On a Rwanda safari, Volcanoes National Park is the most interesting destination to go. The park lies in the southern part of the portion of the great Virunga region in the Albertine rift valley. Volcanoes National Park is renowned for its mountain gorillas.
In addition to the mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park has other numerous tourist attractions including golden monkey tracking, hiking the tomb of Diani Fossey known as the celebrated primatologist in Rwanda, hiking the volcanoes, bird watching in the park. The best way to see the entire Volcanoes National Park is to carry a Rwanda safari.
Attractions in Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorillas
The greatest draw in Volcanoes National Park are mainly the mountain gorillas, this cub attention from travelers as they are an endangered species of animals. Mountain gorillas are the biggest living apes, and their DNA is 98% similar to that found in humans. On your trek, you are able to see these creatures in their natural habitat, watching them interact, feed and play is rewarding and a memorable experience.
Animal species
Besides being known for its famous Mountain Gorillas, the park is a home to many various animal species, such as golden monkeys, forest elephants, bushbucks, duikers, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, and many more. There are more than 200 bird species in the park, and 29 of them are only found in the Albertine Rift.
Research center of Dian Fossey.
The research centre is in Volcanoes National Park, which famous for the American primatologist Dian Fossey. She spent most of her time fostering conversation of the mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey lived at the bottom of the park, near the foothills of Mount Karisimbi. This is where she started her study and worked to protect the mountain gorillas.
On a Rwanda safari, exploring Volcanoes National Park is the best way to relax. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Museum in Musanze was built to honor her, and it welcomes visitors and gives them the chance to learn more about her work, which is what most tourists come to see. This is the best way to get people to care about nature and learn how protect it. Besides the spot gives splendid views of the Virunga Mountains in their full splendor.
Virunga Mountains
Mount Muhabura, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, and Mount Gahinga are some of the volcanic mountains that can be seen in Volcanoes National Park. As these volcanic mountains are dormant or extinct volcanoes, they offer the perfect hike tours. As people hike the volcanoes, they can see different kinds of wildlife, and the routes to each volcano are different.
Activities to do in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking
The most popular safari activity in the Park is gorilla trekking safari. At the park headquarters, people who want to go for gorilla trekking safari get a briefing on the rules and regulations. After the briefing, the travelers can split into groups of eight, and the experienced park guides will go with them into the dense forest. The activity can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on where the gorillas are. Once you find them, you can spend an hour with them and watch how they play, groom each other, eat, and do many other things.
The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park is $1,500 per person. You can book a gorilla trekking permit to see these animals while on a safari in Rwanda.
Golden monkey trekking
The Park has an interesting safari activity called “golden monkey trekking,” which is done in the park. This gives people a chance to see the beautiful golden monkeys, which are unique to the Albertine rift and are as amazing to see in the as mountain gorillas. Golden monkey trekking in the park is a great safari experience that gives people great memories of their safari.
Hiking Virunga Mountains.
Rwanda is one of the places in Africa where you can see the most Virunga Mountains. In Rwanda, you can see 5 Virunga mountains. This gives tourists the best safari experience. As tourists hike, they can see birds like strange weaver, red-throated alethe, Rwenzori batis, long-tailed cisticola, and others. They can also see primate species like black and white colobus monkeys and different plant species.
Dian Fossey hike
When in Rwanda, a must-do is the Dian Fossey Hike. This hike offers insight into her remarkable work with mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey’s story is an interesting one! She dedicated her life to studying and caring for gorillas, establishing the Karisoke research station.
Her research revealed the vulnerability of mountain gorillas, particularly during gorilla trekking, which is why visitors are advised to maintain a 7-meter distance to prevent illness transmission. Fossey also fought poaching by conducting regular park inspections, confronting poachers, and protecting the gorillas. Tragically, she was found dead in her room but is now buried in the gorilla cemetery besides her friends.
Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park offers the tourists with the greatest accommodation facilities who come to visit the park, as these are most appropriate that are split into Luxury, Mid-range and the budget and these include Mountain gorilla view lodge, Da Vinci gorilla lodge, Kinigi Guest House, Muhabura hotel and among many others.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park
There are different ways to get to Volcanoes National Park in different parts of different countries. That’s a two-hour drive from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Guests coming from Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga can easily get to Volcanoes National Park in just one hour from Goma. Those coming from Uganda can cross the border at Cyanika, which takes only one to two hours by car.