What Makes Virunga National Park A Dangerous Place For Gorilla Trekking In Africa.
Of the three well-known mountain gorilla habitats in the World— Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo—Virunga National park in D.R. Congo is the most dangerous. Civil upheaval in the region starting in the 1990s is influencing mountain gorilla protection as well as gorilla tourism activities. This might be one of the reasons why gorilla trekking in Virunga National is unpopular here and why Virunga National Park is a perilous location for gorilla trekking in Africa.
Right now, six gorilla trekking families living in Virunga National Park occupy area of around 8090 sq.km. King Albert of Belgium gazette this as a national park in 1925, thereby making it among the first parks under conservation in Africa. The habituated gorilla families D. R. Congo include Mapuwa gorilla family, Lulengo gorilla family, Rugendo gorilla family, Munyaga gorilla family, Kabirizi gorilla family, and Humba gorilla family.
Other primates like chimpanzees, Hamlyn’s monkeys, De Brazaa’s monkeys, olive baboons, Dent’s Mona monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, bush babies to name but a few call Virunga national park home.
Other creatures call this park home despite the turmoil in this region; aardvark, blue duikers, yellow-backed duikers, elephants, buffaloes, okapi, warthogs enormous forest pigs; the list is long.
Virunga offers a range of species for avid birders to extend their list of African birds including Albertine endemics for identification.
One of the remaining active volcanoes, Nyiragongo Mountain last erupted in 2022 dispersing magma across thirty kilometers. Many people visit this unusual event to spend at least one day or night at the mountain summit.
Civil War in Eastern D.R. Congo
D.R. Congo’s Gorilla Trekking is carried out at Virunga National Park on the eastern edge. Since 1996, virtually exactly the same region has seen insurgent activity up to now. These civil conflicts do not exclude the gorilla trekking region, hence occasionally it is a risk zone.
Here are valuable minerals everyone wants to control. This questionable struggle has claimed victims in innocent rangers and wardens. About 15 rangers and wardens, the most recent is the 24th April 2020 ranger guide who claimed ambushing and killing.
The mountain gorillas suffer as well as the rangers do. Time for habituating the gorillas is devoted defending them. Those who are hurt might have to have therapy, therefore they end dead. This is among the factors behind the decreased number of mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park compared to their peers. Some individuals risk their lives to engage in gorilla treking in this region.
Restricted Personnel To assist visitors on their gorilla trekking
Few individuals are eager to join the park rangers and wardens to guard the mountain gorillas as rebel activity in this region is still ongoing. This small workforce means that just a few rangers are able to safeguard visitors and guard the mountain gorillas as well. Those still around still have much to learn about mountain gorillas.
The Untimely Active Volcano Nyiragongo Within Virunga National Park
Last year, the Nyiragongo Volcano in Virunga National park spat larva at any moment.Flying for more than a week, this larva covered around 20 miles and displaced many individuals. Apart from Nyiragongo mountain, the biggest caldera on Earth is here. While on top in the darkness you could see red hot lava; one with a fragile heart is recommended not to do this.
Should the mountain explode while you are gorilla trekking, you must leave this area immediately upon advice.
Availability of Gorilla Permits: Not certain
While those of Virunga National Park are bought on ground, gorilla trekking permits for other parks like as Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Volcanoes National park are bought beforehand. Should you board a plane intending to conduct gorilla trekking in D.R. Congo, you are not sure if you will be allowed to do so. Frustratingly, all the gorilla permits you could discover had sold-out. Such events might lead you to postpone your sole opportunity to conduct gorilla treking and fly to Africa.
The Distance From Any D.R. Congo International Airport
Although D.R. Congo has many airports, practically all of them are remote from Virunga National park. This requires either spending days on the road or traveling great distances before embarking on gorilla treking.
Among the international airports in D. R. Congo are Mbandaka Airport or Lubumbashi International Airport and Ndjili International Airport. Even D.R. Congo’s extremely inadequate road system makes gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park a difficult activity to engage in. The political unrest on these routes guarantees nothing about safety.
Although you must spend an additional day to reach Volcanoes National park, Kigali Airport in Rwanda offers the fastest access. You must pay twice for border crossing both east and west Virunga National Park.
Bad Communication Result of a Language Obstacle Gorilla Trekking: Since most visitors are English while Congolese French, the rangers and the tourists have a somewhat large communication gap. This linguistic barrier breaks information distribution and breeds distrust. It may be somewhat difficult to communicate each other only in case of any risk throughout gorilla trekking.
Not Many People Go Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
Overnight at Virunga National park is very frightening given the little number of visitors buying gorilla trekking permits. The more merrier and security is greater with more people together. Ancient woodland with massive trees and thick canopy Virunga National Park
You utilize routes while looking for the mountain gorillas; yet, as this park is rarely frequented, the path is covered with vegetation. You have to walk even if cutting them down with a machete is exhausting at times.
Absence Of Emergency Health Center In Virunga National Park To Turn For First Aid
For emergency injuries, you may have to be taken to a health facility near Virunga National park closed due to local instability while gorilla treking. Most businesses in and near the national park closed for fear of rebel assaults from the jungle; so, before engaging in any activity here, you must bring personal first aid kit with the necessary medicine before visiting this area for gorilla trekking.
Communicative Disease Outbreaks Near Virunga National Park’s Gorilla Trekking Areas
The people living around this region consume wild meat, and improper cooking of it causes illnesses like Ebola to spread to the humans. Think much about the general health of the people living in this gorilla trekking area at that period.
Common communicative diseases like cholera and Ebola may break out here. Those who are immunizable do this before travel; personal hygiene is equally important on ground. Never taste anything you are unsure about.
When should one book a Gorilla Trekking Permit for Virunga National Park?
Although gorilla trekking is available all year long, you must get your permit for Virunga National Park on ground. Right now the gorilla lets Virunga go for $450 per person per journey.
The Gorilla Trekking Age Limit in Virunga National Park
Gorilla treking in Virunga National Park is only permitted 15 years and above. This is so due of the topography of the surroundings. The jungle has somewhat dense foliage, which you may have to traverse to reach the gorillas. A youngster below this age might become scared by this.
What To Bring for Trekking in Virunga National Park?
Two binoculars would help one to better see far-off sights.
Cover yourself from being wet when it rains with a rain coat or poncha.
Garden gloves help get a closer hold should you trip while trekking.
Warm pajamas for evening sleep as, when the sun sets, this location becomes rather chilly.
Insect repellent to use in the forest and avoid stinging insects
a safari house to protect your hair from woodland humidity causing wetness.
Long sleeved shirts and pants to protect your body from jungle harsh surfaces.
Tracking boots that fit you for use on the slick terrain.
Toiletries should be available should your lodge not provide
particularly early morning and evening, a sweatshirt to wear when it becomes chilly.
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