Things To Do In Volcanoes National Park
Things To Do In Volcanoes National Park : The Volcanoes national park is one of the oldest national parks in Africa and is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda. The Volcanoes national park was the home and longest time research center for the famous primatologist Dian Fossey. Dian Fossey was a very passionate lady who protected the mountain gorillas with her life and the major reason the mountain gorillas of this park have thrived. The Volcanoes national park Rwanda is a 2 hour and 30 minute drive from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda and also the base of the Kigali International airport.
Rwanda has 4 national parks and these are the Volcanoes national park, the Gishwati Mukura national park, the Nyungwe forest national park that are all mostly visited for their primate safaris and the Akagera national park that is the only savannah national park of the country. The Volcanoes national park may be the most visited of all the above mentioned national parks so if you are planning a visit to the Volcanoes national park, you can spend more time exploring the several activities offered and these are discussed below.
Mountain gorilla trekking
The mountain gorillas are the biggest attraction of the Volcanoes national park and this is a lifetime experience to come close to these gentle yet frightening creatures. Mountain gorillas in the earlier years before the 90’s were considered as critically endangered on the IUCN’s species list but with the conservation efforts in the gorilla homes, numbers have grown and mountain gorilla trekking as an activity is a thriving one.
The mountain gorillas share a 99.6% DNA with humans and this is fascinating to see them in the wild. The Volcanoes national park is a home to up to 12 habituated gorilla families. These animals stay and live in groups called gorilla families.
For every habituated mountain gorilla family, a group of 8 guests is accepted to visit on a daily and a gorilla permit goes for 1,500 USD. This implies there are only 96 gorilla permits available for booking on a daily. A few of these gorilla families include the Susa group, Sabinyo group, Hirwa group, Ugenda family, Amahoro family, Umubano group, Karisimbi family to mention but a few.
A mountain gorilla trek will be flagged off on a daily with a morning brief from the ranger guides at the park headquarters and you will spend about 2 hours in the forest searching for the gorillas and once you meet your gorilla family of the day, you will spend the magical one hour taking photos and videos for lifelong memories.
Golden Monkey trekking
Besides mountain gorillas, the Volcanoes national park has other primates that you can visit and these are the golden monkeys. The golden monkeys are an endangered species and an endemic species of the Albertine rift, living and only existing in this area. The Golden monkeys can be trekked in the Volcanoes national so book yourself this trek if you are headed to this park.
The golden monkeys are much more playful than the gorillas so expect to see them swing from one tree branch to another. You will spot their brightly yellow colored bodies in this bamboo forest in the Volcanoes national park. You will also attend a briefing ahead of this activity and enter the forest and trek an easier trail than that of mountain gorillas. Get to enjoy information shared by the knowledgeable ranger guide.
Hike a volcano
The Volcanoes national park is a home to a number of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains and this park offers permits to hike any of them. While in the Volcanoes national park, you can hike the Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Bisoke at 75 USD per person and these are one day experiences. If you are hiking lover, you can as well take on the Mount Karisimbi 2 day overnight hike and a permit goes for 400 USD.
Get to experience the different altitudes and explore the vegetation at the different hiking levels of these volcanoes that have bamboo vegetation then transition to Afro montane and savannah grasslands. On the Mount Karisimbi hike you will get to spend a night on a camp along the trail to the top and complete the hike the following day. During the dry seasons of June to August, the summit of the trail is usually snowcapped.
If you are only looking at a hike not a volcano hike, there are other options like the Dian Fossey hike where trekkers get to hike to the tomb of the late Dian fossey which is a great trail for the birders to do some birding as well.
Take on a cultural tour
Rwanda is a small but culturally blessed country so ensure to spare some time in the evening after an activity in the park to take on a cultural tour at one of the cultural centers. The park has the Iby’iwachu cultural center where you can enjoy the Rwandan culture and dances performed by a Rwanda troupe, get to take part in the ancient way of living and also here some folktales at this center.
You may opt to take on a visit to the Musanze caves which were the former place of coronation of the Kings of Rwanda. This is where they were taken ahead of them taking their rule. The Musanze caves have a lot of history and storytelling. Let us plan your Rwanda safari to the Volcanoes national park to explore more that the park has to offer.
Guided Walks and Mountain Bikes Excursions
Volcanoes National Park is a tropical rain forest with a lot of forest activities. There are lots of birding, guided walks through the park. There the biking safaris. There are community walks through the communities next to the park.
Related Trips to Volcanoes National park Rwanda
2 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking tour
3 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking and bisoke hike
5 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking, golden monkey and bisoke hike
