The Virunga Conservation Area – The Virunga Conservation Area, sometimes referred to as the Virunga Massif or the Virunga Ranges, is an enormous block of land that spans Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It includes a prime population of Africa’s finest and most distinctive flora and fauna, as well as unique geography.
Natively translated as “Ibirunga” in the Kinyarwanda language, the Virunga region extends to include three of Africa’s famous national parks: Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda, Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda, and Virunga National Park in eastern D.R. Congo.
This is arguably the most biologically diverse range on the face of the earth, famously known as a hub for endangered mountain gorillas which inhabit the aforementioned national parks, elusive golden monkeys, and an extensive block of eight volcanic mountains, among several faunal species.
Mountains / Volcanoes
The Virunga Range encompasses a total of 8 volcanic mountains (some active and others dormant / extinct), all strategically aligned along the borders of their respective countries.
These include Mount Karisimbi – the highest of all, located along the Rwanda – D.R. Congo border; Mount Bisoke in Rwanda and D.R. Congo; Mount Sabyinyo spanning the Uganda-Rwanda-D.R. Congo border; Mount Nyamuragira, Nyiragongo, and Mikeno all in D.R. Congo; Mount Muhabura and Gahinga standing astride the Uganda-Rwanda border. All these volcanoes present remarkable hiking expeditions for travelers across all walks of life.
Mount Muhabura
At an elevation of 4,127m ASL, Mount Muhabura is the 3rd highest of all the 8 Virunga Mountains and the highest on the Ugandan side, sharing borders with Gahinga and Sabyinyo volcanoes.
Standing astride the Uganda and Rwanda border, Mount Muhabura has everything it takes to stand out among all the volcanoes, from its towering height, lush flora on its flanks, great hiking trails, and its peaks which calmly steam, creating one of the most beautiful views that every photographer and admirer would love to capture.
Read more
Mount Sabyinyo
Lying on a tri-boundary corner where Uganda meets Rwanda and the Democratic Republic Of Congo, this extinct volcano presents one of the most challenging but magnificent hiking expeditions not only in East Africa but also in the entire world. Sabyinyo stands high at an elevation of 11,959 feet (3,645m), making it the 2nd tallest of the three triplet volcanoes including Muhabura and Gahinga.
Mount Sabyinyo offers an ideal adventure experience and is a perfect option for adventure enthusiasts seeking typical climbing opportunities.
Read more
Mount Gahinga
Mount Mgahinga sits between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Muhabura and is the smallest of all. The mountain is elevated at 3,474 meters above sea level with a swampy caldera at its summit. The caldera is 180 meters wide and is believed to have been a lake before.
Mount Gahinga is considerably easy to hike compared to other Virunga volcanoes. It is a dormant volcano with a crater on top. Along the hike, climbers find opportunities to interact with amazing wildlife such as golden monkeys, bushbucks, baboons, and much more.
Read more
Mount Bisoke
Bisoke Mountain stands at an elevation of 3,711m above sea level, shared between D.R. Congo and Rwanda, with the larger portion situated in Rwanda, including its summit.
On its slopes lies a scenic crater, Lake Ngezi, which is 11km away from the summit and was formed after the 1957 eruption. This beautiful crater with a diameter of 400 meters is what makes Bisoke an extremely exciting mountain. It is from these crater lakes that the volcano was named “Bisoke” – a Swahili word that translates as “soaked with water.”
Read more
Mount Karisimbi
At an elevation of 14,787 feet (4,507m) above sea level, Mt Karisimbi boasts the highest of all the 8 volcanoes that form the Virunga mountain range. This rather dormant volcano also doubles as the 11th tallest mountain in Africa.
Situated in northwestern Rwanda, on the fringes of the prime habitat of mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park, Mount Karisimbi is synonymous with interesting adventure and fun. You trek through lush tropical forests, with numerous camping grounds, and reaching the peak exposes you to the views of the amazing Virunga Massif.
Read more
Mount Mikeno
Mikeno derives its name from the local word “Mikeno,” meaning “poor.” It was named so because of its rugged and harsh terrain that hindered human settlement along its slopes. Mikeno is a dormant volcano located in the western, North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Virunga region.
Mount Mikeno towers high at an elevation of 4,437 meters above sea level and is the 2nd highest volcano in the Virunga ranges after Mount Karisimbi. It is also Africa’s 13th highest mountain.
Read more
Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Nyiragongo is a vigorously active strato-volcano with a height of about 3,470m and a spectacular crater on top that is about 2 kilometers wide and contains a lava lake.
Nyiragongo is particularly peculiar and spectacular compared to other Virunga mountains, famous for its lava lake and recent eruptions. Now safe and recommendable for trekking all year round, the mountain is situated in D.R. Congo on the periphery of Virunga National Park – Africa’s oldest and largest conservation area, as well as a hub for endangered mountain gorillas and abundant flora.
Read more
Mount Nyamuragira
Nyamuragira is a large shield volcano and one of Africa’s most active volcanoes. This active shield volcano has an elevation of 3,058 meters and has a caldera on its summit, which is approximately 2 kilometers wide with walls that rise up to about 100 meters high.
Read more
National Parks along the Virunga Conservation Area
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga National Park is part of the larger Virunga Massif, bordering Rwanda to the south, D.R. Congo to the east, and Bwindi National Park to the north. Located in the southeastern corner of Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is well known for its impressive numbers of mountain gorillas, rare golden monkeys, primates, forest mammals, amphibians, and amazing bird life.
Volcanoes National Park
The name Volcanoes National Park is synonymous with mountain gorillas; this popular destination is Rwanda’s prime tourist magnet, comfortably perched in the northwestern province. Volcanoes National Park is only a 2-hour drive from bustling Kigali city, easily reachable on a well-tarmacked road. It is without a doubt that Volcanoes National Park is the most visited park in Rwanda.
It shelters a significant number of mountain gorillas, as well as golden monkeys, rare primates, bird species, pleasant vegetation, and lively community tours.
Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is not only Congo’s most famous national park but also Africa’s oldest national park and the world’s second oldest. The park is unique and interesting in every sense of the phrase. Coupled with numerous habituated families of mountain gorillas, endangered chimpanzees, bonobos, forest mammals, and neighboring Nyiragongo Mountain, which offers amazing hiking adventures to any travelers who make their way to eastern Congo. The park is found on Congo’s eastern border with Rwanda and Uganda and is easily accessed through the Goma border.
