Volcanoes National Park - rwanda national parks, rwanda safaris

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is in North Western Rwanda is a home to five of 5 of the volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains, namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo and gives an opportunity to its tourists to have a glimpse at its beautiful scenery from its volcanoes to the variety of plant species, bird species, and animal and butterfly species.

It is important to note that volcanoes national park Rwanda is the home to the endangered mountain gorillas which are considered to be one of the most valued tourism attractions in Rwanda. The park has a number of 11 habituated Gorilla groups that can be trekked by different tourists at different time intervals which helps in income generation.

Volcanoes National Park offers the utmost tourism adventure because it is a haven to a variety of wildlife and other attractions that meet the desires and expectations of the tourists.

Accessing Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is situated within the districts of Burera, Musanze, Rubavu and Nyabihu. Accessing the park is easy due to the availability of good transport networks and means of transport. From Kigali the park is 130 kilometres this takes about 2 hours, from Gisenyi the park is 76 kilometres which take about 1 hour and 30 minutes for tourists and 13 kilometres from Musanze which takes about 23 minutes for tourists are using road transport.

It is advisable for tourists to use private means because with the use of public means there are inconveniences for example when a taxi or bus reaches Musanze, there are no private means which can connect you to the park headquarters at Kinigi.

By air one can land in Kigali International Airport from there the tourist is able to use road transport means .it is quite unfortunate that there are no domestic flights to volcanoes national park but either way the tourist travels, they are able to experience the best views along the way because the country has the best climate, it is beautified with a thousand hills and many more.

So from Kigali airport, the tourist will drive to the park which will take him 2 hours to reach the park.

Attractions at Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

The main attractions in the Volcanoes National Park are the fauna which is evenly distributed among different areas of the volcanoes National Park There is co-existence between the different animal species these include the;

Mountain gorillas: The mountain Gorillas are one of the major attractions in Volcanoes National Park. It is quite evident that most of the tourists that come to the Park are interested in the Gorillas because of their unique characteristics from other animals in the park. The animals are listed among the endangered animal species which has given it a lot of popularity in tourism. In volcanoes National Park, there are 10 habituated Mountain Gorilla groups namely;

Susa group: The Susa group is mainly found in the Susa area where we find the Susa River in volcanoes national park. The group is one of the famous groups in the park because it was the group that Dr Diane Fossey who was a primatologist studied. Initially, the group had a total number of 40 members but after some family disputes among the members, the family divided into two groups where the Susa group remained with only 28 members with only 3 silver backs.
Karisimbi group: From the family disputes that led the Susa group to divide into two groups it led to the formation of the Karisimbi group. The group today comprises of more than 15 members. And are usually found on the low lands of Mountain Karisimbi and just like the Susa group, the karisimbi group is too hard to trek because they are found far away from other gorilla groups.
Sabyinyo group: The Sabyinyo is one of the easiest gorilla groups to track in Volcanoes national Park it comprises of 3 adult females and Guhonda who is the only silverback and other members being young ones. The group is usually at mountain gahinga and at mountain Sabyinyo.
Kwitonda group: The gorilla group has a total number of 17 family members with dominant silverback called Kwitonda and just like the Karisimbi and Susa group is also hard to trek but after locating them and spending time with the experience is quite interesting and fun.
Amahoro group: The group has a total of 17 members and trekking them is somehow hard but rewarding at the end. The family is found at mountain Visoke at the slopes which means to the steep sides which are quite challenging that assistance from a porter can be encouraged by paying them a small fee.
Umubano group: Just like the Susa family which had disputes and led to the dividing of the family into two, the same applies to the Umubano group, the group was formed after dividing from Amahoro group. the group doesn’t have much difficulty in trekking and for tourists that interested in seeing them, they are also found at mountain visoke.
Agashya group: The group has over 25 family members and one silverback, the group is usually found at mountain Gahinga and mountain Sabinyo. Usually, the group is found within the area where the Sabinyo group is found.
Hirwa group: The groups have over 9 members found at the slopes mountain Gahinga and Sabinyo. The group is also hard to track but once found tourists will discover that the group has twins which are quite interesting and fun once seen.
Bwenge group: Among the different Gorilla groups in volcanoes national park, Bwenge group has dealt with many losses. It lost a total number of 6 baby gorillas but it has recovered with a number of new births and the group is hard to trek because a tourist can take up to 3 hours without locating them.
Ugenda group: The group is usually on the move looking for new places to put up their nests. The group is not difficult to track if they are not on the move.

Golden Monkeys / Golden Monkey Trekking: The monkeys are considered endangered are another unique tourist attraction that are seen in volcanoes national park. The monkeys have golden fur which when the sun hits it makes them attractive and beautiful to watch.

However other animals can also be seen at Volcanoes National Park for example buffalos, black fronted duikers, bushbucks, bush pigs, spotted hyenas, black and white colobus, white colobus, baboons, and red-tailed monkeys among others.

Virunga Mountains: Volcanoes national park is a home to five of the eight Virunga volcanoes namely; Bisoke, Karisimbi, Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Gahinga with the highest being Mountain Karisimbi, which is the highest its rich history among the different volcanoes, mountain karisimbi is the hardest to hike but it enables one to have a breathtaking look at the neighboring countries Uganda and Congo.

The mountains have different tourist attractions once hiked tourists have a chance to see different tourist attractions like the mountain gorillas, the monkeys like the golden monkeys jumping from one branch to another, white colobus monkey, red tailed monkeys and many more.

Dian Fossey’s grave: Diane Fossey was an American primatologist who carried out research about the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda she dedicated most of her time by studying gorillas every day. She was able to put up the Karisoke research centre to protect the gorillas from poachers who were killing the primates on a daily. Dr. Dian fought hard to protect these “gentle giants” as she used to call them from environmental and human hazards.

To the doctor, the animals were not beasts but rather dignified, highly social creatures, with different personalities from one another but most importantly they had strong and beautiful and strong family ties, that is to say when danger arose to the family they would fight tooth and nail to make sure everyone in the family is doing fine which is not quite common in animals who mainly focus on themselves and their well being.

With all means possible she took it upon herself to protect the ‘‘gentle giants’’ from danger regardless whether it was the game wardens, zoo poachers and government officials who wanted to convert gorilla habitats to farmland. By means of fighting against the destruction of the gorillas, Dian Fossey used the media to fight for the rights of the gorillas, she also destroyed poachers’ dogs and traps that wanted to capture the animals.

However she was found dead in her cabin after being murdered by an unknown suspect and because of her love for the Gorillas, she was buried at Karisoke at the graveyard that she used to bury the Gorillas that were killed by poachers. She is still celebrated up to date because of her efforts of conserving wildlife and by this different tourist from different countries come in and visit the site where her graveyard is.

Bird species: Volcanoes national park is a safe haven to a number of bird species that attract birders from around the world to visit the park some of the bird species include the handsome Francolin, Dusky turtle love, Ruwenzori turaco, Ruwenzori nightjar, the dusky crimson wing and many more. The best time to carry out birding is during the dry season from June to August.

Activities in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Gorilla trekking: Gorillas are fascinating animals that have so much in common with human beings. It’s a great experience watching the different groups of gorillas and their daily activities for instance; how they feed their young ones, their feeding patterns, how they collect their food and so on. The encounters with the primates are thrilling because one gets to be part of them, for example, one is able to find out that a mountain gorilla once on its feet it stands at a height of 6 feet and above which is really tall and their weight is 3 times more than a normal human’s weight.

Mountain gorillas can be visited on a daily basis and Gorilla trekking can be carried out among different gorilla families which include Susa Gorilla family these can be found on the slopes of Mountain Karisimbi. Sabinyo gorilla group this can be found between Mountain Gahinga and Sabinyo, Amahoro gorilla group, Umubano gorilla group, Hirwa gorilla group, kwitonda gorilla group, Karisimbi gorilla group which is usually found on the slopes of Mountain Karisimbi and many other groups.

Hiking: Tourists have a number of mountains to hike while in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Hiking in the park is usually done on mountain karisimbi which is the highest volcano of the Virunga volcanoes which is 4507m above sea level. The mountain is an inactive volcano located on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo at 4,507 metres.

During the hike when tourists are tired or unable to carry their luggage while they hike the mountain, porters are available to help them out with their luggage or even carrying the tourists themselves. The mountain is difficult to hike because of its slippery slopes so, at only a fee of 20 USD daily, the porters can help with the luggage.

At the peak of the mountain, one is able to see that it is covered with white shell-shaped smoke where it derives its name ‘‘karisimbi’’ which means shell in Kinyarwanda. During the hike, a tourist is able to see different bird species, for instance, the Archer’s ground robin, red-faced woodland warbler, Ruwenzori double collared sunbird, collared apalis, Ruwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, strange weaver and many others.

However hiking can also be carried out on mountains; Bisoke, located in the western branch of the East African Rift Valley, the mountain is located in three countries that is to say Uganda, Rwanda and Congo but its summit is in Rwanda which is quite interesting and adventurous.

Muhabura which is the third-highest among the eight volcanoes and the steepest of them all at its peak, the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera that offer a beautiful view and breeze can be seen and the hiking fee is 75 USD.

Sabyinyo the most fascinating part about the mountain is the fact that at its peak one is 3 different countries at the same time that is Rwanda Uganda and Congo which also offers a great experience to the tourists and lastly.

Mount Gahinga, that is rich in vegetation cover, the mountain stands at 3,474 meters and on its peak, there is a swampy caldera that has a swampy caldera which is very wide in size of about 180 metres. It has unique vegetation for instance bamboo which is a source of food to the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys.

Golden monkey tracking: In volcanoes national park there are only two golden monkey habituated troops which can easily be seen and located cause they live in the bamboo trees at the bottom of the volcanoes which are easily accessed. The large troop which is the most visited troop among the two is found in Sabyinyo and has a total number of monkeys between 80 to 100 monkeys.

Just like the mountain gorillas trekking Golden Monkey trekking starts at the same time at 7:00 am where a guide assembles the tourists that are interested in tracking the golden monkeys is briefed on what to do while around the monkeys, for how long the trek will be and so on. However golden monkey trekking is easier compared to the mountain gorillas because by 12:00 the activity is done.

Birding: Volcanoes National Park offers a wide range of bird species which are more than 178 in total this gives an opportunity to bird loves to see different bird species like Archer’s ground robin, red-faced woodland warbler, Ruwenzori double collared sunbird, Collared apalis, Ruwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, strange weaver, and many others.

Cultural encounters: Cultural encounters can also be carried out with the Ibyiwacu people who are very hospitable and during visitor interactions with the natives, activities like mock hunting, beer making, millet grinding, preparation of food is carried out this gives the visitors from developed countries to have feel of the rural life which is quite unique and interesting.

One of the most interesting parts about visiting the Ibyiwacu people is the cultural play they act to entertain their visitors, the fact that tourists are included in beer making, making of traditional cuisines and also tasting what they have prepared is a fun experience.

Visiting Dian Fossey’s grave: With her love for gorillas, many tourists come from different parts of the world to see the Grave of the woman who risked it all to the extent of losing her life in order to save the gorillas. Visiting the graveyard is interesting while emotional at the same time because the guide will tell you what Dian had to go through in order to ensure that the gorillas are protected from both environmental and human hands whereby poaching of the animals was on an increase. The grave can be seen at the Gorilla Cemetery at Karisoke Research station which she established herself.

Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Tourists have a wide range of accommodation facilities to choose from. The facilities can be of luxury, midrange and low budget but there is guaranteed comfort, security, and quality assurance in all the facilities regardless of the budget the client is constrained to. Some of the accommodation facilities may include the following,

Gorilla volcanoes hotel: The hotel is within the proximity of the volcanoes national park that is to say 25 minutes away from it this makes it stay to access the park without any worry about reaching the park before it’s closed. The Hotel offers are a wide range of services like dining, breakfast, ample parking space, bar services; this gives chance to both visitors and those that have booked with the hotel to enjoy their stay.

La Palme hotel: The hotel is also located near the park it gives an opportunity to access the park easily and also access many of its amazing comforts like free Wi-Fi, ample parking space and free breakfast to all the clients that have booked with them and most importantly 24 hours room service.

Le Bambou gorilla lodge: The lodge is a midrange safari accommodation situated in the Northern Province of Rwanda, close to the Volcanoes National Park. It offers top-notch services for the satisfaction of their customers which include dining, parking and lodging service it is hard not to notice the architecture of the lodge since it was constructed used bamboo and being surrounded by a forest of bamboo trees this gives a feel of being in the wilderness which has promoted the satisfaction of its clients.

Da Vinci lodge: The lodge is near Volcanoes national park it offers excellent lodging facilities with its variety of cottages that offer excellent accommodation services a well-ventilated self-contained room, with excellent room service with is guaranteed 24 hours, booking with Da Vinci lodge will make you feel at home.

Other accommodation facilities near volcanoes national park include; which give different accommodation options to different tourists. Hotel Muhabura, Kinigi guest house, Villa gorilla, Garr hotel, Best view hotel, Mountain gorilla hotel, Sabinyo silverback lodge, Mountain gorillas nest lodge, Five volcanoes boutique hotel all of which are focused at exceeding the clients’ expectations.

A Tourist that chooses volcanoes national park as their tourist destination won’t be disappointed, because the park is able to fulfil all the needs in the wild. The different tourism activities that it offers will make you feel relaxed as you have fun.