The Virungas /Rwanda, Uganda, DR Congo/

altitude: 3,058 m/10,031 ft – 4,507 m/14,787 ft

Not to be confused with Virunga National Park, the Virungas are a chain of eight volcanoes straddling the Gorilla Highlands region across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo:

• Mt Bisoke (3,711 m/12,175 ft) — dormant, on the DR Congo–Rwanda border
• Mt Gahinga (3,474 m/11,398 ft) — dormant, on the Rwanda–Uganda border
• Mt Karisimbi (4,507 m/14,787 ft) — dormant, on the DR Congo–Rwanda border
• Mt Mikeno (4,437 m/14,560 ft) — dormant, in DR Congo
• Mt Muhabura (4,127 m/13,540 ft) — dormant, on the Rwanda–Uganda border
• Mt Nyamuragira (3,058 m/10,031 ft) — active, in DR Congo
• Mt Nyiragongo (3,470 m/11,400 ft) — active, in DR Congo
• Mt Sabyinyo (3,669 m/11,959 ft) — dormant, where DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda meet

The unofficial capital of the Virungas is Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri) in northern Rwanda, about half an hour from Volcanoes National Park. On the Ugandan side, the Virungas are protected by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, with Kisoro as the main urban hub. In DR Congo, Goma serves as the gateway to Virunga National Park (closed to tourism at present).

While Rwanda’s Twin Lakes are the most famous, the Ugandan side of the Virungas offers similar pairs: Lake Mutanda paired with Lake Murehe, and Lake Kayumbu with Lake Chahafi.

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