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The oldest national park in Africa, Virunga National Park covers nearly 8,000km2 (800,000 hectares) an area roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. Okapi (Okapia johnstoni), blue duiker (Philantomba monticola), bay duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis), Weyns's duiker (C. weynsi), yellow-backed duiker (C. silvicultor), water chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus), red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus), aardvark (Orycteropus afer) and bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) were recorded in the northern sector in 2008. The grey crowned crane can be found in the wetlands, open grasslands, savannas, and cultivated areas and tropical lowland forests near the Ishasha River and Rwindi River. Both savanna and forest buffalo are found in the park and can be found roaming the Rwindi plains in the Parks Central Sector. Want to go on a safari to Virunga? Virunga National Park - Wikipedia Virunga is part of the Albertine Rift (the western branch of the East African Rift) and stretches from the snow-covered peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains in the north to the Virunga Massif in the south. In Virungas southern sector around Bukima, there are currently ten habituated gorilla families and four solitary males which are also habituated, meaning that they are unafraid of human presence. Despite the global call for protected areas to cover 30% of the earth by 2030, there are still many parks and reserves where the future hangs very much in the balance. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site internationally recognized for its exceptional wildlife and habitats. The Virunga Mountains | Congo Safari Tours | Explore Congo The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which border the western branch of the East African Rift. Approximately one-third of the worlds population is found in Virunga National Park (the remainder is divided between Volcanoes, Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable national parks in neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda). In the wake of serious security issues, including the murder of park rangers and the kidnapping of tourists, park management announced in June 2018 that the park would be closed to tourists until at least the end of the year. The largest herd of elephants over 500 - since the 1980's are observed in the Ishasha corridor of Virunga. Described by the Virunga park authorities as the Congos real treasure (rather than oil or metals), there are believed to be over 300 of these precious primates within the park. editors@africageographic.com It is also a vital elephant habitat, as evidenced by the unexpected migration of nearly 600 elephants from neighbouring Queen Elizabeth at the end of 2020. Virunga Mountains is located in the East Africa with a chain of volcanoes that are within the borders of the countries Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC: We're the Africa Geographic editorial team a diverse set of writers, editors, designers and social media natives, all united by our passion for this addictive continent. A conflict between rebel and army forces results in the untimely death of the silverback of the Rugendo family. The name Virunga (Volcanoes), probably of Swahili derivation, has prevailed over the earlier Mufumbiro (That Which Cooks), which is still used in Uganda. These, in turn, keep the lions of the park suitably satiated. The Rwandan genocide causes nearly two million refugees to flee the country. Safaris, discussions & donations that make a real difference in Africa. [14] It conserves a diversity of habitats that surpasses any other park on the continent and is tucked along the eastern boundary of the Democratic Republic of Congo, protecting the eastward extremity of the Congo Basin. Most visitors access the park via Rwanda and pass through the border at Goma. Ethnic groups living in and around Virunga National Park include: The documentary Virunga documents the work of Virunga National Park rangers and the activities of British oil company Soco International within the park. Both state security services and such groups also resort to armed robberies and kidnapping for income. [14][15][16][17] Indigenous people lost their traditional land rights in this process, and were evicted from the protected area. Virunga has a vision for responsibly harnessing the Parks natural resources to create new opportunities for the four million people that live within a days walk of its borders. The great blue turaco is the largest member of the turaco family. Here dedicated keepers have raised the young survivors of anthropogenic cruelty (poaching and snaring), as well as rehabilitating eastern lowland gorillas. Which mountain in Uganda has snow? - 2023 Geography of Rwanda - Wikipedia This sight is at its most impressive at night, so most opt to camp on the rim of the crater. Description of the Virunga Mountains Its northern sector encompasses part of the Semliki River basin, as well as savanna and montane forest of the Albertine Rift. The word Virunga is and English word derived from Kinyarwanda word "Ibirunga" to meat "Mountains" Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. They consume mainly fish but have been known to consume carrion, birds, monkeys and even crocodile hatchlings when prey is scarce. The Virunga Mountains: 8 Related Volcanoes - Uganda Safaris It is an extraordinary park steeped in a history of tragedy and heroism: primordial and viscerally wild. All travel bookings booked via Trust my Travel are financially protected by them. They are solitary creatures who remain isolated except when threatened or breeding. The increased human population contributed to deforestation and poaching, and some natural animal migration patterns have been seriously disrupted. Naturally, the park authorities are aware of this, and they take the safety of their guests extremely seriously. In addition to buffalo, the plains support several ungulates, including topi, Ugandan kob, waterbuck, warthog, and red river and giant forest hog. This powerful image of the silverback Senkwekwe brought global attention to this horrific event. The main crater of Nyiragongo is about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) across and contains a liquid lava pool. The local community has developed negative feeling towards park personnel and the military. This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. March to mid May and September to November are the main rainy seasons. In the west, Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo, and Mikeno are in Congo; Karisimbiat 14,787 feet the highest of the Virunga volcanoesand Visoke are centrally placed on the Congo-Rwanda frontier; and farther east Sabinio (Sabinyo), Mgahinga (Gahinga), and Muhavura, also known as the Mufumbiro Mountains, are . The name "Virunga" is an English version of the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means "volcanoes". They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu. Lions are carnivores that consume a wide variety of prey, from wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs to the occasional rhino, hippo, or elephant when food is scarce. Lake Edward is a vital resource for local fishermen. Virunga Mountains in Congo were formed as a result of volcanic activity from the past. Every family comes with its dynamics, characters and stories, and the rangers have kept track of it all you can read more about their histories and present breakdown here. There are melodic Kivu ground thrushes, mythical Grauers cuckooshrikes and yellow-crested helmetshrikes, mysterious Albertine owlets and ghostly Congo Bay owls, dazzling purple-breasted and Rockefeller sunbirds, raucous white-headed woodhoopoes, dainty Rwenzori batises, data deficient and endangered Itombwe nightjars, Prigogines greenbuls, Kungwe apalises, Grauers swamp warbler and golden-naped weavers. is the branch of the Congolese government tasked with the protection and conservation of protected areas in the DRC. Together with Queen Elizabeth National Park, Virunga is considered by the IUCN to be a Lion Conservation Unit. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) is the branch of the Congolese government tasked with the protection and conservation of protected areas in the DRC. Preventing these plans the park gained further protection by an agreement sealed between DRCs president Felix Tshisekedi and Boris Johnson at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. The endangered eastern lowland gorilla, also known as the Grauers gorilla, is a sub-species of the eastern gorilla that resides in the lowland tropical rainforests of eastern Congo. Virunga National Park is one such park, still tumbling in the currents of war, political instability, poverty, and disease. The Centre is the only one of its kind in the world. Here, Virunga reaches Lake Kivu and borders Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. Park protection efforts were militarised in the following years to deter armed rebel groups and poachers from operating inside the park. [15], Virunga National Park's flora encompasses 2,077 plant species, including 264 tree species and 230 plants that are endemic to the Albertine Rift. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Virunga-Mountains, Virunga Mountains - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Virunga Mountains - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). In direct response to the massacres, the Senkwekwe Centre is established to care for the orphans of the massacre. The Virunga mountains are the most hike in DR Congo and they include Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira which are active volcanoes, and lastly Mount Mikeno which is a dormant volcano. The central sector is based around Lake Edward, the Ishasha river valley and the Rwindi plains. Throw in nocturnal displays of volcanic ambivalence, and the Virunga experience is far beyond the average escape from the humdrum of city life it is an exhilarating embrace of everything that makes Africa truly wild. The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo, which rises 3,634 metres (11,923ft) above sea level. The name Virunga comes from the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means volcanoes. Between the early 1930s and 1961, several expeditions to Albert National Park were carried out by Belgian scientists, the second headed by Gaston-Franois de Witte. Virunga is part of the Albertine Rift (the western branch of the East African Rift) and stretches from the snow-covered peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains in the north to the Virunga Massif in the south. Seven mountain gorillas from the Rugendo family are murdered. Virunga is the only site on earth to have three types of great apes the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, and eastern chimpanzee. The local community has no where else to turn for security, and relies on the protection of armed groups, for which fees are levied off the prohibited activities. The endangered Rwenzori duiker or Rwenzori red duiker is a stocky, small antelope endemic to the alpine zones of the Rwenzori mountains. The 300km-long park is divided into three primary sectors: northern, central, and southern, which together combine to protect an astonishing array of landscapes from alpine vegetation and montane forests to lava plains and wetlands. The protected area is a portion of the Virunga massif a chain of 8 volcanic mountains that straddle the borders between Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Mountain gorillas aside, Virungas great ape collection also includes eastern lowland gorillas (Grauers gorillas Gorilla beringei graueri) and chimpanzees. The great volcanoes of this range, clothed in cloud forests, include the dormant Mikeno, Karisimbi, Visoke, and Sabinio (Sabinyo), as well as the active Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira. The range runs east-west, perpendicular to the rift valley in which lie Lakes Kivu and Edward. These ranges consist of eight major volcanoes in Uganda, Congo with five of them located in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Click here to learn more about the work of the Virunga Alliance. Over the past 20 years, Virunga has seen many periods of conflict, often beginning in or around the Park. Focussing on three key areas: hydropower, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and tourism, Virunga National Park is working to economically transform the region creating jobs and reducing poverty rates. The Virunga Mountains cover three countries of Africa that includes the south Western part of Uganda which covers the Mgahinga National park, the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo covering the Virunga National park and the North Western part of Rwanda which covers the Volcanoes National park. Described by the Virunga park authorities as the Congos real treasure (rather than oil or metals), there are believed to be over 300 of these precious primates within the park. Communities around Lake Edward are fearful of the impact of potential oil activity on their livelihoods. app@africageographic.com Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa's third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. Virunga has the highest number of amphibian species in the Albertine Rift, an area which encompasses parts of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. However, extraordinary doesnt even begin to cover it. [46] Eastern Congo is one of the most economically disadvantaged places on earth, and competition for the Parks rich natural resources has always been fierce. Getting to the summit of these mountains takes an average of 5 . It reopened in February 2019. national park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Learn more about mountain gorillas in our story on these gentle giants. Only 629 hippos remain in the Park, a 98% decrease from the 30,000 of the 1960s and 1970s. Much of the parks central region is occupied by Lake Edward. Clashes occurred in 2015 when a local Mai-Mai group in Binza (north Bwisha) attempted to take back control of region, with the objective of reinstalling fishing activities and allowing the population to return, killing a park guard and 11-15 soldiers. This picturesque part of the park adjoins the Rwenzori Mountains and Semuliki National Parks in neighbouring Uganda. Though Virunga is accessible year-round (if open to visitors), the best time to visit is during the drier months, from June until September or December until February. And last, but not least, the heart-stopping, utterly gorgeous and mysterious Shelleys Crimsonwing, which has never been photographed other than when netted during biodiversity surveys. African fish eagles are birds of prey that live in the waterways of sub-Saharan Africa. Virunga is an English derived word from its origin word "ibirunga" (comes . This articles lists and explains more about the . It was the first national park to be established on the continent of Africa, primarily to protect the mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Massif. The past 14 years have been far from plain sailing, and the park has suffered its fair share of losses, particularly of the brave rangers dedicated to protecting the park. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. [5] As anyone who has ever spent time with gorillas will tell you, it is an experience that defies words and borders on sacred. Created in 1925, it has an area of some 3,050 square miles (7,900 square km) and contains a vast diversity of habitats. [7], After the Second Congo War was over, confrontations between park personnel and rebel groups continued; 80 park staff were killed between 1996 and 2003. Like humans, chimps communicate with facial expressions, gestures, and sounds. The Virunga Mountains lie between Lakes Kivu and Edward and extend into Rwanda and Uganda. However, wet seasons are a good option for those with a pair of solid, waterproof boots looking to take advantage of the low-season discounts. Rwanda The best way to establish the state of affairs and what activities are on offer is to chat to the Africa Geographic travel team, who are in constant communication with Virungas park authorities and regularly send intrepid travelers to the area when it is safe to do so. Updates? The most recent eruption occurred in 2021 and had catastrophic consequences for the human residents of the city of Goma. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Foundation holds the management contract for the Park, which requires it to restore and manage the national park with ICCN. The camps of various armed factions are dismantled in the Central Sector of the Park. The mountain gorillas have increased from fewer than 70 to over 300 in ten years and hippos from 300 to over 2,000, while elephant and lion sightings are now a fairly regular occurrence. Disorder spreads across the Park's Southern Sector. The crowned crane stands at over 3 feet (1 meter) tall, with predominantly grey plumage, white and black wings, a bright red gular pouch, and a crown of golden feathers. Farther north are the Rutshuru Falls and the Mai ya Moto sulfur springs. Virunga is a biodiversity spectacle but is also a testament to the courage of those that have fought and often given their lives in its defence. The northern sector receives a monthly mean precipitation of up to 220mm (8.7in), and the southern sector of up to 160mm (6.3in). Virunga Mountains - Virunga Volcanoes, Virunga Mountain Ranges From north to south it extends approximately 300km (190mi), largely along the international borders with Uganda and Rwanda in the east. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}012545S 293254E / 1.42917S 29.54833E / -1.42917; 29.54833. Lake Rutenzige is fed by several large rivers, the Rutshuru River being one, and drains to the north through the Semliki River into Lake Albert. The range runs east-west, perpendicular to the rift valley in which lie Lakes Kivu and Edward. The 2008 partnership between the Congolese National Parks Authority (ICCN) and the Virunga Foundation marked a turning point in the parks history. [31], Since the early 1990s, the protected area was impacted by political turmoil in the African Great Lakes region. The past 14 years have been far from plain sailing, and the park has suffered its fair share of losses, particularly of the brave rangers dedicated to protecting the park. These, in turn, keep the lions of the park suitably satiated. The southern sector stretches to the shores of Lake Kivu and encompasses Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo and Mikeno volcanoes with montane forests on their slopes. Notable species include the prehistoric-looking shoebills, dashing Rwenzori turacos, mind-blowingly cryptic African green broadbills, and bizarre red-collared mountain babblers whose closest relative forages the slopes of Mt Jupe in Cameroon. [54] For decades, the people of the DRC have struggled through war and instability that has killed millions of people. When it was first established, Virunga National Park was limited to three volcanoes in the south, but was later expanded northward to include the Rwindi plains, Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon. The Parks visitor accommodation at Mikeno Lodge welcomes new guests seeking to visit Virunga. Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19. century. (800,000 hectares) an area roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. The Virunga Mountains, located in the northwest part of Rwanda, contain the country's highest peak, Karisimbi, which reaches nearly 15,000 feet. Tourism remains a cornerstone of the parks conservation efforts, and to that end, all of the lodges within the park are non-profit, with all proceeds fed back into keeping the park protected. The park is also home to a diverse array of fauna and flora, including over 200 mammal species and a third of the worlds remaining mountain gorillas. [50] Still, military and rebel forces remain in eastern Congo and continue fighting as well as poaching and cutting down trees. It is founded primarily to protect the mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Massif. Massive pods of hippo lurk around the shallows of Lake Edward and wallow in the various rivers, and bongo antelope have been spotted in the parks northern reaches. January 17, Nyiragongo volcano erupts spreading lava through the city of Goma. As is inevitable, this tableau of human suffering has spilt over into the conservation of the countrys natural resources, and Virunga has found itself in the middle of countless conflicts. Virunga Mountains: A gem of biodiversity in the heart of Africa Regional conflict spills over and an estimated 5.6 million Congolese die from the fighting. Baumas love for his primate family endeared him to the audiences of the Oscar-nominated film, Mountain gorillas aside, Virungas great ape collection also includes, While the apes may be the stars, the supporting cast of around 19 smaller primate species is deserving of a special mention. During the 2002 eruption, some of Nyiragongos lava flows were clocked at 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) and reached all the way to Lake Kivu. The Parks governance structure is strengthened, and newly appointed staff negotiate access to the gorilla sector despite it being controlled by rebels. Shoebills can be found in the swamps and marshes of Virungas Central Sector near Lake Edward, the Ishasha River, and the Rwindi River. Some biologists even believe that a fifth subspecies, called the mountain or Virunga buffalo, should be recognised. In 2007, the mass killing of the Rugendo family of gorillas catapulted the parks plight onto the world stage, and the global attention spurned increased funding and conservation measures. Today, they are probably the parks most famous residents. The Virunga Mountains : 8 Related Volcanoes. [44] It includes a lush landscape that ranges from the Semliki River Valley to the Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Nyiragongo, and Nyamuragira. [7] About 850,000 refugees lived around the national park in 1994. The number of bird species in Virunga exceeds the total number in the U.S. and is more than three times the number in the U.K. Virungas recorded number of reptile species makes it the richest of the protected areas in Africa. Virunga National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Centre Virunga National Park | Overview, Location, History, & Facts

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