Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park formerly known as the Parc National Des Volcans is the ideal destination for visitors in Rwanda. The Volcanoes national park is one of the three homes of the mountain gorillas along with the Virunga national park of the Democratic republic of Congo, the Mgahinga gorilla national park and the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park of Uganda. All these above mentioned national parks lie in the Albertine rift excluding the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
The Volcanoes national park is a very diverse tourist site as it has much to explore besides the mountain gorillas, take a trek to see the golden monkeys or a hike to the tomb of Dian Fossey a much celebrated primatologist, hike one of the volcanoes in the park or just do some birding. We are always excited to share our safari information about Rwanda especially for the Volcanoes national park and a few of these are highlighted below.
The major attraction and activity done at this park is the mountain gorillas and the mountain gorilla trekking experience respectively. Mountain gorillas are the largest living ape species and share a closeness to the human race sharing up to 99.8% of their DNA with the human species so a visit to these wild but habituated creatures is surely a life changing one.
For guests interested in taking on a mountain gorilla safari in Rwanda or looking for a Rwanda gorilla safari, the Volcanoes national park is the ideal destination. The park is believed to be harboring the greatest number of the mountain gorillas in the Virunga Conservation area where the Virunga national park and the Mgahinga gorilla national park lie.
How to get to Volcanoes national park.
The Volcanoes national park is very accessible from all parts of the country as it is only a 2 hour drive from Kigali city or Kigali International airport, the country’s only airport currently. Guests connecting from the DR Congo from a gorilla safari in Virunga can access the park after a 1 hour drive from Goma and those doing the Rwanda gorilla trekking from Uganda can connect via the Cyanika border that is only 2 or 1 hour drive away.
About the Volcanoes national park Rwanda.
Mountain Gorilla home;
The Volcanoes national park Rwanda is a home to about 12 habituated gorilla families and also a home to a great number of unhabituated mountain gorillas as well. The mountain gorillas tend to stay in groups of families just like humans and these gorilla families are led by a dominant male; the silverback.
The silverback gorilla is the mature male gorilla in the family and these are always identified by their silver/ grey backs. The older the mountain gorilla gets usually, the greyer the hair at the lower back gets. You may find a gorilla family with more than one silverback but there can only be one dominant one.
A permit to take part in the mountain gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes national park Rwanda goes for 1,500 USD per permit per person. You can book a permit or take on a Rwanda safari and take on this experience.
Base for Volcanic mountains;
Just like the name of this national park states, the park is base for 4 of the Virunga volcanic mountains and these are the Mount Karisimbi the highest peak, the Mount Muhabura, the Mount Gahinga and the Mount Bisoke. The summit of Mount Gahinga is however found on the Ugandan side but a hike from the Volcanoes national park is possible.
These are all volcanic mountains but currently dormant to extinct volcanoes. The Volcanoes national park offers tours to hike up any of these volcanoes and the permits to these volcanoes differs per hike.
Wildlife Park;
The Volcanoes national park Rwanda may be famous for the mountain gorillas but this park is a home to other wildlife species such as the golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) and this is one of the reasons this park is called the place where gold meets silver. The Volcanoes national park is also a home to the spotted hyena, buffaloes, forest elephants, bushbucks, duikers and much smaller forest animals.
On top of all this wildlife in the volcanoes national park, there have been 178 bird species recorded for this park and up to 29 of these birds are endemic species to the Albertine Rift region.
Research center of Dian Fossey
Dian Fossey was an American primatologist who dedicated a great portion of her life to educate and create awareness on the importance of conserving the mountain gorillas. The late Dian Fossey set up base in the park close to the foothills of the Mount Karisimbi and this is where she started her research and also initiated the protection of these gentle giants.
The Karisoke Research center still stands strong years later and guests headed to the Volcanoes national park can visit. The Dian Fossey gorilla fund museum in Musanze was also built in her honor and welcomes guests for a chance to learn more about her works and also support her initiative. Get to also have a 3D display of the Virunga mountains.
Best accommodations in the world
The park offers luxury mountain gorilla experience and with this, a number of great accommodations have set up base in the area. The examples of these accommodations are the Bisate lodge that has been recognized worldwide by travel blogs, the Only and Only also have a resort in the park.
The luxury lodgings are not the only available options as there are also some great and yet affordable hotels such as the Da Vinci gorilla lodge, the Mountain gorilla view lodge or even the budget options of Kinigi Guest House and Muhabura hotel.
Get in touch with us and let us plan that ideal and unforgettable Rwanda safari to the Volcanoes national park or the other national parks of the country.
