Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park

Located in northwestern part of Rwanda approximately 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali City, Volcanoes National Park is one of the premier gorilla trekking destinations in the world, renowned for offering the most accessible gorilla trekking adventure.

Also known as Par Nationals Des Volcans in French, Volcanoes National Park was established in 1925 making it the oldest national park in Africa and encompasses approximately 160 square kilometers. The park is an integral part of the Virunga Mountain range, it includes five of the eight Virunga Volcano peaks: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Its lush rainforests and bamboo forests offer a rich habitat for diverse wildlife, including golden monkeys, over 200 bird species and other mammals.

Volcanoes National Park’s history is closed linked to the efforts of American primatologist Dian Fossey, who founded the Karisoke Research Centre within its boundaries in 1967. Fossey devoted her life to studying and protecting these endangered species from poaching and habitat loss. Her great work garnered international attention to the plight of mountain gorillas and significantly contributed to their conservation.

The park is characterized by steep slopes and diverse ecosystems, ranging from lush rainforests to bamboo forests and heathlands at higher altitudes. The volcanic soils in this area are rich in nutrients thus contributing to the park’s dense vegetation and vibrant biodiversity. This makes it a crucial habitat for various wildlife species, particularly the endangered mountain gorillas as well as golden monkeys.

Wildlife in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a hotspot for biodiversity known for its rich wildlife, particularly the endangered mountain gorillas, the park and its misty forests host approximately 30% of the world’s last mountain gorilla population, making it a cruise spot for their conservation.

In addition to mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park hosts the endangered golden monkeys, unique to the Virunga region. Other notable wildlife species include forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted duikers, and spotted hyenas. While large mammals are present, they are often hard to spot due to the rugged terrain and dense forest.

Gorilla Groups in Volcanoes National Park

There are several gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park with some groups habituated to gorilla tourism and others for research, while others are not habituated. These gorilla families include

• Amahoro gorilla group
• Hirwa gorilla group
• Sabyinyo gorilla group
• Kwitonda gorilla group
• Group 13/Agashya gorilla group
• Umubano gorilla group
• Karisimbi/Susa- B gorilla group
• Tutus Gorilla Group
• Bwenge gorilla group

Birdlife in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is home over 200 species recorded including 17 Albertine Rift Endemics and is listed among the Important Birding Areas in Rwanda.

Birds in Volcanoes National Park include African long-eared owl, Archer’s robin-chat, Brown woodland warbler, Brown-necked parrot, Doherty’s bush-shrike, Dusky crimsonwing, Dusky turtle dove, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Handsome francolin, Lagden’s bush-shrike, Red-faced woodland warbler, Ruwenzori apalis, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori double-collared sunbird, Ruwenzori nightjar, Ruwenzori turaco, Scarlet-tufted sunbird and Strange weaver among others.

Rwanda Safari Activities to Do in Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking is the highlight Rwanda Safari activity in Volcanoes National Park, this thrilling experience is offered once daily with a group of 8 people visiting a gorilla group per day.

Gorilla treks starts as early 07 am at the park headquarters in Kinigi, where you join other visitors for a briefing session. Once you are allocated a gorilla group and briefing is concluded you follow your ranger guide and start your trek in search for mountain gorillas. The trek takes approximately 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night.

Once you catch sight of the gorillas, you will be able to spend one hour in their presence as observe them live their life in the forest. You are free to take as many photos as possible as long as your flash light is off.

Golden Monkey Trekking

Volcanoes National Park is one of the few places on earth where golden monkey trekking is possible, the search for these beautiful primates is done once a day starting early in the morning just like mountain gorilla trekking.

All visitors are expected to arrive at the park headquarters early as 7 am for briefing, a ranger guide takes you through rules and regulations to follow while in the presence of the golden monkeys. Volcanoes National Park currently has 80 habituated golden monkey individuals living in two habituated troops that are open for visiting,

Golden monkeys live mostly in the bamboo vegetation, this is because of their love for bamboo shoots and they are very active, which makes following after them as they hop from one area to another.

Mountain hiking

Volcanoes National Park offers some of the best and most accessible volcano hiking in Rwanda. The park is home to five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Volcanoes Range; Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo. Among these, the most popular hikes are Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi.

Hiking Mount Bisoke – The volcano stands at 3,711 meters and features a stunning crater lake at its summit. The hike typically takes about 5 to 7 hours round trip, depending on individual fitness levels and the frequency of stops. The trail is considered moderately challenging, making it accessible to physically fit people who do not necessarily require prior hiking experience. The trek offers breathtaking views of the region’s rugged landscape, including lush forests and volcanic features.

Mount Karisimbi Hike – Hiking this volcano is more strenuous and is often completed over two days, requiring hikers to camp overnight at high altitude. Mount Karisimbi is the highest peak in the Virunga Massif at 4,507 meters, this hike demands good physical fitness and endurance. The trek passes through several ecosystems including bamboo forests and Afro-Montane vegetation, offering hikers a chance to experience the park’s rich biodiversity. On reaching the summit, trekkers are rewarded with panoramic views of the other volcanoes in the range and the beautiful Twin Lakes below.

Dian Fossey Tomb Tour

Dian Fossey Trail is one of the most poignant trails taking you to Dian Fossey Grave, a pioneer in studying and conserving mountain gorillas who dedicated her life to the cause. The trek to her grave site, located near her former research camp at Karisoke allows visitors to pay homage to her legacy while learning about her significant contributions to wildlife conservation.

Visiting Dian Fossey Tomb typically takes 1 to 3 hours, and you can spot various wildlife, including birds and monkeys, and stunning views of the surrounding volcanic landscape.

Cultural Tours

Cultural tours in Volcanoes National Park take you to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, also known as the Gorilla Guardians Village. On your visit you will engage with local cultural through traditional music and dance performances, storytelling and interactive workshops.

Also, you can participate in activities such as banana beer brewing, traditional cooking, and even experience a day in the life of a local by engaging in subsistence farming practices,

Getting to Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is easily accessed from Kigali City, it is a journey of approximately 2-3 hours.

Best Time to Visit Volcanoes National Park

The best time to visit Volcanoes National Park generally depends on the activities you plan to engage in, particularly gorilla trekking. The ideal months for gorilla trekking. The ideal months of the year for gorilla trekking are during the dry seasons, running from June to mid-September and December to February. These periods have less rain, making the trails less muddy and easier to navigate.

The wet season offers lush green landscapes and is an excellent time for birding, as many species are attracted to the flowering plants. Additionally, during the rainy months, gorillas may stay at lower elevations in search of food, making them easier to track despite the challenging trail conditions.

Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park

There are several accommodation options to stay near Volcanoes National Park ranging from luxury, midrange to budget options found in Kinigi and Musanze. These include

• Bisate Lodge
• Singita Kwitonda Lodge
• Virunga lodge
• Sabyinyo silverback lodge
• One & Only Gorilla Nest
• Ingagi Park View Lodge
• Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
• Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco Lodge
• Le bambou gorilla lodge
• Garden place hotel