Reasons to visit Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Reasons to visit Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, one of the most visited national parks in Rwanda. This is because it has lots of attractions, among which are the mountain gorillas. This rare species of mountain gorilla is only found in the Virunga conservation area (Mgahinga National Park, Virunga National Park, and Volcanoes National Park) and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Volcanoes National Park is located in the northern part of Rwanda in the Musanze district, where it covers a total area of 160 square kilometers. The park hosts several mammal species that are seen during the walks in the forest, primates, birds, and unique vegetation cover. Below, we look at the top reasons why tourists need to visit Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Reasons to visit Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

Mountain gorillas

Volcanoes National Park is one of the places in the world that hosts mountain gorillas, the closest relatives to human beings. Covering an area of about 160 square kilometers, Volcanoes National Park hosts several mountain gorillas in its bamboo, montane, and afro-alpine vegetation. Some of these mountain gorillas have been habituated and used to human beings around them, while others are still wild.

To see the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park, tourists must be part of the gorilla trekking activity, which is organized by rangers in the park every day. One needs a gorilla permit to participate in this activity, which is sold by the Rwanda Development Board at $1500 for foreign non-residents and $500 for foreign residents, while citizens of East African member states pay $200.

Gorilla trekking is the most popular activity in Volcanoes National Park, starting every day in the morning with a briefing from the rangers at the park headquarters in Kinigi. The rangers teach the rules and regulations of the activity before grouping the trekkers and giving them a gorilla family to trek. Searching in the jungle takes a few hours, and once the apes are located, 1 hour is given to trekkers to be around them and watch them do daily activities.

Golden monkey trekking

Volcanoes National Park hosts the endangered golden monkeys in its bamboo vegetation. Some of these golden monkeys are used to human presence around them after being habituated for some time. This activity is the second most done after gorilla trekking, and it does allow trekkers to watch these primates jump from one tree to another, hunt, play, mate, and much more.

Hiking

Volcanoes National Park hosts 5 out of 8 Virunga mountains, giving tourists to this park an opportunity to hike any of the mountains. Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo can all be hiked on a safari to the Volcanoes National Park. The hikes are challenging, but they do come with great views of different attractions on the way and at the summits.

Birdwatching

One of the areas tourists can do bird watching in Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park, which hosts more than 300 bird species. Bird watching is done in different locations within the park to allow bird lovers to encounter different bird species. Regal sunbird, olive woodpecker, Rwenzori turaco, dusky crimsonwing, Kivu ground thrush, Lagden’s bush shrike, scarlet-tufted sunbird, and blue-headed sunbird, to mention but a few.

Visiting Dian Fossey

While on a safari in Volcanoes National Park, it’s advisable to hike to Diany Fossey Tomb, which takes 1 to 3 hours depending on someone’s level of fitness. Dian Fossey is one of the people to remember because of her great work that reduced the poaching of the mountain gorillas. Because of her great work, the mountain gorillas never went extinct but rather increased in number. Today, the mountain gorillas are not on the list of endangered animals, and on a safari to the park, tourists should visit the site of this great conservationist.

Getting to Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is accessed from Kigali National Park, taking about a 2-hour drive. Volcanoes National Park is found in the Musanze district in the northern province of Rwanda, with headquarters at Kinigi. Because of the proximity to Kigali city, tourists are able to wake up very early in the morning and do a day of mountain gorilla trekking within this park.

What is the most appropriate time to visit Volcanoes National Park?

The driest months of the year, June to September and December to February, are the best for a safari in Volcanoes National Park. These months come with little rainfall and plenty of sunshine, which is good weather for most of the activities within the park. The trails are dry and easy to walk through, which eases movement and searching for gorillas; golden monkeys, mountain hiking, and bird watching, among others.

Tourists may still visit Volcanoes National Park for different activities during the rainy season, which happens from March to May and October to November. These months are, however, characterized by too much rainfall and little sunshine, which makes the activities less interesting. Tourists looking for discounted tour packages and those who like less crowded places should look at visiting Volcanoes National Park during the low season.

Accommodation on a safari to Volcanoes National Park

On a safari to Volcanoes National Park, tourists have several accommodation facilities of standard, mid-range, and luxury options where tourists can stay. These are located close to the park, and these include One and Only Gorilla Nest, Virunga Lodge, Five Volcanoes Hotel, Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, and Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, to mention but a few.