The Virunga Mountains lie between Lakes Kivu and Edward and extend into Rwanda and Uganda. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site internationally recognized for its exceptional wildlife and habitats. [50], The Semliki River provides habitat for Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Description of the Virunga Mountains Campaigners trying to create public awareness are threatened and intimidated on social media. Together with Queen Elizabeth National Park, Virunga is considered by the IUCN to be a Lion Conservation Unit. 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. La Fondation Virunga Belgique was incorporated in 2015 to support Virunga National Park through fundraising and public outreach. [24], In the late 1950s, Tutsi herders and their cattle entered the park, destroying natural habitat up to an altitude of 3,000m (9,800ft), which was thought to threaten the park's gorillas. 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". 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. The mountain gorilla is taken off the IUCN critically endangered species list, marking a victory for Congolese, Rwandan and Ugandan National Parks. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. Learn more about the Okapi Conservation Project, a project working to protect these unique mammals in the DRC, as well as the forests and creatures of Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The female, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters), is larger than the male. Virunga Mountains: The stunning Virunga Mountains are a chain of Volcano Mountains shared between Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Of the population, 12,000 reside in South Africa and 18,000 in East Africa. It is an extraordinary park steeped in a history of tragedy and heroism: primordial and viscerally wild. Disorder spreads across the Park's Southern Sector. Here dedicated keepers have raised the young survivors of anthropogenic cruelty (poaching and snaring), as well as rehabilitating eastern lowland gorillas. We rely on Global Rescue to assist our clients. Mikeno and Sabinio are the oldest of these, dating from the early part of the Pleistocene Epoch (the Pleistocene began about 2,600,000 years ago and lasted until about 11,700 years ago); their craters have disappeared, and erosion has imposed a jagged relief. Virunga is an English derived word from its origin word "ibirunga" (comes . app@africageographic.com Lake Edward is a vital resource for local fishermen. [14] There are four recognised subspecies of the African buffalo in Africa and two of these the Cape and forest are found in Virunga. Senecio and Lobelia species grow on vast clearings and attain heights of up to 8m (26ft). 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. As might be expected in a park that encompasses such a large variety of habitats, the birding can be described as extraordinary. Flora/Vegatation in Virunga national park; Virunga's strategic location at the frontier between various biogeographic zones offers it an upper hand to protect both tropical rainforest and eastern steppe species and its range of altitudes adds to the habitat variety.The diversity in flora includes: bamboo and Hagenia forest on the mountains; equatorial forest along the Semiliki; wooded . Park protection efforts were militarised in the following years to deter armed rebel groups and poachers from operating inside the park. The okapi is the closest known relative to the giraffe and looks very much as though someone crossed a zebra, antelope, and giraffe. Two major African rivers, the Nile and the. This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. [36] Since beginning of the armed conflict, armed groups killed 175 park rangers until April 2018. [39], In April 2020 at least 12 park rangers were killed by militia men attacking a civilian convoy. It erupts on average every two years. The name Virunga comes from the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means volcanoes. [50] 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. On any given day, its shores abound with hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and chimpanzees. Mountain gorillas (, ) are a subspecies of the critically endangered eastern gorilla, and there are believed to be just over 1,000 remaining. 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. The Centre is the only one of its kind in the world. [5], In 1979, the National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its rich diversity of habitats, exceptional biodiversity and endemism, and its protection of rare mountain gorilla habitat. Together with Queen Elizabeth National Park, Virunga is considered by the IUCN to be a Lion Conservation Unit. Here dedicated keepers have raised the young survivors of anthropogenic cruelty (poaching and snaring), as well as rehabilitating eastern lowland gorillas. Mount Nyiragongo is 3,470 meters, Mount Nyamuragira is 3,058 meters and Mount Mikeno is 4,437 meters. The Virunga Mountains : 8 Related Volcanoes. 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). Up to 40,000 people entered the park daily in search of firewood and food, and deforested huge areas. [45] Both savanna and forest buffalo are found in the park and can be found roaming the Rwindi plains in the Parks Central Sector. [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. These mountains are part of the Great Rift Valley. 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. Rwanda is located in East Africa, to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the co-ordinates 200S 300E . [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. With a checklist of 706 different species, there are more birds in Virunga than in the entire United States of America. A narrow corridor of 35km (1.93.1mi) width along the lake's western bank connects the northern and southern sectors of the national park. As anyone who has ever spent time with gorillas will tell you, it is an experience that defies words and borders on sacred. Mountain gorillas aside, Virungas great ape collection also includes eastern lowland gorillas (Grauers gorillas Gorilla beringei graueri) and chimpanzees. Mount Mikeno is an extinct volcano located in the Virunga Mountains. Shoebills are tall, stork-like birds with wing spans that can reach over 8 feet (2.4 meters). Learn more about the history of Virunga National Park by exploring the timeline below. Tree heath (Erica arborea), heather and mosses cover humid slopes up to 3,700m (12,100ft) elevation. 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. There are a couple of different lodges scattered throughout the park, and the choice of activity (gorilla treks, Lava treks up Nyiragongo, game drives and so on) will determine the best place to stay. Virunga Mountains, Virunga also spelled Birunga, also called Mufumbiro Mountains, volcanic range north of Lake Kivu in east-central Africa, extending about 50 miles (80 km) along the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Several armed rebel groups operate in the park, including Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and National Congress for the Defence of the People (FDLR). Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The range runs east-west, perpendicular to the rift valley in which lie Lakes Kivu and Edward. [18] In 1969, the two parks were merged under the name Virunga National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. [26] Park personnel are given paramilitary training and high-quality weaponry, and operate together with the military and state security services. Updates? Virunga National Park was founded in 1925 as Albert National Park. Harnessed bushbuck (T. scriptus) and giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni) are present in the southern sector. The connection between man and gorilla can be further explored at the Senkwekwe Centre, the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. Virunga National Park (covering an area of 790,000 ha) comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. [14][15][16][17] Indigenous people lost their traditional land rights in this process, and were evicted from the protected area. Of its eight major volcanic peaks, the highest is Karisimbi, at 14,787 feet (4,507 metres). 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. [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 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 . [5], Primates present in the national park include mountain gorilla (G. b. beringei), common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), golden monkey, red-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius), Dent's mona monkey (C. denti), blue monkey (C. mitis), Hamlyn's monkey (C. hamlyni), De Brazza's monkey (C. neglectus), Central African red colobus (Procolobus foai), mantled guereza (Colobus guereza), olive baboon (Papio anubis) and grey-cheeked mangabey (Lophocebus albigena). The Parks governance structure is strengthened, and newly appointed staff negotiate access to the gorilla sector despite it being controlled by rebels. After stringent health protocols (to avoid passing human pathogens to the immunologically nave gorillas) and a trek through thick vegetation, small groups of visitors are afforded the life-changing opportunity to spend an hour in the company of these gentle giants. The Virunga Mountains, located in the northwest part of Rwanda, contain the country's highest peak, Karisimbi, which reaches nearly 15,000 feet. 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. The rapid population surge causes environmental damage, and Virungas Rangers struggle to protect the forests. Fuelled by subsistence and profit-driven poaching, rebel groups launch attacks on patrol posts in the Northern Sector of the Park. The Parks visitor accommodation at Mikeno Lodge welcomes new guests seeking to visit Virunga. Adult African fish eagles have mostly brown bodies with a white head and yellow face and large, powerful, black wings. The connection between man and gorilla can be further explored at the Senkwekwe Centre, the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. They are solitary creatures who remain isolated except when threatened or breeding. 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 increased human population contributed to deforestation and poaching, and some natural animal migration patterns have been seriously disrupted. The, However, this is no idle volcano. [12] Local and global groups, such as Greenpeace, are warning about the social and ecological impact of devastating the forest for oil production. 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. The Viringa Mountains are composed of up to 8 Volcanic summits including two active volcanoes of Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira located in DRC in Virunga National Park. The name "Virunga" is an English version of the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means "volcanoes". Furthermore, a substantial number of these are Albertine Rift and Congolese endemics. 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. 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. The endangered Rwenzori duiker or Rwenzori red duiker is a stocky, small antelope endemic to the alpine zones of the Rwenzori mountains. 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. Hippo numbers increase to over 2000 for the first time in 20 years. Situated in a region which has been deeply impacted by the effects of war and armed conflict for over 20 years, Virunga is currently protected by a dedicated team of 689 Rangers. However, taking one taxing step at a time has paid off. Alongside this essential conservation work, the Park is committed to supporting local communities. They eat mostly fruit, but also feed on buds, shoots, leaves, flowers, and insects. Nyiragongos summit rim is largely devoid of vegetation and is sometimes dusted with snow. To the northeast the Ruwenzori Range soars to more than 16,000 feet (4,880 metres). 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. Updates? Nyiragongo are rewarded with a view of the worlds largest lava lake as it churns and bubbles. However, extraordinary doesnt even begin to cover it. They are situated in the same region at the borders of the three countries. 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. 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. Virunga Mountain ranges consists of Unique and finest wildlife attractions of Africa which ranges from the; north Western Rwanda covering Volcanoes National park, Eastern side is Congo covering a fraction of Virunga National Park, and South Western Uganda covering Mgahinga National park. They consume mainly fish but have been known to consume carrion, birds, monkeys and even crocodile hatchlings when prey is scarce. [16][18] Between the late 1930s and 1955, an estimated 85,000 Rwandophone people were moved to nearby Masisi in North Kivu. Park officials are in the process of habituating the chimpanzees, and accompanying the habituation teams is another of the activities on offer in the park. 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. Only one mountain of the 8 is an active volcano that is Mount Nyiragongo found in DRCongo. The vegetation above 2,600m (8,500ft) is subalpine with foremost African redwood (Hagenia abyssinica) growing up to 3,000m (9,800ft). The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo, which rises 3,634 metres (11,923ft) above sea level. Most visitors access the park via Rwanda and pass through the border at Goma. They studied and collected zoological specimens of wildlife for the Muse Royal d'Histoire Naturelle de Belgique;[20][21] explored the ethnic groups in this area;[22] studied volcanic activity,[23] and fossils. 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. Here, Virunga reaches Lake Kivu and borders Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. / 2.000S 30.000E / -2.000; 30.000. 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. 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 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 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. chat to the Africa Geographic travel team, Photographer of the Year 2023 Weekly Selection: Week 11. The Virunga chained mountains, also known as the Virunga Massif, offer unique experiences to tourists in Africa. This articles lists and explains more about the . January 17, Nyiragongo volcano erupts spreading lava through the city of Goma. 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. In April, in an effort to end the war, a peace agreement is signed by government and rebel forces. 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. is the branch of the Congolese government tasked with the protection and conservation of protected areas in the DRC. This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. [2], In 1996, the national park was listed as a Ramsar site of international importance. 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). This helps to increase understanding of mountain gorilla behaviour, as well as allowing veterinary teams to intervene if gorillas are injured or showing signs of ill health. 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. Habituation is a critical component of gorilla conservation, as it allows for detailed research to be undertaken on the species. (US) +1 (786) 655-4040, *Call costs: Local rates apply from South Africa, UK and US otherwise international rates apply, newsletter@africageographic.com In the course of increasing tensions, the park's chief warden, Emmanuel de Mrode, was assailed in April 2014. The central sector is centred around the banks of Lake Edward. Average temperatures in lower altitudes vary from 2328C (7382F), and in higher altitudes from 1624C (6175F), rarely dropping below 14C (57F). 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. However, another creature is arguably Virungas (and Africas) most peculiar offering. 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. Networking & debating APP subscribers only, TRUSTED CONSERVATION PROJECTS Virungas most prominent mammals include forest and savanna elephants, hippos, okapis, lions and mountain gorillas. Conservation protects the mountains alpine vegetation, as well as wildlife that includes the golden monkey and the mountain gorilla. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. [2] Latter controlled the Mikeno sector of Virunga National Park between December 2006 and January 2009. It was created in 1925. Farther north are the Rutshuru Falls and the Mai ya Moto sulfur springs. The latter organisation is responsible for park management since 2010; about 80% of management costs are subsidised by the EC. Virunga owes its existence, at least in part, to the presence of the endangered (once critically endangered) mountain gorillas. 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. You can make a differenceby joining our community of dedicated individuals who aim to protect Africas oldest national park and bring peace and prosperity for the four million people who depend on it. [47] Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . Omissions? [55] The area is considered a potential lion (Panthera leo) stronghold, if poaching is curbed and prey species recover. The largest herd of elephants over 500 - since the 1980's are observed in the Ishasha corridor of Virunga. One of Africas most spectacular protected areas. [5][21][49][50], African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) inhabit the national park's central sector. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The camps of various armed factions are dismantled in the Central Sector of the Park. Over the past 20 years, Virunga has seen many periods of conflict, often beginning in or around the Park. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The national park's central sector encompasses about two thirds of Lake Edward up to the international border with Uganda in the east. From north to south it extends approximately 300km (190mi), largely along the international borders with Uganda and Rwanda in the east. [10][11] To improve the country's economic situation the government undermined that very protection by auctioning oil exploration blocks inside the park by the end of July 2022. Seven mountain gorillas from the Rugendo family are murdered. [7] About 850,000 refugees lived around the national park in 1994. Virunga National Park is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, within the Albertine Rift Valley. [45][54], Virunga National Park together with the adjacent Queen Elizabeth National Park forms a "Lion Conservation Unit". Fortunately, stalwart sightseers can rest assured that the volcanos moods are carefully monitored lest it decides to let loose its fury of molten lava. It is an extraordinary park steeped in a history of tragedy and heroism: primordial and viscerally wild. In direct response to the massacres, the Senkwekwe Centre is established to care for the orphans of the massacre. (For more on the conservation and social developments by the Virunga Alliance, have a look at their website.). Show map of Democratic Republic of the Congo, List of mountains peaks in the Virunga Mountain Range, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Virunga Mountains | Location, Description, & Facts", List of countries where Arabic is an official language, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Virunga_Mountains&oldid=1133900401, Mountain ranges of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, World Heritage Sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from August 2018, All articles needing additional references, Wikidata value to be checked for Infobox mountain, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 01:48. [44] Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19th century. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. The Rwandan genocide causes nearly two million refugees to flee the country. and wallow in the various rivers, and bongo antelope have been spotted in the parks northern reaches. 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 mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which border the western branch of the East African Rift. 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. ceo@africageographic.com, Travel & conservation company, since 1991,

, The oldest national park in Africa, Virunga National Park covers nearly 8,000km. Both savanna elephants and forest elephants reside in Virunga National Park, making it one of the few places in the world where both species co-exist. The Virunga Mountains and their associated lava flows extend across the Western Rift Valley. This sight is at its most impressive at night, so most opt to camp on the rim of the crater. Recent eruptions occurred in 2006, 2010 and May 2021. 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 six volcanoes of the centre and east are extinct. 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 Park is founded as Parc Albert, the first national park to be established on the African continent. However, this is no idle volcano. At a height of 16,761 feet (5,109 meters), the Rwenzori mountains feature the largest glaciers left on the African continent making this area, populated by glaciers-fed rivers, waterfalls and lakes, one of Africas most beautiful alpine landscapes. Click here to learn more about the work of the Virunga Alliance. Virunga National Park is home to around a third of those gorillas, which reside in the dense forests on the lush slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. 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.

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