The Virunga Mountains are all volcanic mountains but most of them are dormant. 2003). The ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature). Fortunately, stalwart sightseers can rest assured that the volcanos moods are carefully monitored lest it decides to let loose its fury of molten lava. Oil exploration by an English company only added to threats facing the already beleaguered park. Both the highest and lowest recorded rainfalls in the republic occur within the parks boundaries: while annual rainfall at Lake Edward is some 20 inches (500 mm), the west slope of Mount Ruwenzori, less than 47 miles (75 km) away, receives more than 118 inches (3,000 mm). The Virunga Mountains rise out of densely populated plateaus that are inhabited mostly by Rwandan cultivators and, in certain areas, by cattle herders. These, in turn, keep the lions of the park suitably satiated. Chattering troops of flamboyant eastern black-and-white colobus monkeys frequent the lodges while the booming calls of De Brazzas monkeys echo through the valleys. This partnership initiated a comprehensive reform program and planted the seed for what would become the Virunga Alliance an innovative development programme to address the root causes of poverty and conflict, with the aim of eradicating illegal and destructive resource extraction in the region. [48], The montane forest between 1,800 and 2,800m (5,900 and 9,200ft) in the southern sector is dominated by Ficalhoa laurifolia and Podocarpus milanjianus with up to 25m (82ft) high trees. This innovative, community focussed approach to conservation is working to reduce the pressures currently faced by the Parks Rangers from armed groups, illegal poaching, and land encroachment. The Foundation holds the management contract for the Park, which requires it to restore and manage the national park with ICCN. Poachers murder four mountain gorillas, making this the first time in 10 years that a mountain gorilla had been poached within Park borders. 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. Farther north are the Rutshuru Falls and the Mai ya Moto sulfur springs. Its northern sector encompasses part of the Semliki River basin, as well as savanna and montane forest of the Albertine Rift. Tourism facilities were developed and improved, and a trickle of intrepid visitors gradually turned into a steady stream of people looking to experience one of Africas most incredible destinations. Each offers a different view of the lush vegetation and exquisite vistas. The first maps resulted from the major expedition of Adolf Friedrich, duke of Mecklenburg, which was undertaken in 190708. [13], In the early 1920s, several proponents of the European conservation movement championed the idea of creating a protected area in northeastern Belgian Congo, among them Victor van Straelen, Jean Massart and Jean-Marie Derscheid. app@africageographic.com Updates? [35], Increasing militarisation of nature conservation has been accused of fuelling armed mobilisation of militias. Chimpanzees are an endangered species and one of the four species of great apes. However, this is no idle volcano. Elevations, climates, and habitats vary notably in Virunga National Park. Discounts at Africas best lodges and on our hand-made packages subscribers only, STORIES & DISCUSSIONS However, taking one taxing step at a time has paid off. For decades, the people of the DRC have struggled through war and instability that has killed millions of people. Safaris, discussions & donations that make a real difference in Africa. A conflict between rebel and army forces results in the untimely death of the silverback of the Rugendo family. The protected area was extended in 1929 by Virunga National Park, which encompassed the Virunga Mountains, parts of the Rutshuru Territory, and the plains south of Lake Edward. This sight is at its most impressive at night, so most opt to camp on the rim of the crater. Later in the Pleistocene (about 900,000 to 130,000 years ago), Karisimbi, Visoke, Mgahinga, and Muhavura appeared, all but Karisimbi possessing a crater summit. The central sector is based around Lake Edward, the Ishasha river valley and the Rwindi plains. Together with Queen Elizabeth National Park, Virunga is considered by the IUCN to be a Lion Conservation Unit. Some biologists even believe that a fifth subspecies, called the mountain or Virunga buffalo, should be recognised. Visitors who brave the climb to the summit of Mt. The local community has developed negative feeling towards park personnel and the military. 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. It includes the Rwindi plains and the Ishasha River valley, and is contiguous with Ugandas Queen Elizabeth National Park to the east. [2], The northern sector of Virunga National Park is contiguous with Uganda's Semuliki park, the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and the central sector with Queen Elizabeth National Park. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are a subspecies of the critically endangered eastern gorilla, and there are believed to be just over 1,000 remaining. [5][21][49][50], African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) inhabit the national park's central sector. Most visitors access the park via Rwanda and pass through the border at Goma. Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year, TRAVEL & CONSERVATION COMPANY [41][42], On 22 February 2021, Italy's ambassador to the DRC who was travelling with the World Food Programme about 15km north of Goma, Luca Attanasio, as well as Italian military police officer Vittorio Iacovacci and Congolese driver Moustapha Milambo, were killed in the gunfire when a militia that had kidnapped their convoy, and had brought them into the park, was met by park rangers who managed to free four people. 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. These, in turn, keep the lions of the park suitably satiated. Located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Rwenzoris, or Mountains of the Moon, are the third highest mountain chain in Africa. When Albert National Park was established in April 1925 as the Congo's first national park, it was conceived as a science-oriented nature reserve with the aim of studying and preserving wildlife and so-called "primitive" hunter-gatherer African Pygmies. 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. [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. It is headed by Andr Bauma, a man who has become almost as famous as his gorilla charges. [7], There have been several deadly attacks in the park by rebel groups, and several park rangers have been killed. Carefully selected conservation projects one-stop, seamless, transparent donations APP subscribers only. Naturally, the park authorities are aware of this, and they take the safety of their guests extremely seriously. Their ambitious peace-building program aims to create 100,000 jobs, providing young Congolese with viable alternatives to conflict-related activities. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. Virunga National Park is a national park in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Virunga Mountains, located in the northwest part of Rwanda, contain the country's highest peak, Karisimbi, which reaches nearly 15,000 feet. The presence of these volcanoes has shaped the landscape of the park over the years . Senecio and Lobelia species grow on vast clearings and attain heights of up to 8m (26ft). In 1926, Derscheid headed the first Belgian mission to map Albert National Park, which encompassed an area of 500km2 (190sqmi) around the extinct volcanoes Mount Karisimbi and Mount Mikeno. Y rt nhiu cu v d dch cha "VN QUC GIA CONGO" - ting vit-ting anh bn dch v ng c cho bn dch ting vit tm kim. 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. Most of them are dormant, except Mount Nyiragongo 3,462 metres (11,358ft) and Mount Nyamuragira 3,063 metres (10,049ft), both in the DRC. Today, they are probably the parks most famous residents. The range lies between the Lake Kivu and Lake Edward, and is an extension of the Albertine Rift Mountains. African fish eagles are birds of prey that live in the waterways of sub-Saharan Africa. The orphanage is named for a silverback killed in a devastating poaching incident in 2007 that claimed the lives of seven members of the Rugendo family. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are four recognised subspecies of the African buffalo in Africa and two of these the Cape and forest are found in Virunga. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Marked the end of the M23 war, and tourism is officially relauched in the Park after being forced to close for almost two years. 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. (US) +1 (786) 655-4040, *Call costs: Local rates apply from South Africa, UK and US otherwise international rates apply, newsletter@africageographic.com It includes a lush landscape that ranges from the Semliki River Valley to the Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Nyiragongo, and Nyamuragira. 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. The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo, which rises 3,634 metres (11,923ft) above sea level. UNESCO designated the park a World Heritage site in 1979, and it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1994, because of the growth of permanent settlements within the park and the influx of a great number of refugees fleeing war in neighbouring Rwanda. 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. [2], In 1996, the national park was listed as a Ramsar site of international importance. [7] About 850,000 refugees lived around the national park in 1994. The Virunga Foundation is a UK-based charity founded in 2005, created to support the protection of the flora and fauna of the Park, and to generate benefits for the local communities that live around the national park. Ultra-luxury is not the order of the day in Virunga, but there are high-end accommodation options, and all the camps are comfortable. The M23 Rebellion erupts in and around the Park. Virunga is the continent's most biologically diverse protected area and a national park embarking on an ambitious development programme known as the "Virunga Alliance". Surrounded by the mountains and home to Lake Edward, this large expanse of grassland and wooded savanna plays host to the Parks highest concentrations of elephants, buffalos and warthogs. Virunga national park located in the democratic republic of Congo hosts 6 Virunga volcanoes that is mount karisimbi, mount Nyiragongo, mount Sabyinyo, mount Mikeno, mount Nyamurangira, and Mount Bisoke. The Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes Park. The Virunga Mountains are home of the critically endangered mountain gorilla, listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species due to habitat loss, poaching, disease, and war (Butynski et al. Modern access to the western volcanoes is from Goma and Gisenyi (Rwanda); the remaining mountains are located within the circuit of roads connecting Goma and Rutshuru (Congo), Kisoro (Uganda), and Ruhengeri and Gisenyi (Rwanda). The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which border the western branch of the East African Rift. [8] They were subsequently released unharmed. [12] Local and global groups, such as Greenpeace, are warning about the social and ecological impact of devastating the forest for oil production. The park is a crucial habitat for giant and tree pangolin, crested porcupine and even Lord Derbys scaly-tailed squirrel (a rodent with a very similar design to flying squirrels). Recent eruptions occurred in 2006, 2010 and May 2021. (RSA) +27 (87) 551-8105 The central sector is centred around the banks of Lake Edward. The orphanage is named for a silverback killed in a devastating poaching incident in 2007 that claimed the lives of seven members of the Rugendo family. January 17, Nyiragongo volcano erupts spreading lava through the city of Goma. The Virunga Mountains : 8 Related Volcanoes. Nyiragongo are rewarded with a view of the worlds largest lava lake as it churns and bubbles. More than 3,000 faunal and floral species have been recorded, of which more than 300 are endemic to the Albertine Rift including eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and golden monkey (Cercopithecus kandti). [26] Park personnel are given paramilitary training and high-quality weaponry, and operate together with the military and state security services. The Parks governance structure is strengthened, and newly appointed staff negotiate access to the gorilla sector despite it being controlled by rebels. Today, they are probably the parks most famous residents. 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. In this near-forgotten corner of Africa, adventurers, soul-seekers, and naturalists will find an electrifying celebration of life at its most raw a kaleidoscope of natures wonders and a living history of human and wild resilience. The Mountain Gorillas of Virunga National Park. [19], In 1934, the Institut des Parcs Nationaux du Congo Belge was founded as the governing body for national parks in the Belgian Congo. Many lesser cones flank the major volcanoes. It is founded primarily to protect the mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Massif. [50], The Semliki River provides habitat for Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Hippos, which can weigh up to 4,400 pounds (almost 2,000 kilograms), make their home in many different rivers, lakes, and pools throughout Virunga. 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. Mount Mikeno is an extinct volcano located in the Virunga Mountains. 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. There is something about the familiarity of their facial expressions, their familial bonds and the calm, contained power that makes gorilla trekking unlike any conventional animal encounter. Following international protests, the company stopped exploring activities and consented to refrain from starting similar operations in the vicinity of World Heritage sites. Omissions? The Virunga Mountains are 8 famously known mountain ranges that lie on the northern border of Rwanda and Congo and south western part of Uganda. The northern sector receives a monthly mean precipitation of up to 220mm (8.7in), and the southern sector of up to 160mm (6.3in). A land of unparalleled biodiversity and exceptional beauty, bursting with life of every form. 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). The northern sector is characterised by the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains, with sharp peaks and plunging valleys that descend to the Semuliki River valley. The connection between man and gorilla can be further explored at the Senkwekwe Centre, the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. Nyamuragira volcano, situated around 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Lake Kivu, has been described as one of Africas most active volcanoes. The 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.The mountain range is said to be a part of the Albertine Rift located in the Great Rift Valley. In the course of increasing tensions, the park's chief warden, Emmanuel de Mrode, was assailed in April 2014. The southern sector of Congos Virunga National Park includes those portions of the mountains that are within Congo; the southern flanks of the central and eastern mountains comprise Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda; and Gorilla National Park includes the Ugandan slopes of Mgahinga. The mountains are part of the Albertine rift located at the Great Rift Valley one of the world's largest natural features. Though valiant efforts were made to protect the park, the end of the 20th century saw much of the parks wildlife massacred almost to the point of extinction. Remains of dicots such as African caper (Capparis tomentosa), Maerua species, wild cucurbits, and nightshades were found in dung balls of African elephants (Loxodonta) that play a significant role for seed dispersal in the grasslands. Created in 1925, it has an area of some 3,050 square miles (7,900 square km) and contains a vast diversity of habitats. Much of the parks central region is occupied by Lake Edward. Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . The 2008 partnership between the Congolese National Parks Authority (ICCN) and the Virunga Foundation marked a turning point in the parks history. [37] In May 2018, a ranger was killed when defending two tourists who were kidnapped. They are solitary creatures who remain isolated except when threatened or breeding. 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. Furthermore, a substantial number of these are Albertine Rift and Congolese endemics. [18] In 1969, the two parks were merged under the name Virunga National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Omissions? Explore one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the world. The two active volcanoes in the range Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira are in Virunga National Park, and both reach heights of over 3,000 metres. 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. Not more than 20,000 years ago Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira emerged at the western end of the chain, both with extensive craters. Anti-poaching patrols inside the park were obstructed, and park personnel and wildlife were killed. This variation is determined by a number of factors such as the soil type, soil depth, animals and invertebrates in the area, and minerals within the soil. The mountain range is said to be a part of the Albertine Rift located in the Great Rift Valley. The habituation process is done by researchers and rangers who visit the gorillas on a daily basis for between two and three years until the gorillas are comfortable having people near them. Oil exploration by an English company only added to threats facing the already beleaguered park. The world population of mountain gorillas is currently estimated to be at around 1000 individuals. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . Over the past 20 years, Virunga has seen many periods of conflict, often beginning in or around the Park. [4] Corrections? Also known as: Birunga Mountains, Mufumbiro Mountains. 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. In elevation, it ranges from 680m (2,230ft) in the Semliki River valley to 5,109m (16,762ft) in the Rwenzori Mountains. Okapis are shy and solitary animals that resemble zebras but are more closely related to the giraffe and are endemic to the DRC. This picturesque part of the park adjoins the Rwenzori Mountains and Semuliki National Parks in neighbouring Uganda. The name Virunga comes from the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means volcanoes. 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. With a checklist of 706 different species, there are more birds in Virunga than in the entire United States of America. The Rwandan genocide causes nearly two million refugees to flee the country. The camps of various armed factions are dismantled in the Central Sector of the Park. As a consequence, the park remained closed to visitors from June 2018[38] until February 2019. 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. 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). Though there are innumerable reasons to want to visit Virunga National Park, the potential insecurity in the region is of concern to many prospective visitors. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. 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. Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19. century. Shoebills can be found in the swamps and marshes of Virungas Central Sector near Lake Edward, the Ishasha River, and the Rwindi River. [56], Of the Albertine Rift's endemic birds, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Archer's ground robin, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, dusky crimson-wing, Shelley's crimsonwing, red-faced woodland warbler, stripe-breasted tit, blue-headed sunbird, regal sunbird, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, handsome spurfowl and strange weaver were recorded in Virunga National Park's southern sector during surveys in 2004. Learn more about Dodo Bahati, a project supporting anti-poaching efforts in Virunga National Park. [47] Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The crater of Muhavura contains a small lake. The Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey to observe gorillas in their native habitat, is located between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. The Parks visitor accommodation at Mikeno Lodge welcomes new guests seeking to visit Virunga. 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. The Virunga chained mountains, also known as the Virunga Massif, offer unique experiences to tourists in Africa. Chattering troops of flamboyant eastern b, There are four recognised subspecies of the African buffalo in Africa and two of these the Cape and forest are found in Virunga. Mass killings of nearly 400 hippos are orchestrated by local militia who are suspected of eating and selling the meat and removing teeth for ivory. At 26,338 square kilometres (10,169 sq mi), Rwanda is the world's 149th-largest country. The Virunga Mountains (also known as Mufumbiro[1]) are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda. They consume mainly fish but have been known to consume carrion, birds, monkeys and even crocodile hatchlings when prey is scarce. One of Africas most spectacular protected areas. The vegetation above 2,600m (8,500ft) is subalpine with foremost African redwood (Hagenia abyssinica) growing up to 3,000m (9,800ft). In addition to buffalo, the plains support several ungulates, including topi, Ugandan kob, waterbuck, warthog, and red river and giant forest hog. [8][9], There have been plans to drill for oil in the Congo Basin since the 2000s. While many of the gorillas sensibly prefer to reside on the slopes of the dormant Mikeno volcano, the southern section is also the location of the two active volcanoes in the park Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. [54] [25], Land laws were reformed in the 1960s after Belgian Congo became independent as the Republic of the Congo, and the land declared property of the state, much to the disadvantage of local people. African alpine bamboo (Yushania alpina) grows at altitudes of 2,3002,600m (7,5008,500ft). From north to south it extends approximately 300km (190mi), largely along the international borders with Uganda and Rwanda in the east. Learn more about the history of Virunga National Park by exploring the timeline below. The Virungas form a barrier between the Nile Basin to the north and east and the Congo Basin to the west and south. ceo@africageographic.com, Travel & conservation company, since 1991,
, The oldest national park in Africa, Virunga National Park covers nearly 8,000km.© Naturheilpraxis Bünner 2023