The stunning nation of Rwanda, frequently referred to as “the land of a thousand hills,” is a must-see! This is due to the fact that Rwanda is home to mountain gorillas that have been seen hiding in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park.
On the slopes of the Virunga Mountains lies Volcanoes National Park, the beautiful home of mountain gorillas. The world-renowned mountain gorillas and the six Virunga mountains can be found in this roughly 125 square kilometer alpine forest.
The densely forested slopes of the mountains, which are protected within Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park, offer a strikingly spectacular natural setting for gorilla trekking, which is without a doubt the most moving and remarkable animal experience on earth.
The park protects rare golden monkeys, butterflies, and a variety of beautiful birds in addition to mountain gorillas. There is nothing that can prepare you for the impact of seeing a mature silverback gorilla. No one should miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet gorilla families.
This is due to the fact that gorillas exhibit striking similarities with humans. Each Rwanda Gorilla trekking permit is $1500 USD and is purchased in advance through the Rwanda Development Board hearing quarter.
The main attractions in Volcanoes National Park.
Trekking with Gorillas
For nearly every traveler, seeing mountain gorillas in the Virungas is a major priority. Furthermore, reality rarely lets you down. With the exception of chimps, gorillas are the most closely related mammal to humans. They are also incredibly large; a silverback can weigh up to 200 kg. Gorillas are incredibly placid, as evidenced by the fact that tourists frequently approach them to within a few yards.
It’s true that the walk-up could be challenging.
At elevations of over 2,500 meters, you will be ascending steep hills amidst verdant vegetation; the name “forest” is not idle. But the payoff—a wonderful hour spent with nature’s famous gentle giants—is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling and emotionally stirring animal encounters on the planet.
tracking of golden monkeys.
The luxuriant orange-gold spots on the back and flanks of the handsome golden monkey—an Albertine Rift Endemic with a range that is virtually limited to the Virunga Mountains—give it its name.
In order to observe a habituated colony of these amazing hyperactive monkeys, which often visit patches of bamboo, their primary food source, but also occasionally congregate at fruiting trees, daily monitoring missions are carried out into the national park.
See the Dian Fossey Gravesite and Karisoke Center.
A well-liked half-day circular hike leads to the original Karisoke Research Camp, established in 1967 by renowned primatologist Dian Fossey. The camp, which was situated on a forested saddle between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke at an elevation of around 3,000 meters, had to be evacuated several times throughout the civil war until being moved to the town of Musanze at the foot of the mountains.
Nevertheless, it is incredibly poignant to pay respect at Fossey’s tomb, which is next to that of many gorillas who were killed by poachers while she was there, and to visit the living quarters where she was killed in 1985.
Mountaineering and hiking.
There are guided excursions to four of the Virunga Peaks inside the parks. The most satisfying day hike is up 3,711-meter Mount Bisoke, which is crowned by a beautiful crater lake and encircled by slopes covered in hagenia woodlands and soaring giant lobelias. From the trailhead to the summit, the hike is over 1,000 meters in elevation, and the descent can be hazardous after rain.
Mount Karisimbi, Rwanda’s tallest point and Africa’s sixth-highest mountain at 4,507 meters, is the most alluring of the Virunga summits for dedicated hikers and summit baggers.
Ascending through clumped bamboo and hagenia forest to the otherworldly Afro-alpine zone, Karisimbi boasts the most varied vegetation of the Virungas. It’s a challenging trek, even by Virunga standards, and involves camping overnight in temperatures close to freezing.
Go to the Cultural Village of Ibyi’wacu.
The foundation of a community project that employs more than 1,000 local villagers in specialized farming, beekeeping, and related jobs is Gorilla Guardians (previously known as Iby’iwacu Cultural Village).
The Best Parts of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park Cultural Tours
Additionally, it offers visitors a fascinating and amusing cultural program that culminates in a traditional Intore drumming and dance performance in a magnificent wood-and-thatch replica of a typical Rwandan castle.
What should you know about Volcanoes National Park’s primate activities?
The park headquarters, located in the village of Kinigi, 110 kilometers from Kigali and 12 kilometers north of the bigger town of Musanze, is where all activities in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park start.
Hiking permits, including those for gorilla tracking, must be obtained in advance, and visitors must report to park headquarters by 7 a.m. or risk having their permits revoked. Although the national park does not offer lodging, there are a number of lodges and motels nearby, such as Kinigi and Musanze.
How is Volcanoes National Park accessible?
You have to go by road from Kigali, which is home to the nearest international airport to Volcanoes National Park. You can take public transit to Kinigi or Musanze in the morning to go to the trailhead.
If not, a 4×4 with a driver must be rented. Although tracking gorillas as a day trip from Kigali is technically possible, it is not advised because you would have to depart at 4 a.m. in order to arrive at the park headquarters in time.
