Volcanoes National Park, situated in the Northern Province of Rwanda, is popularly known for gorilla trekking tours. The park is home to over 350 mountain gorillas and other endangered species including golden monkeys.
Size, Location, and History of Volcanoes National Park
Set in Northern Rwanda, this National Park spans over 160 square kilometers and shares its borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This place is home to the second-largest concentration of Mountain Gorillas on Earth, with recent estimates placing their numbers between 300 and 350 individuals.
Also known as “Parc National des Volcans,” this Park derived its name from the Virunga Volcanoes (Mount Karisimbi at 4507m, Mount Muhabura at 4127m, Mount Bisoke at 3711m, Mount Sabyinyo at 3669m, and Mount Gahinga at 3474 meters above sea level).
The Protected Area gained its “National Park” status in 1925, hence making it the oldest Protected Area in Rwanda. Its landscape is characterized by a montane forest in an area ranging from 2400 to 2500 meters above sea level, the bamboo forest, which forms 30% of the park’s vegetation), Hagenia, lobelia from 3500 to 4200 meters above sea level, and a grassland at 4400 meters. There are also swamps, marshes, and Lakes, hence providing a thrill of wildlife encounters with the tranquility of pristine natural habitats.
What to see in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of Africa’s premier safari destinations, teeming with wildlife at every turn.
Wildlife
It is no brainer that mountain gorillas are the most sought-after wildlife species in Volcanoes National Park. Also, golden monkeys are commonly spotted, particularly via guided golden monkey treks through the Bamboo forest. There are also black-fronted duikers, spotted hyenas, forest elephants, giant forest hogs, forest buffaloes, bushbucks, bush pigs, and many others.
Birdlife
Volcanoes National Park is surprisingly a birder’s Paradise, sheltering the Rwenzori Mountain range and Albertine rift endemic species. Look out for brown-necked parrot, lagden’s bush-shrike, Archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori double-collared sunbirds, red-faced woodland warblers, brown woodland warblers, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori Turacos, grey-headed bush shrike, Bronzy sunbirds, Handsome francolin, crested barbet, white-collared olive back, strange weavers, Dusky Crimsonwing, and the iconic African long-eared owl, to mention but a few.
What to do Volcanoes National Park
Track the endangered mountain gorillas
Mountain gorillas are the most favorite animals to see in Volcanoes National Park. You can take the chance to enjoy a face-to-face encounter with these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
With over 12 habituated gorilla families in this Protected Area, over 96 gorilla permits are available each day to explore the Ugenda group, Umubano group, Kwitonda gorilla family, Sabyinyo gorilla family, Amahoro gorilla family, Igishi Gorilla Family, Agashya (or Group 13), Muhoza, Hirwa group, Susa A, Bwenge group, and Karisimbi (Susa B) Gorilla Family.
Gorilla permits to enjoy gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park cost $1500 per person, and allow visitors of at least 15 years to get up close and personal with the Giant Apes.
Golden monkey tracking
The frisky Golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park are unmissable during Rwanda safaris. Volcanoes golden monkey tracking adventures begin with a briefing at Kinigi Park Headquarters from 7:00, followed by allocation to one of the two habituated troops. Unlike gorilla treks, Golden monkey tracking is relatively shorter, typically lasting between one and four hours. This culminates in a one-hour interaction with these endangered primates to learn about their daily routines and take lots of photos.
Enjoy Mountain hiking
Enjoyed as an adventurous add-on activity, you can mountain hike one of the Virunga Volcanoes in this Protected Area. You can take on the 2-day Mount Karisimbi hike or the 7-hour Mount Bisoke Hike.
Explore various ecosystems and elevations, typically towering up to 4000 meters above sea level (depending on the mountain being hiked), and enjoy unforgettable views.
Birding tours
Even if you are not a birder, more than likely you will enjoy the wide variety of birds that make their home in Volcanoes National Park. Big or small, they are everywhere. You may even get lucky and stumble across bat hawks, Dusky Crimsonwing, Narina trogon, strange weavers, Dusky turtle dove, Archer’s ground robin, lesser honey guide, brown-necked parrot, Handsome francolin, brown woodland warblers, Rwenzori double-collared sunbirds, Doherty’s bush-shrike, Rwenzori Turacos, black cuckoo shrikes, to mention but a few.
Dian Fossey tomb hike
Enjoy the Dian Fossey tomb hike, a 3-4-hour adventure that introduces you to the life and journey of Dian Fossey, an American primatologist who dedicated almost two decades of her life to protecting and studying the mountain gorillas.
This hike is more than just learning about Dian Fossey because there are also great opportunities to see other wildlife species in the Park. These include forest elephants, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and forest buffaloes, although you won’t be allowed to take photos of mountain gorillas and golden monkeys while on this hike.
Musanze cave tours
Take a walk through the historical Musanze Caves to get introduced to the phenomenal underground World that is 2 kilometers long. These Caves were opened in 2013 by the Rwanda Development Board and have since become a must-visit site for nature enthusiasts.
Village Tours
Visiting Volcanoes National Park is an opportunity to visit a Rwandan village- you will get the chance to wander around, meet people, and buy handicrafts. You can explore the Gorilla Guardian Village (formerly Iby’ Iwacu Cultural Village) for a slice of local Rwandan rural life. Activities here include visits to the traditional healer, tours of the Royal Palace replica, traditional drumming and dances, and many others.
When is the best time to plan your Volcanoes National Park safari?
Planning a Volcanoes National Park safari involves selecting the right time of year to suit your preferences and budget.
The dry season, from June to October, then from December to February, is the ideal time to visit Volcanoes National Park, as forest trails are less muddy and slippery. This makes the Park easy to access/navigate, as most Park activities are done on foot.
It is because of these favorable conditions that the dry season coincides with the peak tourism season, whereby Gorilla permits and accommodation availability become a big deal.
The wet season, March to May, and November are avoided by many visitors because of the difficult-to-navigate forest trails, resulting from heavy rains and dense vegetation. This makes it a low season, and Gorilla Permit and accommodation availability isn’t a big problem. Interestingly, some luxury lodges provide discounted rates during these months, thus making it possible to save some money on your Rwanda safari.
Where to stay
Volcanoes National Park offers a wealth of accommodation choices, both within the Park’s boundaries and just outside its borders.
For those with a keen eye for luxury, Safari Lodges like Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Volcanoes Virunga Lodge, Wilderness Bisate Lodge, Wilderness Bisate Reserve, One & Only Gorilla Nest, Amakoro Songa Lodge, and Bishop’s House provide World-class service and impeccable amenities.
Other recommended options include Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, and the Garden Place Hotel for midrange travelers.
Midrange visitors can choose between Kinigi Guesthouse and Muhabura Guesthouse, among others.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park
Getting to Volcanoes National Park is a hot breeze. Some visitors, especially those limited by time, choose to fly into Musanze Airstrip, which has connections to Kigali International Airport and other parts of the country via helicopter flights. The airstrip is a short drive from most Volcanoes lodges.
Road transfers are a popular option, from Kigali or any other part of the country. The journey from Kigali is the most preferred and takes about 3 hours, traveling 116 kilometers while taking in views of the countryside.