Volcanoes national park is located in northwest Rwanda and is also referred to as Parc national des volcans. It is made up of lush bamboo forests, beautiful lakes, and rolling hills, perfect for nature lovers.
Attractions in Volcanoes national park
Below are some of the main attractions that draw visitors to Volcanoes National Park during their tours in Rwanda:
Mountain gorillas
Mountain gorillas are a popular attraction in Volcanoes national park and can be encountered during gorilla trekking experiences at the destination.
Volcanoes national park is home to several gorilla families led by dominant males known as silverbacks. The size of a gorilla family can vary from as few as 10 individuals to as many as 30 or more. Other members of the gorilla family include adult females, juveniles, and infants.
The infant gorillas in Volcanoes national park are given names during a gorilla naming ceremony which is known as Kwita Izina.
Virunga volcanoes
Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo are part of the Virunga mountains which can be seen when visiting Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
During tours in Volcanoes national park, these Virunga volcanoes offer exciting hiking excursions, panoramic views of the surrounding area and provide an excellent backdrop for photography enthusiasts.
Twin lakes
During tours in Volcanoes national park, there are two beautiful and unique lakes, known as the “twin lakes” called Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo.
Lake Burera is the larger of the two lakes as compared to Lake Ruhondo. The twin lakes offer visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty of Rwanda’s countryside and engage in a variety of recreational activities such as swimming, fishing, and boat rides.
What to do and see in Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda offers a wide range of activities to take part in that cater to different interests of visitors to get an unforgettable adventure in this remarkable national park and they include the following;
Gorilla Trekking
The main attraction of Volcanoes National Park is gorilla trekking. The park is home to over 400 mountain gorillas, including several habituated groups that can be tracked and observed. The experience of tracking these magnificent creatures through the dense rainforest is truly unforgettable.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National is an experience of encountering gorillas in their natural habitat. Visitors can join guided treks led by experienced rangers to track and observe these mountain gorillas up close.
A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs 1500 USD and is valid for one gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park. The activity starts with a briefing at the Kinigi park headquarters.
The gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park begins early in the morning, with visitors reporting to the park headquarters for a briefing. After being divided into groups of eight, visitors are assigned a trained guide who will accompany them throughout the trek.
Golden monkey tracking
In addition to mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is also home to the endangered golden monkeys.
Visitors can participate in golden monkey tracking excursions, where they can observe these playful and golden monkeys up close and spend time with them in their natural habitat as they leap from tree to tree.
The Golden monkey trekking experience in Volcanoes national park costs about 100 USD per person and allows visitors to gain insights into the behavior and conservation of these golden monkeys.
Hiking and climbing
The park offers several hiking trails of varying difficulty, including the challenging climb to the summit of Mount Karisimbi, which is the highest peak in Rwanda at an altitude of 4507 meters.
Popular hikes in Volcanoes national park include the Bisoke Crater Lake hike, which rewards hikers with breathtaking views of the crater lake at the summit, and the Dian Fossey Tomb hike, which takes visitors to the final resting place of the renowned primatologist.
During the Dian Fossey hike, visitors can pay their respects at her grave site, which is located near the park headquarters in Volcanoes national park. This hike provides an opportunity to learn about Dian Fossey’s important conservation work on gorillas and other primates and her research.
Cultural Experiences
The park is surrounded by local communities, and visitors can experience the local culture by visiting nearby villages and participating in traditional activities such as basket weaving and pottery making.
Volcanoes National Park provides visitors with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of Rwanda. The park is located near several traditional Rwandan villages like Iby’iwacu village where visitors can interact with locals and learn about their customs, traditions, and way of life.
This cultural experience allows visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the local culture and fosters a sense of appreciation and respect for the locals.
Bird watching
Volcanoes National Park is a good destination for bird watching as it is home to over 200 bird species. The diverse habitats of the national park, including bamboo forests, swamps, and open grasslands, attract a wide variety of birdlife.
Bird species which can be seen around Volcanoes national park include Collared Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Dusky Crimson wing, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, Kivu ground thrush, Lagden’s Bush shrike among other bird species. The Albertine rift endemics can be seen during visits to the national park.
When to Visit Volcanoes national park
The best time to visit Volcanoes National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and also December to February.
The dry season is the best time for gorilla trekking and tours in the national park, as the trails are drier and easier to navigate.
Volcanoes national park can be visited year-round, but the wet season (March to May and October to November) can be challenging due to heavy rain and muddy trails.
Getting to Volcanoes national park
To get to Volcanoes National Park, visitors can fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL) and then drive to the park’s entrance. The drive from Kigali to Volcanoes national park takes about 2 to 3 hours.
