Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site internationally recognized for its exceptional wildlife and habitats. Explore one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the world. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 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”. 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 800+ Rangers. These local men and women go through intensive training, risking their lives on a daily basis to safeguard the Park’s exceptional wildlife, including the last of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. Alongside this essential conservation work, the Park is committed to supporting local communities. Virunga has a vision for responsibly harnessing the Park’s natural resources to create new opportunities for the four million people that live within a day’s walk of its borders. 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. This innovative, community focussed approach to conservation is working to reduce the pressures currently faced by the Park’s Rangers from armed groups, illegal poaching, and land encroachment. Click here to learn more about the work of the Virunga Alliance. 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. Virunga is the only site on earth to have three types of great apes – the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, and eastern chimpanzee. Around one third of the world population of endangered mountain gorillas live in the lush volcanic forests of Virunga National Park. The endangered eastern lowland gorilla, also known as the Grauer’s gorilla, is a sub-species of the eastern gorilla that resides in the lowland tropical rainforests of eastern Congo. 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. 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. Chimpanzees are an endangered species and one of the four species of great apes. Like humans, chimps communicate with facial expressions, gestures, and sounds. Okapis are shy and solitary animals that resemble zebras but are more closely related to the giraffe and are endemic to the DRC. 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. Both savanna and forest buffalo are found in the park and can be found roaming the Rwindi plains in the Park’s Central Sector. The endangered Rwenzori duiker or Rwenzori red duiker is a stocky, small antelope endemic to the alpine zones of the Rwenzori mountains. The grey crowned crane lives in wetlands, grasslands, savannas, and forests near the Ishasha and Rwindi Rivers. Standing over 3 feet (1 meter) tall, it’s known for its grey plumage, red throat pouch, and golden crown. Only about 30,000 remain in the wild — 12,000 in South Africa and 18,000 in East Africa. African fish eagles are powerful birds of prey found across Sub-Saharan waterways.Though they mainly eat fish, they’ll also feed on carrion, birds, monkeys, and crocodile hatchlings when needed. Females, larger than males, have up to an 8-foot (2.4 meters) wingspan and are easily recognized by their brown bodies, white heads, yellow faces, and strong black wings. Shoebills inhabit the swamps