Virunga National Park is located in Eastern DR Congo on the border with Uganda and Rwanda covering an area of 7,800 sq km.
To enter into Democratic Republic of Congo on your gorilla safari to Virunga National Park, you must have DRC visa, passport and yellow fever vaccination card.
DR Congo is accessible by both air travel with fly in charter planes from Rwanda to Goma airport for those who have limited time but still want to do gorilla trekking in DRC. There are also connecting flights from Entebbe to Goma airport in DR Congo.
Most foreign visitors arrange to take flights into Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport before travelling the 160-kilometre route west on the RN4 road towards the border town of Gisenyi.
Road trips from Rwanda go through the Gisenyi border post where tourists are verified and registered from and later continue to Goma city. Alternatively, tourists can access Virunga National Park via southwestern Uganda at Bunagana border post.
A road trip by private four-wheel-drive vehicle takes about four hours and involves passing through the administrative areas of Musanze and Rubavu.
The Grande Barrière border crossing operates between 06:00 and 22:00, where customs officials process Congolese tourist visas issued through the park authority.
The arrangement of accommodation is based on two main facilities which are operated through the park concession system. Mikeno Lodge is located within the Rumangabo headquarters at an altitude of 1,800 metres and includes twelve stone bungalows, together with direct access to the Senkwekwe Mountain Gorilla Orphanage. Bukima Tented Camp is situated on the forest perimeter at 2,000 metres altitude and features six platform tents, with a standard rate of 250 USD per person per night and full board service.
By staying at Bukima you avoid the early-morning transfer from Goma and thus reach the briefing area before the 07:30 patrol assembly.
By Road
The Southern part can be accessed through Uganda on Bunagana border which is easy to cross and a one hour drive will be enough to usher you on gorilla tracking of Jomba and Bikenge gorilla families.
The park can also be accessed overland through Rwanda crossing via Gisenyi/Goma border which is also very easy to cross. The visa entry has to be pre-arranged with the Virunga National Park.
By Air
The park can also be accessed by air through Goma Airport. You will fly into Goma from Kinshasha or Entebbe and this is near the park. The Visa also has to be prearranged.
International Air Travel
Most tourists fly into the Kigali international airport and take a 3-hour taxi ride to the border crossing at Gisenyi, Rwanda. International flights often arrive in the evening; you can spend a night in Kigali and leaving for Virunga the next morning. Most Kigali hotels will arrange an airport pick up for a small additional charge. Taxis typically charge $100-$120 from Kigali to the border. Hotels can arrange the taxi for you. Domestic airlines in the DRC fly into Goma, but the airport is not up to international standards.
Please note: A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Transportation to and from Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is offering one-way and round trip transportation for the following locations. You can also find transportation options specific to the various lodging and activities from within their booking pages. All pricing reflects per seat booking.
Goma – Bukima
Goma – Kibati (Nyiragongo volcano)
Goma – Mikeno Lodge
Bukima – Mikeno
Bukima – Kibati (Nyiragongo Volcano)
Bukima – Bunagana
Kibati (Nyiragongo) – Bunagana
Kibati (Nyiragongo) – Mikeno Lodge
Mikeno lodge – Matebe
Mikeno lodge – Bunagana
Bunagana – Jomba
Goma – Tchegera Boat Pick-up
Kibati (Nyiragongo volcano) – Tchegera Island
Tchegera Island – Mikeno Lodge
Tchegera Island – Bukima Camp