About

The crowned crane stands at over 3 feet (1 meter) tall, with predominantly grey plumage, white and black wings, a bright red gular pouch, and a crown of golden feathers.

There are an estimated 30,000 individuals left in the wild. Of the population, 12,000 reside in South Africa and 18,000 in East Africa.

They consume mainly fish but have been known to consume carrion, birds, monkeys and even crocodile hatchlings when prey is scarce.

The female, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters), is larger than the male. Adult African fish eagles have mostly brown bodies with a white head and yellow face and large, powerful, black wings.

Shoebills are tall, stork-like birds with wing spans that can reach over 8 feet (2.4 meters).

Shoebills prefer to hunt in poorly oxygenated and shallow waters where fish are closer to the surface, using their razor sharp beaks to catch their prey.

They are solitary creatures who remain isolated except when threatened or breeding.

Great blues are shy and rarely descend to the ground except for drinking and bathing.

The volcano’s forested lower slopes are home to a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bushbuck. Nyiragongo’s summit rim is largely devoid of vegetation and is sometimes dusted with snow.

Because of the high silica content of its lava, Nyiragongo’s lava flows are extremely fluid. During the 2002 eruption, some of Nyiragongo’s lava flows were clocked at 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) and reached all the way to Lake Kivu.

It erupts on average every two years. Nyamuragira is a high-potassium basaltic shield volcano with an elevation of 10,033 feet (3,058 meters). Satellite images showed hotspots at Nyamuragira volcano in early 2017, indicating ongoing eruptions.

At a height of 16,761 feet (5,109 meters), the Rwenzori mountains feature the largest glaciers left on the African continent — making this area, populated by glaciers-fed rivers, waterfalls and lakes, one of Africa’s most beautiful alpine landscapes.

At 14,557 feet (4,437 meters) Mount Mikeno is the second highest peak in the Virunga mountains and the 13th highest mountain of Africa. The slopes of Mount Mikeno play host to a number of Virunga’s critically endangered mountain gorilla families.

On any given day, its shores abound with hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and chimpanzees.

The lake lies over 3000 feet (916 meters) above sea level and covers a surface area of 224,083 hectares, making it the 15th largest lake in Africa. Lake Edward is a vital resource for local fishermen.

These savannas and woodlands contain many different types of grasses and trees. This variation is determined by a number of factors such as the soil type, soil depth, animals and invertebrates in the area, and minerals within the soil.