Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the oldest national park in Africa and one of the most endangered. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been deeply impacted by armed conflict and suffered tremendous loss of wildlife and land due to poaching. Over 200 rangers have been killed in the line of duty. Virunga is currently protected by approximately 690 rangers.
Virunga is home to approximately one-third of the world’s estimated 1000 mountain gorillas. The park’s landscape includes two active volcanoes, the largest lava lake in the world, savannahs, Lake Edward, and the 3rd highest mountain peak in Africa in the Rwenzori mountain range. Tourism has grown in recent years under the leadership of Warden Emmanuel de Merode.
In 2012, in the middle of a rebel war surrounding the gorilla sector, a documentary titled “Virunga” was filmed in the park and nominated for an Academy Award in 2015. The film is available on Netflix.
