas’, mount Nyiragongo volcano which is an active lave lake, mammals, other primates and the best landscape with a great view of different species. Virunga national park can be accessed in many different ways of means of transport but depending on where you’re located.
The park can be easily accessed for gorilla trekking tours or other wildlife safari tours whether, by road, Air and another optional could be the use of water transport;
- By Air: Visitors who travel Virunga national park by air normally land at Goma International Airport. Traveling by Air has become much easier and cheaper to fly to Goma international Airport which is found in Congo though it was affected by the eruption of mount nyiragongo in 2002. It is in good condition Now due to redevelopments made. Visitors who are planning to visit Virunga national park you should be aware that the return flight should be got from Rwanda unless your tour packages go beyond 7 days on Congo safari tours. The possibility is to fry to Goma International Airport by use of Ethiopian airline and has you land to the Airport you will be transferred by car to the park which takes 7:43hours by drive.
- By Road transport: Road transport is quite amazing has you go passing through different towns while having great views from the land. You can drive from Bukavu town in Congo which is located near Virunga national park but you will first connect the road to kivu town which lasts 5 to 6 hours by road though the road is in poor condition you will use the 4-wheel safari vehicle by driver-guide. Crossing from Rwanda by use of roads takes 4 hours drive from the capital city Kigali to the town of Gisenyi which is the closest to Goma. Crossing from Kisoro town in south western Uganda. You can decide to cross to Congo during day time hours via the Bunagana border and it takes 30minutes to 1hours by road to Congo to one of the gorilla families in Bukima in Virunga national park.
- By use of water transport: Water transport is another way of reaching to the park by use of ferry that runs from Bukavu to Goma passing through the Idjwi Islands on Lake Kivu as you ride on speed boat to the park. The ferry fee is USD 50 per person.
Activities to engage in Virunga National Park:
Virunga National Park has got amazing activities including Mount Nyiragongo hiking, Chimpanzee trekking, landscape viewing, birding, nature walk and lastly gorilla trekking the most done activity. Congo gorilla trekking cost USD400 per person per day. Tourist Visa in Congo costs USD 100.
Accommodation
The park has got nice lodges and hotels in and outside the park and these include, Lodge Coco, Mikeno lodge, Mount Nyiragongo summit shelter, Bukima Tented camp and many more.
The best time to get to Virunga is all year round mostly in dry months that is June to September and December to February though the park has Virunga conservation area which is montane rain forest and during wet months the forest trail heads can be slippery you can still the visit the park because the hotel rates can be cheaper.
