The Mountain Gorilla can be seen in Djomba and Bukima on the western slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. There are currently 3 families habituated.
The Lowland Gorilla lives further south near Bukavu in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The park is an afro-montane forest area with two extinct volcanoes. It was the first park to habituate gorillas. There are 4 habituated gorilla groups.
The live volcanoes of Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo are near the town of Goma and erupt periodically. Nyiragongo erupted violently in 2002, partially destroying the town of Goma and minor fissures continue to appear. Both volcanoes have craters bubbling with live magma and are a spectacular sight.
In addition to the gorillas, the wildlife in Virunga National Park is one of the most varied in the region. It is not clear how badly poaching has affected animal populations in recent years, but the Rwindi plains had extensive savannah game and the highest hippo population in Africa before the conflict in the country.
The Mountain Gorilla can be seen in Djomba and Bukima on the western slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. There are currently 3 families habituated.
The Lowland Gorilla lives further south near Bukavu in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The park is an afro-montane forest area with two extinct volcanoes. It was the first park to habituate gorillas. There are 4 habituated gorilla groups.
The live volcanoes of Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo are near the town of Goma and erupt periodically. Nyiragongo erupted violently in 2002, partially destroying the town of Goma and minor fissures continue to appear. Both volcanoes have craters bubbling with live magma and are a spectacular sight.
In addition to the gorillas, the wildlife in Virunga National Park is one of the most varied in the region. It is not clear how badly poaching has affected animal populations in recent years, but the Rwindi plains had extensive savannah game and the highest hippo population in Africa before the conflict in the country.