Volcanoes National Park Rwanda – All You Need to Know

In the north western province of the land of thousand hills lies the powerful incredible habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas called  Volcanoes National Park .  The park covers 5 volcanic mountains of the Virunga massif and they include Mt Muhabura, Mt Sabinyo, Mt Gahinga, Mt Bisoke and Mt Karisimbi.

The park covers 160 square kilometers. Despite the fact that Volcanoes National Park is mainly known for gorillas there are other tourist activities that sell out this park to the rest of the world.

These tourist  activities include golden monkey trekking, Mt hiking, birding, visiting  Dianna Fossey grave site, visiting I’byiwachu  cultural center and many others.

How to access the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Accessing refers to different means of reaching/entering  an area. Accessing volcanoes national park is either by road or air.

By road.

It is just a 2 hours drive from Kigali international airport to volcanoes national park. The park is located in Musanze. You can either use public means or not book with any tour company in order to reach the park.

What to do in Volcanoes National Park

There are many activities that can be done from volcanoes national park since the park is a home to  many attractions. They include.

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda’s- Volcanoes National Park

This is the most frequently carried out activity in volcanoes national park. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is completely another experience since you will see many primate species like the red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and also see some rare plant species. The park has over 10 gorilla families such as Amahoro, Karisimbi, Sabinyo and others.

Gorilla trekking refers to the process of hiking  dense forests, rugged terrains, and the steep hills in search for the endangered gorillas.

Gorilla trekking is  done once in  a day and its approximately a 2hrs activity but this depends on the location of the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking starts with a briefing at the headquarters. A briefing is one of the things you should not miss out since it gives you detailed information about  the gorilla trekking activity.

The briefing helps you to know which gorilla family you will  trek, rules and regulations to follow while in the forest.

When you are done with a briefing, you will join a group of 8 people and go for trekking.

Make sure you have the necessary tools for trekking such as good hiking boots, insect repellents, long sleeved clothing, packed lunch and many others.

Once you sight the Mt gorillas only one hour is given to you to spend with them.

The one hour includes you taking photos with the gorillas,see how gorillas feed,and how they behave with other animals.

After trekking you will go to the park headquarters and winners will be awarded with certificates.

Golden Monkey Trekking.

This is another popular activity done in volcanoes national park.  Golden monkeys are the next to gorillas so trekking them will be another ultimate experience. Golden monkey trekking takes place once a day.

The golden monkeys are one of those captivating features that make volcanoes national park very famous. The golden monkeys are very active compared to the gorillas.

Golden monkey trekking also starts with a briefing that entails one with rules and regulations to follow while in the forest, and the necessary information about the golden monkeys.

When you are done with the briefing you will go to the forest in a group of 16 people and trek for the golden monkeys.

You will be able to sport some monkey species such as red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys ,black and white colobus monkeys and many others as you are trekking. When you happen to meet the golden monkeys you are roughly given one hour to spend with them.

This one hour includes a tourist taking photos, see how these amazing animals feed, and how they interact with their fellows. Trekking golden monkeys is completely interesting since these amazing animals are very active.

Visiting Dianna Fossey tomb.

A remarkable trip in Volcanoes National Park is complete while you visit Dianne Fossey tomb. This is because this  great American  primatologist Dianne Fossey left the world after sensitizing it about the beauty in conserving and protecting Mt gorillas. She had spent all her life in the forest looking after gorillas.

Un fortunately this lady was killed in 1985  by poachers later buried with in the park. She was buried near her favorite gorilla called digit.

Despite the fact that she was murdered she had left all her good works about gorilla conservation and had established the Karisoke research center.

Today different tourists come from various countries come and visit the tomb of the late Dianna Fossey in order to know more about her legacy left behind. You will completely have vast knowledge about gorillas.

While hiking to the grave of Dianna Fossey you will see a lot of attractions including the  bird species, some animals like the elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and some rare plant species and also seeing where she was buried at.

Visiting Ibyiwachu cultural village.

Culture is what defines a particular group of people. Rwanda is one of those exceptional  countries with a fascinating and captivating culture norms. This can be explored from Ibyiwachu site.

When you reach this area you will be able to know more about the culture of the Rwanda people. This will be done through show casing various  local music, different dance groups will dance and also story telling.

you can have a chance of visiting the medicine men who will show different herbs of curing medicine and also see how local beer is made.

Exploring Musanze caves.

This is among the most activities carried out by tourists while in volcanoes national park. The cave is situated underground all because of the volcanic eruption that occurred.

Hiking to  Musanze will help you sport a variety of different plant and tree species.  The unique thing about Musanze it has steeps inside and a very big entrance.

While inside the cave you will be able to see bats, plant species that grow by the wall sides and also great views of the wider Virunga ranges such as Gahinga, Muhabura and Karisimbi.

The place is a popular tourist attraction but serves as a cultural site to the Rwanda people. Its from where their kings were crowned from. Make sure you don’t miss out exploring Musanze caves while on your trip to volcanoes national park.

Birding.

Volcanoes national park provides different activities that can be cited out from this park though it is famously known for gorilla trekking.

Birding is done from different areas though there are incredible places that help tourists enjoy this activity. Rwanda gives out volcanoes national park as the best out standing area  for birding.

While carrying out birding you will be able to sport a variety of birds such as white collared olive back, Rwenzori double-collared sun bird, Rwenzori turaco, collared Apalis and many others. These birds can be seen while hiking the volcanic mountains and also near some lake sides.

Mountain Hiking.

This is another activity that makes volcanoes national park more outstanding since its a home to the three volcanic mountains. These mountains include mt Karisimbi, mt Bisoke and mt Muhabura.

Mt Bisoke hike.

Hiking is an out standing activity but try not to ever miss  hiking Mt Bisoke.The   mountain  harbours a crater lake on its top.

The mountain is 1217 feet.Hiking this amazing scenery starts with a  briefing at the park head quarters at Kinigi with a briefing.It  is approximately a 6 hours activity. While hiking Mt Bisoke you will be able to see different wonders for example the  lake at the middle,the plant species and some bird species.

Mt Karisimbi.

Hiking the highest volcano of Virunga is a true definition of adventure. The mountain is 4507m above sea level.

The mountain gets  its name Karisimbi from a Kinyarwanda word a Masimbi which means white shell because its summit its white capped.

It is situated along Rwanda and the  boarder  of Democratic republic of Congo on the  western rift valley.

Hiking mt Karisimbi may be a bit strenuous but it will expose you different adventures like the beautiful land features, unique alpine and   plant species and many others. Hiking this mountain takes around 2 days .

Best time for visiting Volcanoes National Park.

Different questions arise in some ones mind when it comes to visiting a certain area. Volcanoes national park of Rwanda is visited all year round .the  year has two seasons that is the dry and wet season.

The dry season is the best time for visiting volcanoes national park because many activities are carried out with ease for example gorilla trekking. Further more during the dry season the vegetations are too lush and clear thus easy sporting of animals.

In addition to that different tourists can decide to visit in the wet season. This is because all seasons  provide different experiences to tourists.

The only out standing reason for visting in wet season is that some prices of things are reduced a bit but visting volcanoes national park will depend on ones ability and choice.

Laws and guidelines to follow while in Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes national park like any important place has various guidelines and laws to follow while in this place. The following are some of the guide lines to consider while in the park.

• Don’t liter the park. This is because you may damage the ecosystem of the park. please don’t throw any thing like polythene bags while in the park.
• Kindly keep your voice low while in the park and also in he jungle. This is because noise may scare the gorillas hence running away.
• Never smoke while you are in the park. The highest number of attractions in this park are the primates and they share 98% DNA with the humans so they can highly be infected with diseases.
• Dont take any thing from the park with out permission for example taking some of the leaves is not required.
• Follow the rules and regulations instructed by the park head guides while in the park.
• Don’t engage in gorilla/golden monkey trekking when you are sick. this is because this may damage your health or even cause harm to the wildlife.
• Do not spit on the vegetations. This is because some animals feed on that vegetations so you may highly spread diseases to animals.

How to obtain Gorilla Trekking permits

Permits are legal documents that you provide to any national park so that you involve in a certain activity you are willing to do.

In volcanoes national park the main activities carried out are gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking.  To obtain a gorilla/golden monkey permit can be done by contacting the Rwanda development board website.

Or

You can book with any trusted tour operator to obtain the permit such as Active African vacations. A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1500 and golden monkey trekking costs $100.

Note booking with a tour operator is highly recommendable. This is because in case of eventualities and you need to reschedule your permit it will be easy since a follow is quickly done .Further more a tour company may organize for you the whole trip.

Is volcanoes national park worth visiting?

Volcanoes national park is one of the notable destinations worth to visit on any safari while in Rwanda. this is one of the most popular park among the others in Rwanda though it is not the biggest.

Volcanoes national park  has captured different minds and hearts of travellers because of its great apes the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys.

In addition to that the park has rich biodiversity including the bird species, plant and tree species.

Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park?

Volcanoes national park has a lot of accommodation areas such as hotels, lodges, guest houses and many others. The  accommodation places are classified in to luxury, mid range and budget. Selecting accommodations will depend on ones budget. Some of the accommodation places to look for include.

5 volcanoes lodge luxury

This is a luxury hotel situated in the calm places of Musanze along the main road leading to Kinigi.

The hotel is comprised of self contained nice looking rooms for visitors. In terms of meals you need not to worry because the lodge offers tasty and delicious foods both international and local.

Virunga hotel

The hotel is located very close to Musanze. The hotel has a got a variety of self contained rooms thus offering good accommodations to tourists. The hotel also offers both international and local meals. Your stay at this place will make you more comfortable.