Page 65 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

42 Africa

The flora 1950s, to reach now more than 300 inhabitants
VNP is blessed with the greatest diversity in per square kilometre, the highest density in the
habitats as compared to any other park in Africa, Congo. Population pressure is being felt along the
spreading from steppes on the lower lands to ice park borders where many new towns with fast-
fields on the towering peaks. This significantly increasing populations are located. Within the
wide variety of wild vegetation types comprises park territory, three fishing villages are found on
such natural habitats as open grassland, lowland the shores of Runtazige Lake: Kiavinonge,
dry and humid mountain forests, savannas including Nyakakoma and Vitshumbi. Their population has
swamps, and alpine vegetation. The open land been increasing rapidly (Diallo, 1975).
habitats have evolved into steppe, savanna or The influx of about 500,000 Hutu refugees
swamps consequent to action by natural elements from Rwanda in 1994 and their accommodation
(low rainfall, soil type) or to animal or anthro- in refugee camps within or close to the park
pogenic effects. Forest habitats include thickets brought about deep, and likely irreversible damage
around Rutanzige Lake, and dense forests in the to this very sensitive environment. Vast tracks of
mountains, while mountain habitats are characte- protected forests were cleared for building the
rized by transitional foothill forests to alpine zones refugee camps, and for providing them with fuel
(Stuart and Stuart, 1995; McGinley, 2008; Saundry, wood for cooking their meals. It is reported that
2009). in a single day more than 600 tonnes of wood are
felled by the refugees for this purpose. Moreover,
The fauna rampant poaching and illegal traffic of bush meat
by poachers, or hunting for living animals (baby
VNP is the natural habitat to some of the largest mountain gorillas, rare animals or birds) to be sold
concentration of animals in Africa, most of them as pets, have frequently put the rangers into clashes
living along the streams in the grassland. Here live with the refugees. Quite a number of rangers have
218 species of mammals (23 of them endangered), lost their lives in their commitment to protect the
including the African elephant, the lion and the park (Sterling, 2010a, 2010b).
leopard, and 22 species of primates, including the
owl-faced monkey and the mountain gorilla. The Virunga National Park:
These rare and strongly endangered primates,
found only on the slopes of the Virungas, have Tourism and heritage
seen their populations decrease remarkably in Notwithstanding all these problems VNP is the most
recent years following the politico-military visited park in DRC, with about 10,000 visitors per
turmoil that prevailed in this region between 1994 year. Accommodation is available at some specific
and 2002. Seven hundred and six species of birds places (Rwindi, Djomba, Mabenga and Kibali).
inventoried in the park are also endemic to the Many tour itineraries are offered in order to satisfy
Virungas. As for reptiles and amphibians, 109 and the visitors’ wishes: bird watching, safari for the big
78 species, respectively, are found in this park. mammals, visiting the Vitshumbi fishing port where
New species, discovered every year, still continue thousands of pelicans freely scavenge on the offal, or
to add to these lists as research and scientific challenging the towering mountains to visit the
investigation continue (Stuart and Stuart, 1995; mountain gorillas or some other exotic fauna and
McGinley, 2008). flora, or to have a first-hand glimpse of the boiling
lava in the wide open smoking craters.
Human: Culture and settlements
Historically, this area was inhabited by a small Goma and the Virunga mountains
number of pygmy hunters until the park was For the majority of visitors Goma (population
created. Because of the excellent climate and 150,000) is both the starting and finishing point of
bountiful environment, and mostly because of the most of the tours. Goma is blessed with a fantastic
rich agricultural lands, immigrant populations physical setting on the northern tip of Kivu Lake,
started to increase very quickly from the early with a temperate climate all year long, day and

Ch02.indd 42 3/28/2010 1:26:36 PM