Reopening of Virunga National Park (DRC)

According to this Reuters report, Virunga National Park reopened to tourists on 15 Feb 2019. Oddly, the park's own website visitvirunga.org still appears to be in hibernation and doesn't include any further information about the reopening, so it isn't clear how you would go about booking accommodation and activities. Watch this space...

Suspension of tourism in Virunga NP, DRC

Following an ambush 10km outside Goma in May 2018 in which a park ranger was killed and two British tourists were kidnapped (to be released two days later), the management of Virunga National Park has announced the indefinite suspension of tourism to the park until such time as the safety of visitors can be assured. …

Virunga Nation Park (DRC) trip report

For anybody thinking of crossing from Rwanda into the DRC to track gorillas, this detailed & up-to-date trip report on the ThornTree is well worth a read: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/africa/democratic-republic-of-congo/trip-report-goma-nyiragongo-bukavu?page=1  

Tour operator & Congo feedback

Nancy writes: My husband and I just finished a month long tour of Rwanda and wanted to give you some feedback about the tour companies we used.   Via your guidebook, we selected Rwanda Ecotours and Bizidanny to write about our interests and desires, physical capabilities, the fact that we are vegetarian, that we prefer …

Goma (DRC) restaurant news

Thanks to Sean Connolly, updater of the 6th edition, for this note about Goings On in Goma: Coco Jambo restaurant has closed, and Deo's Cafe has moved and can now be found next to Petit Brussels (also listed in the guide).

New Rwanda and eastern DRC trip report

Eric Futtrup writes: First, this is a very good guidebook, which me and my travel mate brought two copies of, so we plan and read ahead. I was also very happy that you included the Goma/Virunga chapter – though there are a few things that needs to be updated. Rubavu – map p.194: The Petit …

Good news from Virunga NP, DRC

Virunga National Park in the DRC bordering Rwanda and Uganda has reopened and is now taking bookings for mountain gorilla trekking and accommodation at Mikeno Lodge. Hikes up Nyiragongo volcano and the Tongo chimpanzee treks should soon be available. For further details see http://www.visitvirunga.org or https://www.facebook.com/virunga.

Tourism to Virunga National Park (DR Congo) suspended

Due to the continuing instability and insecurity in North Kivu in and around Virunga National Park, the management of Virunga National Park in the DR Congo has decided to close tourism in the park until further notice. When the situation improves they will announce the reopening on their website http://www.visitvirunga.org. In order to follow the …

Latest from Virunga National Park (DRC)

Virunga National Park in DRCongo is experiencing a resurgence in tourism, with more than 3,000 visits in 2011.  Africa’s oldest National Park,  (established 1925) and a World Heritage site, the park stretches over 7,800 square kilometres. Virunga National Park consists of a wide diversity of landscapes ranging from savannas, lava plains, swamps, erosion valleys, forests, …

Border crossing from Gisenyi to Goma

First off, thanks for putting the Bradt Guide together - it is by far the most detailed and, most importantly, accurate guide out there.  I'm in Rwanda right now and just wanted to update info on the border crossing from Gisenyi (Rubavu) to Goma.  With two others (they were German, myself American), we crossed over …