Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the oldest national park in Africa and one of the most biologically diverse protected areas on earth, a UNESCO World Heritage site of staggering variety. Across its vast landscape rise the Virunga volcanoes, including Nyiragongo with its spectacular permanent lava lake, alongside glacier-capped Rwenzori peaks, rainforest, savanna and swamp. It is above all a refuge for the endangered mountain gorilla, and shelters chimpanzees, elephants, hippos and countless birds. From trekking to gorilla families in misty forest to peering into a churning crater of molten lava, Virunga offers some of the most dramatic and moving wildlife and wilderness experiences anywhere.

What you actually see

• The mountain gorillas - the endangered gorillas of the misty forest.
• Nyiragongo volcano - the spectacular permanent lava lake.
• The Rwenzori peaks - the glacier-capped Mountains of the Moon.
• The wildlife - the elephants, hippos, chimpanzees and birds.

When to go

The drier seasons, roughly June to September and December to February, are best for gorilla trekking and volcano climbs, when forest trails are firmer and skies clearer; wildlife and the lava lake reward those who come prepared for a genuine adventure. Permits and guides are essential.

Honest expectations

Virunga is a wild, remote park where gorilla trekking and the Nyiragongo climb are strenuous, permit-based adventures requiring fitness, guides and organisation, and access depends on the park's own opening arrangements. As the oldest and one of the most extraordinary national parks in Africa, home to mountain gorillas and a churning lava lake, though, Virunga offers some of the most unforgettable experiences on earth.

Nearby

The lakeside city of Goma and Lake Kivu lie near the park.