Entrance charges for Virunga national park.

Entrance fees are charges that every tourist has to pay before accessing Virunga national park. If you are looking for a quiet destination to visit in Africa for mountain gorilla trekking, travel to the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo where you will find one of the oldest national parks in Africa which is known as Virunga national park. Also, just 14 kilometers from Goma town where the Goma international airport is found. There are three ways of accessing Virunga national park, one of them you may fly direct to the Goma international airport of the county but this is possible while using Ethiopian airlines which land directly in Congo. Other ways to access the park by using the Kigali international airport of Rwanda but from here, you need to use ground transport for about a 4-hour drive up to the Grande Barrier border post where you will find the security convoy, in the same is where you will get permits that allow you to participate in your interest activities in the park. You will be asked to present you’re a valid yellow fever card and a Congo visa from here. Tourists are always advised to make their books in advance but not on arrival day because it helps you to get your Visa in time which allows you to enter the country. Congo visa is working for only 14 days and can allow you to enter both Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park.

This tropical rainforest is surrounded by a lot of tourist attractions you may be looking for to participate in during your holiday or vacation. These are activities one can do on his/her trip in Virunga national park which include tracking endangered mountain gorillas, participating in chimpanzee habituation process, visiting Senkwenkwe sanctuary where you will get an opportunity to spend more time with organed gorillas, birders this park is the best ideal for you, hiking one of the active volcanoes in world, watching several wildlife species around the Lulimbi sector, guided nature walks which give a chance to explore more about the park and many other activities.

Entrance fees / charges for Virunga national park for mountain gorilla trekking is $400 for individual per trek which allows you to meet gorillas in their natural habitat and also get an opportunity to learn more about them like how mothers take care of the younger ones, the younger gorillas play, how the silverback ruling like the king, and others. Congo gorilla permit is sold at an affordable price if compared to other gorilla destinations like Rwanda permit is goes at $1500 per person per trek and that one of Uganda costs $700 per person per trek. You can also visit orphanage gorillas at Senkwekwe Centre free of charge but this offer is only for those who stay in Mikeno lodge. So, on your trip to Virunga national park book yourself into the luxurious Mikeno lodge and get a chance to spend more time with orphaned gorillas.

The entrance fees / charges for tourists who are interested to hike the world’s largest lava lake which is known as Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga national park is $300 per person for 1 night but excluding meals or you can add $100 which include a sleeping bag, a cook /meal for the overnight hike and bottled water. If you want to complete this hike, come when well-prepared through improving your fitness and carry necessary items like enough long clothes to take you through the night since the mount has red boiling magma on its top whereby the degrees can get as low as O degrees. There is also an offer for hikers who prefer to spend more nights at the top of the mount but it happens only twice in the month on a specific allocated date by the management of the park with only 4 hikers. Therefore, book with Africa Adventure Vacations and help you to enjoy this trip.

Virunga national park is blessed with many tourist attractions which most travelers are yearning to do like the chimpanzee habituation experience. This activity is carried out in Mahura forest with one chimpanzee community that has been jointly habituated by the management of the park and the government and now it is open for all those who are interested in this experience. Chimpanzee habituation in Virunga begins very early in the morning at around 6 am in search of the chimps and once you meet them, you will be given 4 hours for interaction. Then after your ranger will take you back to your reserved hotel/lodge for relaxation and a late lunch. Africa Adventure Vacations offer you different safari packages which include chimpanzee habituation for example Virunga expedition, the great ape package, and many more, therefore book with us and be among the first people to participate in chimpanzee habituation.

There are also wildlife safaris carried out in the Lulimbi sector which is found on the southeastern shores of Lake Edward in the savannah plains of the Ishasha sector that is popular not only in Africa but the entire world for the tree-climbing lions. Guided nature walks and game drives in Virunga national park are best in the afternoon when hippos are moving around in the Ishasha River and savannah elephants while taking water on the river banks of Ishasha. Or visit Tchegera Island which is good for relaxation, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and others.

What is the best time to visit Virunga national park?

It is difficult to mention the best time to visit Virunga national park because this park is a tropical rain forest so, at any time of the day, we expect rain. However, the dry season is the most recommended time and this is divided into two seasons is from June-August and another one from December-February when the hiking trails are not too slippery and muddy which favors tourists to enjoy activities of the park. Virunga national park is open all year round so, tourists are advised to focus more on their interests instead of asking for the best time because also rainy season offers an exciting experience.

How to access Virunga national park.

If you want to participate in activities of Virunga national park-like mountain gorilla trekking, bird watching, guided nature walks, chimpanzee trekking, and chimpanzee habituation, hiking mountain Nyiragongo and many more, there are two ways for accessing this park and these include air transport and road transport so, you have a right to choose any of them depending on your interests.

By air.

You can fly with Ethiopian airline though it operates single flights every week and this will take you directly to Goma international airport where you will find our travel guide in a 4WD vehicle with bottled purified water and take you to Bukima park headquarters which is the starting point for gorilla trekking and it is just for 1-hour drive.

By road.

While those who come from Uganda and Rwanda will cross the border of Congo either through the Bunagana border in Kisorso district of Uganda or Gisenyi border in Rwanda though you need to have some important documents that allow to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo like a valid yellow fever card, a passport, Congo visa, and gorilla trekking permit if it is your priority to visit the park.

In conclusion, Virunga national park of the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the African tourist destinations which sell its activities at affordable price like it’s a gorilla permit is costs $400 while other gorilla destinations sold their gorilla permits at high costs like Rwanda permit is for $1500 and Uganda sold it at $700. Therefore, after understanding the entrance charges / fees for Virunga national park, plan your holiday and enjoy a number of attractions at a lower price.