Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, The Ultimate Guide & Gorilla Tours:
Get the ultimate visitor guide to Volcanoes National Park located in the northwestern Rwanda, also most popular for mountain gorilla tours, volcano hiking, bird watching, and more.
This travel guide includes everything you wish to know about Volcanoes National Park Rwanda from location, its size, when it was gazetted, attractions, activities, best time to visit, various accommodation options and how to get to there.
It also covers other relevant travel information that is of great help as you plan your next Rwanda safari tour.
Location and size of Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is located in the north-western province of Rwanda in Musanze town. It is the oldest National Park in Africa, established way back in 1925 and spans up to 160 sq km.
Volcanoes National Park harbors the endangered Mountain Gorillas which make up the major attractions that travelers come to see on gorilla tracking tour in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park borders other National Parks; Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo in West and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in North.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda altitude
Lying in the Virunga Region, Parc National des Volcano formerly called Albert National Park is set in an elevation range of 2400 to 4507 meters. The park lies in mountainous area and is dominated by virgin rainforests, bamboo forest and other unique vegetation zones.
What is unique about Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda?
Wildlife
Volcanoes National Park boasts of its rich ecosystem, specifically offering home to a huge concentration of mammals. The unique wildlife species that make this park most famous include the rare and endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
Additional wildlife that live in the diverse habitats of Volcanoes National Park include Forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, spotted hyenas, bushbucks, duikers, vervet and colobus monkeys.
Birds
Volcanoes National Park hosts over 200 species of birds inclusive of 17 endemic species. The checklist of birds to identify on a birding tour in this park include Rwenzori batis, collared apalis, strange weavers, Grauer’s rush warblers, red-faced woodland warblers, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird and Rwenzori turacos.
Other birds include archer’s ground robin, dusky crimson wing, handsome spur fowl, African black duck, blue billed teal, dideric cuckoos, barred long-tailed cuckoos, African emerald cuckoo, black crake, red knobbed coot, white rumped swift, alpine swift and more.
Virunga Volcanoes
Five of the eight (8) Virunga Volcanoes are all concentrated in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. These include Mount Bisoke, Karisimbi (4507m), Gahinga Volcano, Mount Muhabura and Mt. Sabyinyo.
Activities to do in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park has a range of activities for visitors to engage in. These encompass primate safari activities, volcano hiking to birding. Here are all the activities to do in and around Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Volcano National Park
Gorilla trekking is the best wilderness adventure activity in Volcano National Park which attracts the highest number of travelers from all parts of the world.
Trekking gorillas in their natural habitat are a rewarding experience which offers you about one hour observing them at a close distance of about 8m.
Volcanoes National Park harbors over a third of the world’s mountain gorillas (a total of 1063 of these endangered species only still live on earth). 12 gorilla families are also available for trekking and you can be allowed to visit these apes if you have a valid gorilla permit.
A single Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1500 per person and you can book one at ease through Maranatha Tours and Travel (info@adventureugandasafaris.com).
Essentials to pack for a gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda: waterproof hiking boots, insect repellent, waterproof daypack, a good camera with additional batteries, long sleeved shirt, and safari hat. Other items include energy giving snacks, a pair of binoculars, light rain jacket, and passports.
Bird watching in Volcano National Park
Bird watching is one of the most rewarding activities awaiting bird enthusiasts on Rwanda safari in Volcano National Park.
Over 200 species of birds live in this protected area and on birding tour or bird watching safari, expect to come across birds such as the red-faced barbet, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, grauer’s rush warblers, red-faced woodland warblers, handsome francolin, and dusky crimson wing.
Other birds to spot include the palm nut vultures, brown necked parrot, African long eared owl, Kivu ground thrush, lesser honey guide, blue spotted wood dove, scarlet tufted malachite sunbird, baglafetcht weavers, and trogons.
Golden monkey trekking
Golden monkey trekking is among the most thrilling and stunning activities in Volcano National Park. This is a guided safari activity and involves searching for already habituated troop of golden monkeys in the wild.
The golden monkeys are endangered species and are unique to the Virunga mountains range which covers the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Rwanda and Uganda are the only two countries where visitors have the opportunity of trekking to see them up close. This is incredibly entertaining as they amuse themselves swinging through the bamboo or racing after one other in circles around and above you.
Blending in perfectly with the golden bamboo, they are very pretty; with shiny reddish-gold backs as it splashes the excitement with you. You can be allowed to participate in a trek to see golden monkeys if you have a valid golden monkey permit. Each permit can be booked at USD 100 per person.
Hiking Virunga volcano region
Hiking mountain Virunga volcano region is a breathtaking experience to encounter while on your visit to Rwanda. Hiking Mt Karisimbi which is located on an elevation of 4,507m is a dormant volcano along the borderline with DR Congo. It is the tallest of the Virunga volcanoes making it 11th highest ground on the Africa continent.
Hiking to the white-capped summit of Mt Karisimbi is a 2-day exciting activity that involves encounters with beautiful land features, unique alpine, and forest bird species, primate species; some lucky hiking teams have met Mountain gorillas. The hiking gives travelers magnificent sceneries of landscapes below and beyond.
Mt Bisoke is on an altitude of 3711 meters is an inactive volcano and takes a 1-day hiking expedition to explore it. Mount Bisoke Mountain is covered in thick rainforests and is a habitat for unique wildlife species.
The Karisoke Research Centre, where Mountain gorilla habituation started from is in Bisoke foothills and is the home range for Mountain gorilla families.
Nature Walks
Nature walks: feel the cool breezes and the exciting moment while on a nature walk. Volcano National Park has numerous walking trails, and one of the most thrilling activities which lead you to the Musanze market, where visitors can interact with the local people, other nature walks lead you to the beautiful Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
The Nyange Community walk is designed to show all aspects of village life in Rwanda, the trail continues to the homes of ironsmiths, mat weavers, local banana-beer brewers, and carpenters as a source of earning. These high mountains offer some of the finest views within Rwanda.
Visiting the Musanze Caves
Musanze Caves is a trail that leads into the rainforests and the underground caves formed in ancient history by volcanic eruptions. The size, beauty, and ambiance of 2-kilometer long Musanze caves mesmerize travelers on tour into Rwanda.
A walk into Musanze caves that have stairs and walkways is an exciting way travelers on a tour of Rwanda maximize their adventure into the wilderness and appreciate the geographic forces of nature.
Trekking the Dian Fossey
Trekking the Dian Fossey trail is one of the most interesting activities after Gorilla trekking activity while visiting Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla trip. The trek involves a 30 minutes drive from the park headquarters to the trailhead to access the Karisoke research camp where visitors walk for 10 minutes to the Park boundary.
Visiting Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village takes you the indigenous local people has mobilized into a Mountain Gorilla Guardians’ formerly Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to highlight the benefits of wildlife conservation and gorilla protection.
Travelers on tour into Rwanda visit the community to get into close touch with the indigenous community and share life experiences.
The exciting cultural/community tour engages the travelers into songs, dances, storytelling, art, cultural rituals and ceremonies, pastime games, homestead structures, and other mediums. The travelers learn a lot about the African culture and lifestyles you explore.
What else to do around Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?
This park lies strategically in the region where visitors can also explore other tourist sites or engage in other exciting experiences. These include visiting Lake Kivu for kayaking, boat ride or explore the Twin Lakes –Lake Burera and Ruhondo.
Best time to visit Volcano National Park
Volcano National Park can be visited all year round /anytime of the year. However, June, July August, and Mid-September, December to February is the best time to visit Rwanda for Gorilla trekking.
On the other hand March to May and October to November are the rainy months in Rwanda. This, therefore, means that the activities you plan may still be achievable.
Where to stay
Regardless visitor category, there are multiple accommodation options to consider for a night stay in and around Volcanoes National Park. These include budget, midrange and luxury with the most popular ones ranging from Bisate Lodge, Kwitonda Lodge, One&Only Gorilla Nest, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge and Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge.
Other accommodation options include Garden Place Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kinigi Guesthouse, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Villa Gorilla, Garr Hotel, Hotel Muhabura and more.
How to get to Volcano National Park
Volcanoes National Park is located northwest of Rwanda close to the border with Uganda in the north and D. R. Congo in the west. The park is 2-hours drive on the smooth road from Kigali that offers amazing experiences of Rwanda countryside.
The nearest big city/town, Musanze 20-minutes’ drive close for travelers on tour of Rwanda who are comfortable urban life.
Cyanika international border post with Uganda is a 30-minutes’ drive by road and an easy way to extend safaris between the two countries. Akagera Aviation offers faster helicopter charter flights to Kinigi.
Conclusively, Volcanoes National Park should be your bucket list African safari destinations. On Rwanda safaris to Volcanoes National Park, expect to explore plenty of attractions and engage in enriching experiences or safari activities.
The popular things to do in this park include mountain gorilla trekking, volcano hiking, golden monkey tracking, nature walks, community walks or cultural visits and more.