All You Need To Know About Volcanoes National Park
All You Need To Know About Volcanoes National Park : The Volcanoes national park is Rwanda’s most popular national park because of the existence of the mountain gorillas. The Mountain gorillas are an endangered species that are only living in the Albertine rift. These mountain gorillas can only be found in two places in the entire world and this is in the Albertine rift and in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park. There are other national parks that fall in the Albertine rift and are also a home to the mountain gorillas.
The Mountain gorillas can be trekked in four national parks and these are the Volcanoes national park of Rwanda, the Virunga national park in the Democratic republic of Congo, the Mgahinga gorilla national park and the Bwindi Impenetrable forest of Uganda. The Volcanoes national park offers mountain gorilla trekking throughout the year thus the big numbers of tourists flocking the country in search for this experience.
Weather;
The Volcanoes national park is in a lush green rain forest that experiences rains anytime of the year and this is also factored by the high altitude that the park is sitted on. The volcanoes national park and the areas around are generally cold and are usually covered in mist on the colder mornings that is why a sweater or warm clothes is a major item to pack in your luggage if you are headed for the Volcanoes national park.
Location;
The Volcanoes national park is a 2 hour road transfer from the Kigali international airport and it is located in the north western part of the country. You will drive through the homesteads towards the country side as you make your way to the Ruhengeri town, the base of the volcanoes national park.
Attractions;
Besides the gorilla trekking activity in the Volcanoes national park, this park has a number of activities that one can engage in. You may opt to take on a primate tour, enjoy the bird life of the park, hike a volcano or even take on a cultural experience at the cultural centers in the area. The Volcanoes national park also boosts of a number of surrounding attractions that one can complement on top of your mountain gorilla safari.
Golden monkey trekking;
There are a number of golden monkeys living in the Volcanoes national park and a permit to visit these playful creatures is sold at 100 USD per person to enjoy the experience. The Golden monkey trekking is an enjoyable activity that will have guests up and at the briefing point by 7 am. The ranger guides will let you know on what to expect as you are on this activity.
The ranger guide will accompany you throughout the activity and will share as much information on the area both on wildlife and the history of the place. There are currently 2 habituated monkey troops in the park and this is about 80 individuals that can be visited by tourists. They are much more active than the mountain gorillas and you will spot them swinging from one tree to another while on your visit. The golden monkeys stay in the bamboo areas of the forest and majorly because of their love for the bamboo shoots as food.
Birding;
The Volcanoes national park has up to 200 plus different birds and a number of these are endemic species to the Albertine rift and some of these are the Grauer’s warbler, the Archer’s ground robin, the Rwenzori batis, the red faced woodland warbler, the Rwenzori turaco, the Rwenzori double collared sunbird to mention but a few.
You can visit the Buhanga Eco park or the Musanze caves for some birding and this is best done in the early morning hours. If you are a lover of birds, you should be able to enjoy your stay in the Volcanoes national park.
The Volcanoes national park in Rwanda is one of the important birding areas along with the Akagera national park and the Nyungwe forest national park so do not forget your binoculars and your note pad while on any activity in the park.
Volcano mountain hike;
There are a number of volcanoes that are sitted within the territory of the park and this is one of the reasons the park is named as it is. The Volcanoes national park is a home to four of the eight Virunga volcanic ranges. You can opt to take on a hike on one of these and all depending on your strength.
You may opt to take on the Mount Bisoke hike which is a 5 hour to and for activity for a chance to spot the beautiful Crater Lake at the top. You will spot many birds on the trail uphill o the summit as also enjoy the vegetation change from the trailhead to the summit. The Mount Bisoke hike will start with a 7 am briefing by the ranger guides.
If you are looking for a challenge, you may opt to visit the Mount Karisimbi which is a 2 day hike up and back. You will start with a briefing from the ranger guides and head uphill the highest range of the Virunga mountains at an altitude of 4,507 meters above sea level and this makes it Africa’s fifth highest mountain.
You will spend the night at a camp before you reach the summit and complete the hike the following day and descend back to the trailhead. There is a rewarding hike up and down spotting a number of birds and also enjoy the snow peaked top in the dry season.
Seasons;
The volcanoes national park has 2 seasons and this is the dry and wet seasons. The dry season runs from June to October and then mid-December to mid-February. The Volcanoes national park is still a rain forest so expect rain showers anytime even in the dry months.
There is a lot to explore while in the Volcanoes national park, get in touch with us and let us plan your visit to this park your Rwanda safari.
Species:
Mountain gorillas, Gorilla Beringei specie,
The Mountain Gorillas is the biggest attraction in this park. There just about 900 of them left in the world and can only be seen in PNV for Rwanda Tourist. There ten habituated families here.
- You can hike some of the volcanoes in the park like Karisimbi which is the highest.
– There is the Dian fossey research center. The place has graveyards of some of the most famous gorillas in PNV. Dian fossey was buried here herself and her favorite silverback digit.
