Virunga National Park

Goma · North Kivu · Democratic Republic of the Congo

Virunga is Africa's oldest national park (1925) and one of the most biodiverse on the planet: it's home to mountain gorillas (along with Rwanda and Uganda, one of only three places in the world where they survive in the wild) and the Nyiragongo volcano, with the world's largest active lava lake, visible at night from the crater rim after a one-day trek. It's also one of the most dangerous parks to work in: dozens of rangers have died protecting it from armed militias and poachers over the last two decades.