The park spans approximately 7,900 square kilometers (3,050 square miles), extending from the Semliki River valley at 680 meters to the peak of Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains at 5,109 meters. This vast range in altitude contributes to its incredible diversity of habitats, from savannas, lava plains, and peat bogs to tropical rainforests and glacier-clad mountains. 

Virunga is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, hosting over 2,000 plant species, 706 bird species, nearly 200 reptile and amphibian species, and 218 mammal species, which includes 22 species of primates. Notably, it’s home to about a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, making it a critical site for conservation.