Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is best known and famous for the rear mountain gorillas, but there is much more to this misty gem in the Virunga Conservation area. With treks along the jungles of the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, you shall encounter lots of sensory delights far beyond your imagination. The hundred bird songs in the rainforest area of the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, as well calls of various monkey species including the golden monkeys!, shall captivate you as you gaze at the various volcanoes in the park itself, as well as cones of others that make part of the Virunga Massifs. Volcanoes National Park Rwanda also has evergreen bamboo forests, grasslands, heath and swamps which all are a wonderful home to a variety of wild life, including water birds, butterflies and plant species.

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Parc National des Volcanoes(PNV), is part of the Virunga Conservation Area, and is the set location of the “Gorillas In the Mist” film, which most probably made the park all the more popular. Volcanoes National Park is located in the north eastern part of Rwanda, only less than 4 hours from Kigali city. Volcanoes National Park Rwanda covers more than 125 square kilometres of space.

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda Attractions

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda attractions range from the misty rainforest to the giant but gentle mountain gorillas. Below are some of the most sought after attractions in Volcanoes Park Rwanda;

Mountain gorillas

The Volcanoes National Park Rwanda has the right kind of ecosystem including the hagenia woodlands and bamboo forests, which are the best for mountain gorillas, no wonder they are most times found there during gorilla trekking adventures.

Volcano Mountains

The Park didn’t just get its name from nowhere, the park has five volcanic mountains, out of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga Volcanoes. These five volcanoes in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda include Mount Sabinyo at 3674m, Mount Gahinga at 3474m, Mount Bisoke at 3711m, Mount Muhabura at 4127m and Mount Karisimbi at 4507m which is the highest volcano mountain range. All these five volcanoes in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda are extinct, with only Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira active and have had recent eruptions.

Golden monkeys

Golden monkeys are another rear kind of primate that can only be found in the Virunga region in Africa. These are beautiful and quite coloured, playful and very active that capturing good photos is some hard work. Golden monkeys can be tracked in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, with most travellers combining gorilla trekking with golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes.

Wildlife in Volcanoes Park Rwanda

Mountain gorillas are the most famous inhabitants of Volcanoes Park Rwanda, and are the reason why most travellers visit Rwanda in the first place. Other wild animals in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda include golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, several primates among so many others.

Birds in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

The Park has a record of over 200 bird species many of them being Albertine Rift endemics. This makes bird watching in Volcanoes Park one of the most sought after activities in the park that tourists on a Rwanda safari tour in the park can enjoy. Most common bird species in Volcanoes Park Rwanda to look out for include the Rwenzori batis, the Rwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, strange weaver, collared appalis, and red-faced woodland warbler, among so many others. Birding safaris in Volcanoes Park can be done all throughout the year, with the wet season being the most advised despite the wetness.

Gorilla safaris/Gorilla activities in Volcanoes Park Rwanda

Gorillas are the topmost reason why Volcanoes is visited, given that there are more than 10 habituated gorilla families that travellers can trek. Gorilla trekking safaris in Volcanoes Park Rwanda are a thrilling activity that has travellers hiking through the misty jungles in search of the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking safaris or gorilla trekking adventure activities take place on a daily, with a group of at most 8 individuals encountering any of the habituated gorilla families.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Volcanoes start as early as 7am, with travellers converging at the starting of gorilla safaris, from where they shall be briefed about the rules and regulations to be followed during the gorilla trekking experience, told what to expect, and then allocated gorilla families to track. Gorilla family allocation is done systematically, with the less physically fit being allocated nearer gorilla families. Gorilla trekking briefing in Volcanoes Park is done over Rwandan coffee or tea, with cultural performances. Once allocated a gorilla family, you shall head into the jungles in the company of rangers and guides, and those who would like to have porters could get them before the start of the gorilla trek.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes can take anything from 30 minutes to up to 6 hours or more, depending on the location of the gorilla family and the terrain. Once you do encounter the gorillas, you are allowed only one hour in their presence. You can take pictures and make videos, all the while being mindful of the gorilla trekking rules and guidelines shared during the briefing.

To be able to participate in a gorilla trekking safari, you need to purchase gorilla trekking permits, which cost USD1500 per person per trek. Booking in advance is advised, given that there are a few gorilla permits available per day, yet the demand is high.

For a successful gorilla safari in Volcanoes Park Rwanda, essentials like study hiking shoes with a good grip, long sleeved shirts, long trousers, gaiters, rain jacket, waterproof backpack, insect repellent creams, and a hat, among others are a must carry.

Bird watching safaris in Volcanoes Park Rwanda

The Park is one of the marked Important Birding Areas in the country, from where birders can spot over 100 bird species on a good day, in the company of a knowledgeable bird guide. There are over 200 bird species in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, and keen birders can spot over 100 species in just a day. Be sure to carry your binoculars.

Best time to visit Volcanoes Park Rwanda

Volcanoes Park Rwanda can be visited all year round, with the dry season the best time to visit for gorilla safaris while the rainy season is the best time to visit for a birding safaris in Rwanda.

How to get to Volcanoes Park Rwanda

Volcanoes Park Rwanda is easily accessed from Kigali Rwanda, which is only a 2 hours’ drive. The park is however only 30 minutes from the Uganda border of Cyanika, making it possible to track gorillas in Rwanda from Uganda.