Africa’s oldest national park,  Virunga National Park spanning 7800 sq km, features forests, savannahs, lava plains, swamps, erosion valleys, active volcanoes and the glacial peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. It is also the only park in the world to have populations of three great ape species: the chimpanzee, lowland gorilla and mountain gorilla. Wandering through the shadowy forests you may also find okapi, forest and savannah elephants, hippos, and numerous rare birds.

Extraordinarily, half of all the biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa can be found in Virunga. It is no wonder this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most exciting places to explore in all of Africa. The park comprises three main sectors: the northern sector, defined by the Rwenzori Mountains that border Uganda; the central sector, around Lake Edward, the Ishasha river and Rwindi plains; and the southern sector, best known for the mountain gorillas and other primates that live in the dense forests on the flanks of the dormant Mikeno volcano.

It is here that you have the opportunity to climb the active Nyiragongo volcano, spend the night camping on the ridge of the caldera, and watch the sunrise over the Virunga landscape. This is a rare and extraordinary experience. Spend a night at the beginning of your safari relaxing in an idyllic camp on Tchegera Island, in the vast Lake Kivu.