History

Volcanoes National Park is the oldest national park in Rwanda and the oldest in Africa. It was established in 1925 during the colonial days. It was established to protect its bio-diversity of flora and fauna. Wild mountain gorillas were also discovered in the area and the borders of the park were extended as far as the current Democratic Republic of Congo since it was also a Belgian colony. However, after the independence of the two countries, the park was restricted to Rwanda only.

Volcanoes National Park later hosted Dian Fossey an American naturalist who became a leading mountain gorilla conservationist. She dedicated her life to the conservation efforts of the endangered mountain gorillas. She set up her base in the park at Karisoke Research Center. Dian Fossey first worked in Virunga in Congo until a civil war broke up and she fled to Rwanda. Unfortunately, in 1985 she was killed by unidentified people and buried close to her Karisoke Research Center.

Location & Size

With a relatively big size of approximately 160 square kilometers, Volcanoes National Park is rich with plenty of biodiversity of flora and fauna. The park is located in Musanze village in the northwestern region of Rwanda. It borders Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Uniqueness

Volcanoes National Park stands out as one of the few places in the world to spot wild mountain gorillas. These wild mountain gorillas are considered endangered because they are only found in the Virunga Conservation Area. This area stretches from Virunga National Park in Congo through Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks of Uganda to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park has five of the eight volcano mountains of the Virunga ranges.

What are the main attractions in Volcanoes National Park?

The park is packed with a variety of attractions that range from flora to fauna as well as the natural diverse landscape. The following are some of the attractions in Volcanoes National Park.

Mountain gorillas

The wild mountain gorillas are the highlight of Volcanoes National Park and the main attraction there. The park’s strategic location in the Virunga Conservation Area makes it one of the few areas in the entire world to spot the remaining mountain gorillas. With over 380 individual wild mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is a formidable habitat for endangered primates and one of the best gorilla safari destinations in the world. These individual gorillas live in groups known as gorilla families and there are over 12 habituated families. These include Kwitonda, Agashya, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Agashya, and Umubano gorilla groups among others. As you may know, there is no family without a head and each gorilla family in the park is headed by a dominant territorial male called a silverback.

Golden monkeys

Volcanoes National Park is very well equipped when it comes to harboring rare primates including the golden monkeys. The rare species of monkeys are located in a few places in the world and Volcanoes National Park is one of them. The golden monkeys differ from other monkeys because they have golden fur on the sides of their cheeks. This is their most and only distinct feature. There are approximately 80 golden monkeys and they are also a major attraction in Volcanoes National Park.

Cultural tours

Rwanda is a country rich in its culture have one single culture and people who speak the same language throughout the country. Cultural tours in Rwanda offer amazing cultural and heritage experiences of the ancient history and identity of the people to the visitors. Visit to the Iby’iwacu cultural village few kilometers from the park will take visitors on a trip down memory lane to the ancient cultural heritage of the Rwandan people.

Other attractions in volcanoes include the bird and wildlife species. Volcanoes National Park is home to over 200 bird species and of these, there are 17 of the 25 Albertine endemic birds. The wildlife species in the park include the giant forest hogs, duikers, spotted hyenas, bush-bucks, and forest elephants to mention but a few. These other attractions when combined with the wild mountain gorillas the main attraction of Volcanoes National Park, will create a sandwich of gorilla safari adventure experience like no other.

What are the main activities?

The many attractions at Volcanoes National Park, call for many activities to exhaust them. These activities give some of the best memories to any visitor who engages in them. They include some of the following.

Gorilla trekking and habituation

Gorilla trekking is slightly different from habituation in the scene where trekking involves walking through the dense forests of Volcanoes National Park for an opportunity to spot the endangered mountain gorillas. For trekking gorillas, visitors spend an hour with the endangered primates after locating them. The visitors watch the mountain gorillas as they roam around with their daily chores. Gorilla habituation however means slowly and gently introducing wild mountain gorillas to the presence of humans. This is a lengthy activity that takes about 4 hours. Gorilla trekking and habituation both begin with a briefing from the guide rangers. After this briefing visitors are led by experienced professional guide rangers through the forests to the mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation is usually done by researchers and nature lovers who wish to spend more time with these endangered primates. Gorilla trekking and habituation in Volcanoes National Park all give an undisputed gorilla experience like no other.

Bird watching

Birding is also a major activity in the park simply because of the abundant bird species that have proudly called Volcanoes National Park their home. The park boasts over having about 200 bird species with 17 or 25 Albertine Rif Valley endemics. Birders from around the globe flock to the park for an opportunity to spot these elegant species. Professional and experienced guide rangers will guide you on the birding trails in the park for an opportunity to spot some of the bird species in the park. Rwenzori batis, red-faced woodland warblers, strange weavers, francolins, and collared apalis to mention but a few are some of the birds in the park.

Golden monkey tracking

Golden monkey tracking is another major activity in the park. These rare beautiful primates are located in Volcanoes National Park making it one of the few places to spot them. Visitors get to track these primates and upon locating them spend an hour observing them as they jump from tree to tree. Tracking these golden monkeys starts with a pre-tracking briefing from the guide rangers at the briefing centers in the park before the visitors are guided out to the forests.

Other activities in Volcanoes National Park include guided nature walks or hikes that take the visitors through the dense forests on the hiking trails to the treasures of the parks. Hikes allow visitors to explore the park on foot. Cultural and community encounters are also activities that should not be left out on visitors’ gorilla safari experience package in the park.

How to get there?

Volcanoes National Park is strategically located closest to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It can be accessed both by road and air however traveling by road is the most popular means of transport and the cheapest. Visitors that are coming to the park through Uganda can use the Katuna border point and drive approximately for 3-4 hours to the park. The Rusizi border point can be used by visitors coming from Congo and takes about 6-7 hours.

Visitors who would want to fly in directly to Rwanda land at the Kigali International Airport and after take a 2-3 hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. It is important to note that there are direct flights to the park however a helicopter ride can be organized and land close to the park.

Volcanoes National Park is blessed with a diversity of landscapes such as the volcano mountains and a variety of flora and fauna that are worth checking out.