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. …

Online bookings for gorilla tracking and other tourist permits

Jeroen writes: I'm enjoying your Rwanda book, travelling there for the first time this Friday for 2 weeks, with Nyungwe, Kivu and Virunga planned. You might want to alert readers that RDB trekking/activities bookings are now all done online via the government's useful Irembo website (e.g. https://irembo.gov.rw/rolportal/web/rdb/mountain-gorilla-tracking). It's not the most easily navigable site but easy …

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  

Gorilla tracking permit increases to US$1,500

The RDB yesterday made the following announcement: The price of a Gorilla Tracking Permit will increase from US$750 to US$1,500 for all visitors, effective immediately 6 May 2017. The price increase will not affect tourists who had already purchased their tickets prior to this announcement. A new exclusive package for tourists who wish to book an entire family …

July 2016 trip report

Many thanks to Collette for this very detailed trip report: This information is from our trip in July 2016. We travelled for 2 weeks, the first week by local buses, the second week we rented a car. We were very pleased with the Bradt guide (as always!) It covered all aspects of the trip, was …

Karisoke Exhibit, Musanze

  A new 'gorilla exhibit' at Karisoke Research Centre, which was founded by Dr. Dian Fossey almost 50 years ago and is currently located in Musanze town, is now open to the public. It provides a variety of information, photographs, videos, historic objects and interactive activities about gorilla conservation and the centre's work, and is designed to complement …

News from Volcanoes National Park

  It's worth noting is that it is possible to pitch a tent at the Kinigi Guesthouse for about 3000 francs - a stunning spot and a very cheap place to stay close to the park office for gorilla tracking. Also, I spotted a typo on page 266 of the 6th edition: the rim of Bisoke is 3,635m …

2014 trip report

Goran writes: Trip report Jan 2014 Places visited Huye, Nyanza, Kigali, Rubavu, Rubona, Musanze, Lake Burera, Volcanoes NP (NB: some practical info may be outdated as the report is more than a year old). Exchange rate: USD1=RWF670 I was planning to stay in Rwanda for three weeks maybe, but had to cut my visit short as …

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 …