Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is a remarkable tourist destination in Rwanda and a great national park famous for hosting the critically endangered mountain gorillas, Volcanoes national park protects a diverse ecological system and straddles around the Virunga section dominated by Virunga Mountains and shared by Uganda’s Mgahinga national park and Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Volcanoes national park is located in northwest region of Rwanda in Kinigi, Ruhengeri in 2 hours’ drive from Kigali, the park covers an area of 160 square kilometers which dominated by evergreen bamboo forests and patches of grassland area, swamp and heath. Volcanoes national park also known as Parc National des Volcans in French encompasses 5 out 8 Virunga volcanoes that are Sabyinyo volcano standing at 3.674 meters above the sea level, Gahinga at 3.474 meters, Bisoke at 3711 meters, Muhabura at 4.127 meters and Karisimbi at 4.507 meters which is the highest volcano of the Virunga volcanoes chain. Volcanoes national park’s ecosystem comprises of 4 major vegetation zones at different altitude levels, these vegetation zones include bamboo at the lower altitude, Hagenia and Hypericum forest at 2600-3300 meters, Sub-alpine at 3300-4000meters and Afro-alpine 4000 meters and above.
Volcanoes national park is a famous mountain gorilla trekking destination which became more famous for its mountain gorillas which featured in the Hollywood award winning movie “Gorillas in the mist”, this park was used as a base for the research on mountain gorillas by an American zoologist Dian Fossey. Dian Fossey dedicated her life to protecting and conserving mountain gorillas and in her research she established a Karisoke Research Centre to assist in her research, Dian Fossey’s research lasted for 18 years and unfortunately she was killed by unknown people who are said to be poachers she was fighting against.
Volcanoes national park is one of the only 4 habitats of endangered mountain gorillas in the world over 200 individuals, mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park are both wild and habituated families. Habituated gorilla families in this park were put under mountain gorilla habituation process to prepare them for mountain gorilla trekking experience. Currently there are 10 habituated mountain gorilla groups which are visited on mountain gorilla trekking safaris, these groups include Susa A, Amahoro, Hirwa, Sabyinyo, Agashya “Group 13”, Kwitonda, Umubano, Ugenda, Karisimbi “Susa B” and Bwenge.
Apart from mountain gorillas, there are other wildlife species in the park such as forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, duikers, spotted hyenas, bush-bucks and several primate species such as olive baboons. Volcanoes national park also habits over 200 bird species including Albertine rift endemics, these birds include Grauer’s rush warbler, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori double –collared Sunbird, handsome francolin, strange weaver, dusky crimson-wing, collared Apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, Archer’s ground robin and many more.
Safari activities at volcanoes national park
Mountain gorilla trekking
Volcanoes national park offers excellent mountain gorilla trekking which is a trademark safari activity in the park, among the mountain gorillas in the forests of volcanoes there are some mountain gorillas set aside for mountain gorilla trekking safari. Mountain gorilla trekking starts as early as early 7:00 am with briefing at the park’s headquarters with briefing, in briefing a ranger guide takes you through regulations to follow on this safari. A group of 8 people maximum are allowed on the trekking and one mountain gorilla group is visited per trek, on this experience mountain gorilla groups visited include Susa, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Agashya, Umubano, Hirwa, Karisimbi, Ugenda, Bwenge and Kwitonda.
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey tracking in volcanoes national park offers an encounter with golden monkeys found in the bamboo zone of the park, this activity starts as early as 7 am with briefing at the park’s headquarters in which a safari guide takes you through how to behave while in the presence of these creatures. Golden monkey tracking takes about 2-4 hours depending on the movement of the golden monkeys and when you find them you spend 1 hour in the presence of golden monkeys taking pictures and observing these beautiful animals playing on bamboo trees.
Meeting the golden monkey is a very exciting encounter with these
Bird watching
Volcanoes national park is listed among the 3 important Birding Areas in Rwanda, the park is a home to over 200 bird species including Albertine rift endemics which are sighted on a bird experience. While on a bird watching expedition in Volcanoes national park look out for bird species such as francolin, strange weaver, dusky crimson-wing, collared Apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, Archer’s ground robin and many more.
Mountain hiking
Volcanoes national park consists of 5 volcanoes that are Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura and Mount Karisimbi. Mountain hiking in this park is exclusively done on two volcanoes that is mount Sabinyo and Mount Karisimbi.
Hiking mount Sabyinyo is a 6 hours activity to get to the summit and descend, this activity commences for RDB offices in volcanoes national park with briefing and hiking through the forested slopes of the mountain leads to the spectacular Crater Lake on the summit of the mountain.
Hiking Mount Karisimbi is a 2 days activity leading to the summit of the mountain, mount Karisimbi is the highest of the Virunga ranges standing at 4,507 meters above the sea level and it is the 4th highest mountain in Africa. Hiking this volcano takes you through tropical forests, bamboo forestrsand a night is pent at the camping area of the lake, when you reach the top of the volcano you are rewarded with scenic sights of the surrounding and views of other volcanoes.
Dian Fossey tomb hiking
Dian Fossey tomb hiking is a historical walk offering an insight in the life of Dian Fossey, her gorilla conservation journey while in Virunga region, on this safari you will learn more about Dian Fossey while visiting Dian Fossey house where she was murdered in a mysterious way in 1985 and her grave, Dian Fossey was buried next to 20 mountain gorilla graves.
Cultural visits
Cultural visits in Volcanoes national park are done in the Iby’Iwacu village also referred to as the gorilla guardian’s village, this village is an initiative for local people who are former mountain gorilla poachers and was started by Edwin Sabuhoro who is a former warden at volcanoes national park. Visiting this village offers an encounter with the local Rwandese people with their unique local lifestyle, be entertained by music dance and drama where the crowning of a king and queen is demonstrated, participate in making local bear, weaving of baskets and many more.
Musaze cave tours
Musaze caves are volcanic caves formed as a result of volcanic activity situated in Musanze on the outskirts of volcanoes national park, this cave is visited Musaze cave tours while on a safari in volcanoes national park. Musaze caves have an underground space large for a human being to pass through and touring the whole cave is done on 2 kilometers long walkways and stair leading in to the dark interior of the caves.
How to get to volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is situated in a 2 hour’s drive from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda and starting point for safaris to the park, the most used mode of transport to get to Volcanoes national park from Kigali is by road and there are many well maintained routes connecting the park. Volcanoes national park is also accessed by road from Uganda with border crossing at Cyanika in Kisoro district.
Volcanoes national park is also accessed using air transport, chartered flights to the park are offered by Akagera Aviation in helicopter flights.
Where to stay in volcanoes national park
Accommodation in volcanoes national park is offered by a wide range of lodges, hotels and camps, these accommodation are classified as luxury, midrange and budget fit to rhyme with the financial ability of the tourists visiting the park on a safari. Accommodation in volcanoes national park is offered by Bisate Lodge, Kwitonda Lodge, Virunga lodge, Sabyinyo silverback lodge, One & Only Gorilla Nest, Le Bambou gorilla lodge, Mountain gorilla view lodge, Kinigi guesthouse, Muhabura hotel and Garden place hotel
