Congo’s Virunga National Park to re-open on 15th February 2019

Congo’s Virunga National Park to re-open on 15th February 2019

After eight months since the management of Virunga National Park took a profoundly difficult decision to close the park, Congo’s Virunga National Park to re-open on 15th February 2019 for tourism. The 3,000sq.mi park founded in 1925 is Africa’s oldest national Park renowned as the prime Congo gorilla trekking safari destination since it hosts the only Mountain Gorillas in West Africa. Virunga National park is situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province bordering south western Rwanda and south western Uganda. Rwanda and Uganda share with Congo the Virunga massif (chain of volcanoes) in which Virunga National Park is located with Rwanda having a park known as Volcanoes National Park and Uganda having Mgahinga Gorilla National Park all being host to Mountain Gorillas. Gorilla trekking in virunga National Park Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park

Saturday 2nd June 2018 was the day when the chief warden of Virunga National Park, Emanuel De Merode, released an official statement announcing the closure of the park till the end of that year. While making his statement Mr. Emanuel De Merode stated that;

 “For Virunga to be safely visited, much more robust measures are needed than in the past. This will require a very significant investment, and makes it impossible for us to re-open tourism this year.”  

This decision came following several killings and kidnaps that had occurred in the country especially leading to the loss of lives of park rangers making Congo safaris unsafe within the North Kivu province. By June 2018, at least 12 rangers had been killed in clashes with militia and smugglers within Virunga in the last 10 months making it one of the bloodiest periods in the park’s history.

Is Virunga National Park safe for tourists as it plans to re-open by 15th February 2019?

Many of you have been asking when is Virunga National Park Congo re opening for tourism? This is now answered, and surely the next question is whether the park is safe; Either for a Congo gorilla trekking tour or a hiking trip to Mount Nyiragongo (one of Africa’s most active stratovolcanoes) the park management is taking all measures to make sure tourists are safe.

As the park is set to re-open on the 15th February 2019, the management of Virunga National Park is dedicated to ensuring the highest safety and security of all its visitors. Virunga Rangers are trained at international standards for visitor protection, including close protection, communication, first aid and evacuation procedures. In addition, Park management oversees the security environment by maintaining close ties with local authorities, community leaders, embassies, UN agencies and NGOs. The park management also cautions all tourists on Congo tours to adopt the appropriate level of sensitivity to the local cultural and political environment as an essential element of your personal security and of those accompanying you throughout your visit.

New safari packages as Congo’s Virunga National Park to re-open on 15th February 2019

There’s going to be a new face for the Virunga National Park as the park plans to re-open by the 15th of February 2019 with new safari packages set. The new safari packages for Virunga National Park will definitely make safaris to the park very interesting and rewarding with 2 of the 7 packages ready for booking by the date of opening. Here is a highlight of the packages;

 The Nyiragongo volcano trek is a stand-alone Nyiragongo trek which take two days with a night spent on the Volcano summit.

The Mikeno Mist package inclusive of a gorilla trek, three-night stay in Virunga, two nights in Kibumba Tented Camp and one-night stay on Nyiragongo volcano.

The two packages above will be available for booking by 15th February 2019 and the following will be available later after a communication from the Virunga National Park management.

 Le Petit Virunga package which includes three nights’ stay in Virunga National Park, two nights’ accommodation at Mikeno Lodge, mountain gorilla trek, volcano trek and one night on Nyiragongo volcano. The Virunga Classic is a five-day trip into Virunga: one-night initial accommodation at Mikeno Lodge, one-night accommodation at Bukima Tented Camp, two gorilla treks, two additional nights’ accommodation at Mikeno Lodge and one-night stay on Nyiragongo volcano.

The Great Ape package that offers the opportunity to see two great ape taxa in Virunga National Park. It consists of one initial night accommodation at Mikeno Lodge, one-night accommodation at Bukima Tented Camp, two gorilla treks with an additional two nights’ accommodation at Mikeno Lodge.

The Virunga Expedition package which offers the very best of Virunga National Park. It includes one initial night stay at the beautiful Mikeno Lodge, nestled in the heart of the Mahura Forest at the Park’s HQ in Rumangabo. Then on to a one-night stay in the gorilla sector at Bukima Tented Camp where guests will come face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas. Guests will head back to Mikeno Lodge for two additional nights’ stay before setting off for the savannas of the Ishasha Valley for a three-night stay at Lulimbi Tented Camp. The package finishes off with a one-night stay on Nyiragongo volcano followed by two nights’ stay on Tchegera Island Retreat.

The Rutshuru Expedition package that offers the best of Virunga National Park minus the Nyiragongo volcano trek. It includes one initial night stay at the beautiful Mikeno Lodge, nestled in the heart of the Mahura Forest at the Park’s HQ in Rumangabo. Then on to a one-night stay in the gorilla sector at Bukima Tented Camp where guests will come face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas. Guests will head back to Mikeno Lodge for two additional nights’ stay before setting off for the savannas of the Ishasha Valley for a three night stay at Lulimbi Tented Camp. The package finishes off with two nights’ stay on Tchegera Island Retreat.

Yes, the park is going to re-open and for the many tourists who have been longing to tailor either their Uganda gorilla trekking safari or gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda then you can start planning now. Choose the package of your choice and contact a trusted Congo safari tour operator for details and good preparations.      

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