About the park
Volcanoes National Park is located in the northern region of Rwanda. It covers an area of approximately 160 square kilometers. Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga Conservation region which stretches to Virunga National Park in Congo and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is famous for harboring the endangered mountain gorillas. It has over 12 habituated gorilla family groups and some include Susa, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Agashya, Umubano, and Kwitonda, among others.
Brief History of Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of the oldest parks in Africa. It was established in 1925 to conserve mountain gorillas and other natural resources from poachers. During the 1960s when Rwanda and Congo gained independence, the park was divided literally into a half.
During the 1967 insecurities in Congo, Dian Fossey a renowned gorilla conservationist escaped from Congo to a place between Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes and set up her research center. It was later known as the Karisoke Research Center. She later mobilized gorilla conservation campaigns across the world to raise awareness and fight poaching. She was killed in 1985 and buried in the Karisoke Research Center. Most tourists visit her grave as they come to the park to pay their respects. The Volcanoes National Park in the 1990s became a fighting ground for the Rwandan Civil War that brought the current government to power. Since then, there have been different gorilla conservation campaigns like the ‘Kwita Iziina’ which is a ceremony of naming baby gorillas.
What are the major attractions at Volcanoes National Park?
Mountain gorillas
These primate species are the most endangered primates in the world. Mountain gorillas are only found in the Virunga Conservation region in parks of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga of Congo, and Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks in Uganda. Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park live in groups known as families scattered across the park. Volcanoes National Park has over 12 habituated gorilla families.
These families are led by dominant males known as silverbacks. Silverbacks are territorial and will fight to the death to defend their family. Young and stronger silverbacks normally target and challenge old silverbacks to steal some females and start their own families or even kill the old silverbacks to take over the family. some of the families in the Volcanoes National Park include Susa, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Agashya, Umubano, Kwitonda, and Agashya gorilla groups, among others
Wildlife
Other than mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is known for being a haven to other wildlife animals such as Forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, duikers, spotted hyenas, bushbucks, and several primates. These animals can as well be viewed doing nature walks in the forests in the Volcanoes National Park. Taking on a hike in the Volcanoes National Park will introduce you to multiple animal species such as colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and bush pigs, to mention but a few.
Bird species
Volcanoes National Park is rich with a large forest and vegetation cover which are home to most of the bird species. The park is home to over 200 bird species living in the different ecosystems across the park. The park also harbors 17 rare Albertine rift endemics which are a must-watch for most of the birders. Some of the bird species include Rwenzori turaco, dusky crimson-wing, Archer’s ground robin, francolins, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, red-faced woodland warbler, strange weaver, collared apalis and Rwenzori batis to mention but a few. When you embark on a birding experience at Volcanoes National Park be sure you will be amazed. Looking for the best birding destination in Rwanda? Volcanoes should not be missed on the list.
Golden monkeys
These are smaller unique monkeys that live in the forests across the park. These monkeys are also social and live in groups like their cousins the mountain gorillas. There are only two habituated groups in Volcanoes National Park as of now and they have over 80 monkeys in both groups.
Other attractions at Volcanoes National Park include; Cultural villages which also attract tourists as they visit the gorillas they also visit the communities around them. Cultural tours offer an opportunity for tourists to interact with the local community around the park and learn the different ways of life of the locals and tales of the history of the land by the elders. A tour at Ibyi’wacu a Gorilla Guardian Village that was started to transform poachers to conservationists. It is run by the locals who once poached these mountain gorillas but they now conserve and protect these primates.
What are the major activities in Volcano National Park?
Mountain gorilla trekking
This is the major tourist activity in the Volcanoes National Park. This activity involves moving on foot in the mountainous jungles of the park in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. This activity usually takes the entire day since it is not easy to track down these gentile primates. After you have encountered these primates, you are given a maximum of 1 hour, and each gorilla family is trekked by 8 people a day. For an extensive insight into the life of these giant apes, you may take on a visit to Dian fossey museum just outside Volcanoes National Park. During this activity, travelers are given more time to spend in the presence of gorillas. Watch them play, mate, dine, and do their daily chores.
Hiking and guided nature walks
These usually take place in the afternoon and they involve tourists hiking in the forests along trails across the park. During these walks, you can easily spot different wild animals like bush pigs, giant forest hogs, and duikers among others as they graze in the forest. Hiking is an important and healthy activity for building physical fitness and burning some calories. Guided nature walks will give you an opportunity and a feeling of being part of the wild and also to breathe in cool fresh air.
Birding or Bird watching
Birding is also a major activity in the Volcanoes National Park. Bird watching is usually done for research purposes but it can also be done as a hobby. Tourists interested in birding are guided by professional birding guides on the different birding trails in the park. The park is rich with over 200 bird species including the 17 rare Albertine rift endemics which are must-watch for many birders. Some of the bird species include the Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, red-faced woodland warbler, strange weaver, collared apalis, and Rwenzori batis to mention but a few.
Golden monkey trekking
Trekking of the golden monkeys in the Volcanoes National Park involves tracking on the primates on foot along the trekking trails. This activity begins with a short briefing from the officials at the head offices of the park on how to move and the expected code of conduct. Trekking starts early at 7 am local time immediately after the briefing. Volcanoes National Park has only two habituated groups of 80 individual golden monkeys. Trekking these golden monkeys is not very difficult because these monkeys like to hang out in the bamboo vegetation as they enjoy eating bamboo shoots. Trekking is a very interesting and engaging activity since you follow these golden monkeys as they jump from tree to tree.
Other activities in the Volcanoes National Park.
These include cultural tours. One can get an opportunity to engage with the locals who stay close to the park. Cultural centers like Ibyi’wacu which is Gorilla Guardian Village. It is responsible for conserving and protecting these mountain gorillas. This Ibyi’wacu was set up as a form of conservation campaign aiming at transforming mountain gorilla poachers into conservationists.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park?
Getting to Volcanoes National Park is quite easy because of the improved road networks across the country and to the park. Volcanoes National Park is approximately 86 kilometers from Kigali International Airport. The only way to the park is by road transport which is approximately 2 hours and 7 minutes in a 4×4 vehicle.
Where to stay at Volcanoes National Park?
Accommodation at the park ranges from luxury, mid-range to budget depending on what you prefer. There are accommodation facilities in and outside the park which offer amazing services to tourists. Accommodation facilities in the park give a feeling of sleeping in the wild to tourists because of the sounds of the wild animals and birds singing in the night. Some of the accommodation facilities in the park include Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, and Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, to mention but a few.
What is the best time to visit Volcanoes National Park?
Volcanoes National Park is ever open to tourists all year round and can be visited any time of the year. Rwanda has two dry seasons a year and it is during this time that is best time to visit Volcanoes National Park. This is during the longer dry season between the months of June to September and December to February. The wet season also has its advantages for example the park is not usually crowded and accommodation prices tend to go low.
Volcanoes National Park is one of the most popularly visited parks in Rwanda. This is because it is home to the endangered mountain gorillas which are a major attraction for many tourists, as well as wild animals like forest elephants, warthogs, buffaloes among others, golden monkeys, bird species, and cultural tours. Volcanoes National Park will provide you with amazing and exciting activities like mountain gorilla trekking, hiking, golden monkey trekking, birding, and cultural encounters with locals. Volcanoes National Park can be visited best in the dry seasons as you book your preferred accommodation facility and its accessibility is mainly by road. A visit to the Volcanoes National Park will leave you with great memories.
