There are several activities to do in the Virunga Conservation Area/Massif. These are both relaxed and adventurous to suit all kinds of travelers, the young, the elderly, the energetic, and the physically unfit. Travelers have a long list of interesting activities to choose from on their visit to the Virunga Mountains. Do you want to meet up with the endangered primates or experience indigenous cultures? VCA is your best place to visit. Take part in hiking the stratovolcano ranges in The Virunga Massif for a lifetime mountaineering experience. The top activities to do in the Virunga Massif include:
Mountain gorilla trekking
With over 500 mountain gorillas sheltered there, the Virunga Conservation Area is your best gorilla trekking destination. The lifetime experience takes place in Rwanda’s Volcanoes Park, Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda, and Virunga Park in DRCongo. Visit any one of the habituated gorilla families in VCA to enjoy a close encounter with the endangered gorillas in their groups. An hour with these endangered apes offers you the opportunity to embrace the humanlike social characters of gorillas. You will be amazed by how adult males (Silverback) vividly guard their family members while adult females breastfeed and carry babies on their backs just like human mothers. Each gorilla group comprises between 9 to over 25 members who play different roles. Volcanoes park shelters the highest population of gorillas(10 groups) in the Virunga Massif compared to Mgahinga (1 family) and Virunga National parks (8 families). for extended encounters and accurate comparisons, you can trek different groups in different parks. Each family is unique in its own kind and worth visiting! You will require a gorilla permit costing $1500 in Rwanda, $700 in Uganda, and $450 in Congo
Volcano Climbing
Volcano climbing is the second most popular travel activity done in the Virunga Conservation Area. The Massif comprises 8 chains of Virunga mountains and 7 of them are safe for hiking. These are Mt Nyiragongo, Nyamuragira & Mikeno in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mount Karsimbi and Mt Bisoke on Rwanda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mt Gahinga and Mt Muhabura on the border of Uganda and Rwanda while Mt Sabyinyo is shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo. Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira are the only active volcanoes among the 8. Mt Karismbi, Mt Bisoke, and Nyiragongo are the most hiked volcanoes in the Virunga mountain ranges.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Be part of the guided golden monkey treks in Mgahinga Gorilla Park Uganda and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park. The experience is somewhat like gorilla trekking but less strenuous. Golden monkeys (Cercopithecus kandti) are a specie of the Old World monkey found in central Africa. Golden monkeys are endangered primates as listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(UNESCO). Just like in gorilla trekking, the allowed time with golden monkeys is strictly an hour counted from the time you meet them.
Bird watching
Birding is yet another interesting activity to do in the Virunga Massif. Altogether, the Conservation Area is estimated to harbor over 500 bird species some of which are endemic to the Albertine region. Over 180 birds live in Mgahinga Park, 200 bird species in Volcanoes park, and over 300 birds in Virunga National Park Congo. The Virunga Massif is therefore an Important Birding Area offering lifetime birding experiences. Some of the common birds you will see include Baglaftech weaver, Ruwenzori Turaco, Common Stonechat, Ruwenzori Double Collaredsunbird, Brwon Necked Parrot, Black Kite, Speckled Mousebird, African Paradise Flycatcher, Cape Robin chat, Alpine Swift, Moorland Chat, African Olive Pigeon, Ruwenzori Batis, Tropical Boubou and Grey Throated Barbet among others. Birding in both parks is done all year round but the dry season is the best time while November to April is the best time to see migratory birds.
Cultural tours
Discover the indigenous tribes in Uganda and Rwanda on your cultural tour in the Virunga Conservation Area. The Batwa cultural trail done in Mgahinag Gorilla National park gives you a chance to meet and interact with Batwa pygmies (forest people) who initially lived with mountain gorillas before tourism was introduced. Batwa pygmies will demonstrate their traditional forest activities such as fruit gathering, collecting firewood, picking herbal medicines, hunting, and making fires. You cannot miss visiting the Ngarama cave where Batwa could hide in terms of trouble. Ngarama cave was also a place where Batwa offered sacrifices to their small gods. The Gorilla Guradisn Village in Rwanda introduces you to the customs, norms, and traditions of the Rwandase. You will be dressed as king and Queen and also take part in different local activities. Intore and amakondere dances are performed telling more about Rwanda!
