Virunga national park is a world heritage site covering an area of 7800 kilometers squared. The park became a world heritage site in 1979 because of its rich biodiversity making it one of the biologically diverse areas in Africa.
Virunga national park is the oldest park in Africa and the second oldest park in the world, it’s home to endangered mountain gorillas only found in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. The park also harbors other wildlife like African forest elephants, duikers, Chimpanzees, golden monkeys, Rwenzori otter shrew and many others.
There fur main sector in Virunga national park and knowing this sectors helps one to easily access this areas depending on the activity they would love to do because each sector provides a unique experience.
Bukima sector of Virunga
The Bukima sector of Virunga national park also known as the Eastern sector is filled with the endangered mountain gorillas. Tourists intending to trek mountain gorillas usually start from Bukima patrol post found in this sector.
Gorilla trekking starts early morning with a briefing from the rangers at Bukima ranger post then a group of only eight tourists is allowed to visit a given gorilla family. The trek will take several hours but depending on the location of the gorilla family and also the phase of the trekkers.
Once you find the gorilla family your trekking, you will be given a period of one hour getting close to human relatives and take photos to take back home for remembrance. All tourists must observe the dos and don’ts while in the presence of mountain gorillas.
One of the other interesting activities you can do while in this sector is visiting the Senkwekwe mountain gorilla orphanage which is the only orphanage for mountain gorillas in the world. This orphanage was out up in 2010 in order to save mountain gorillas that escaped being traded for bush meat or animal trade. Visitors sleeping in Mikeno lodge visiting the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage for free.
You can also join rangers and researchers for Chimpanzee habituation in Mahura forest while in Bukima sector of Virunga.
While in this sector of the park, tourists can sleep in Bukima tented camp or Mikeno lodge.
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