Volcanoes National park is part of the Virunga’s transboundary massif found in the republic of Rwanda. It lies within the border between Uganda, Tanzania and DRC Congo. The park is most famous for gorilla trekking which is the key tourism activity and most tourists who come to Rwanda Marjory come to do gorilla trekking among other activities. Volcanoes national park is the only national park in Rwanda that also hosts the remaining population of mountain Gorillas in the high mountains of Rwanda.
The park is the second largest park in Rwanda after Akagera national park and protects the steep slope of the mountain range covering over 160 sq.km which hosts the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas and with rich eco system of bamboo forest, wetlands and open grasslands. Volcanoes national park also has five volcanoes, 3 being shared by the neighboring countries of Uganda and DRC and 2 are found with in Rwanda hosted by Volcanoes national park. These are dormant volcanic mountains that make the Virunga massif including; Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabinyo, Bisoke and Karisimbi. Volcanoes national park is about 78 KM from Kigali city and it takes about 3 hours to drive from Kigali international airport to volcanoes national park.
Volcanoes national park hosts the famous mountain gorillas with a total number of 10 habituated gorilla families making gorilla trekking the key tourism activity in the park. Volcanoes national park also hosts other primate species apart from golden monkeys and gorillas. The park is also a home to chimpanzees as well as other species of monkeys including white colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, owl faced, blue and vervet monkeys. It also hosts olive baboons and nocturnal potto, bush babies and many bird species in addition to other forest wildlife. The major activity in Volcanoes National park is Gorilla tracking which is the major tourist activity in the country and remains the backbone of the tourism sector in Rwanda. There are other tourism sites at the edge of the park including Buhanga Eco-park, Folklore and Musanze caves also at the edge of the park anticipated to have formed after the volcanic eruption over 62 m years ago
Tourism activities in volcanoes national park;
Gorilla tracking;
Gorilla trekking is the key tourism activity in the volcanoes national park. Gorilla trekking is a must do activity while in Rwanda. You will have a chance to see the few mountain gorillas remaining in the world. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda costs $1500 for all categories of clients including FNR, FR, and Citizens. This activity takes between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of gorillas. Once you encounter with the gorillas, you will spend one hour with them while taking photos in close range. The ranger guide will brief you on the dos and don’ts before gorilla trekking and there after you will also be de-briefed and awarded a certificate.
Golden monkey tracking;
Volcanoes national park is also a home to golden monkeys residing in the bamboos forest. Golden monkey tracking is more/less similar to the search for gorillas but the difference is that the Golden monkeys leave less evidence of their presence and are a little more silent making it hard to see them. They are uniquely identified by their bright Golden fur as you watch them from a close distance as they play jumping from tree to tree. They feed on bamboo shoots, leaves, roots, insects and seasonal forest fruits. The rules are more less like gorilla trekking.it takes about 2 to 4 hours
Dian Fossey Hike
Dian Fossey was an American Zoologist and researcher who dedicated her entire life to protect and study the mountain gorillas having started way back in 1966 until December 1985 when she was hacked to death by poachers whom she had battled with for a long time. She dedicated her entire life studying the gorillas on a daily basis. After her death, she was buried at Kansoke Research Station which has become a tourist attraction since then. You will visit this center to learn about her life and her contribution to the conservation of mountain gorillas in the volcanoes national park.
Hiking
Volcanoes national park hosts 3 dormant volcanoes that facilitate mountain climbing. With their montane vegetation, it provides a beautiful scenery that can be explored while on the hike. These three volcanoes include Sabinyo, Bisoke and Karisimbi making hiking one of the best experiences in Volcanoes National park. Hiking takes place on the different mountains including Sabinyo, Bisoke and the Karisimbi which provide the great views of the entire Volcanoes National Park. The highest hike will be at mount Bisoke which stands at 3711 meters above sea level, the second highest is Mount Karisimbi.Standing at the peak of Sabinyo, gives you an opportunity to be in 3 countries at the same time including Uganda, Rwanda and DRC-Congo. On top of these mountains you will enjoy great views of the other 2 volcanoes of Muhabura and Gahinga and the Twin Lakes.
Birding
Rwanda is known to have the highest bird count on the continent despite its size. Some of the prime birding destination in Rwanda include Nyungwe national park and Akagera national park. Volcanoes National park also harbors forest birds of about 2000 recorded bird species. Some of these key bird species to look out for include; Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, ground robin, dusky crimson wing, and the red-faced woodland warbler among others.
Community visits;
Rwanda has several coffee growers most of them centered around Gisenyi near the shores of Lake Kivu.You will learn about coffee growing, harvesting and processing. You can also visit the UWACU communities and cattle keeping communities to learn about their ways of living, visit their soveniour shops and enjoy a series of entertainments.
Some of the accommodation in Volcanoes national park include;
- Da Vinci Gorilla lodge
- Amakoro Songa lodge
- Tikoreza volcanoes eco lodge
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Amahoro guest house
- Bishops House Rwanda
