Virunga Conservation Area
The Virunga conservation area is also known as the Virunga massif is shared in between three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. This area covers Virunga national park in Congo, Mgahinga national park in Uganda and the Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
The Virunga ranges are home to different habitats especially the endanger mountain gorillas, mountain gorillas can only be trekked within the above three countries in the world.
Mountain gorillas
Mountain gorilla trekking is the most sought tourists activity in the Virunga massif, there are about only 900 mountain gorillas left in the world and this cane found in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo and the in Bwindi national park in Uganda which is among the Virunga conservation area.
Virunga mountain ranges
The Virunga Mountains are made up of 8 volcanoes 2 of this volcano are very active and have at least erupted 35 times since 1982. Tourists can hike the beautiful Virunga Mountains apart from gorillas trekking, the two active Volcanoes are all found in Congo.
Golden monkeys
The unique species of golden monkeys normally live in troops of about 60 individuals in a group, they are very beautiful to encounter and their called so because of the unique golden patch they have unlike mountain gorillas the number of people tracking golden monkeys isn’t restricted and the monkeys are entertaining as their very playful and also love flash cameras.
Batwa people
The Batwa people are believed to have lived on the Virunga mountain range forests for over 500,000 Yeats until they were dismissed when the conservation area was established. They have very unique ways of lives and a lot of ancient forest stories to tell. You can visit the people and get immersed in true culture of the forest people.
Dian Fossey
Dian Fossey is a famous American primatologist who visited the are in 1968, she dedicated her life to the saving of the endangered mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey made the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes her home and continued in conservation and studying of gorillas which sadly led to her death in December 1985.
Primates
The Virunga ranges also harbor various primate species such as the black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys and various mammals and tree species. Trekking gorillas in the Virunga ranges will cost $600 in Uganda, $40 in Congo and $1500 in Rwanda.
The best time to visit the Virunga ranges is from June to September and December to February during this time the roads to the oaks are accessible and the trekking trails are not slippery there are also chances of no rainfall during the trekking.
