Volcanoes national park in northwest Rwanda is mostly popular for gorilla trekking safaris where travelers visit to see some of the gorilla families living within the park. However, in addition to gorillas, the park has got more attractions to offer to its visitors.
Gorilla trekking
Mountain gorillas are a major attraction found in Volcanoes national park and tourists visit the destination every year to engage in gorilla trekking experiences.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda involves hiking through the dense forests of Volcanoes national park in search of the mountain gorillas. Before taking part in the gorilla trek, tourists undergo a briefing at the park headquarters by the park officials in Kinigi.
The briefing is also followed by division of tourists into groups of 8 to trek a specific gorilla family in Volcanoes national park. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) issues out limited permits per day for the gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park.
Tourists spend 1 hour with the gorillas in Volcanoes national park during the gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda. However a longer amount of time is spent searching for the mountain gorillas which is done in the company of a ranger guide.
Gorilla permits for the trek in Rwanda cost 1500 USD per person and can be booked through licensed tour operators. Gorillas can also be seen in other destinations such as Bwindi national park, Mgahinga national park and Virunga national park.
Golden monkey tracking
Another primate tour which takes place when visiting Volcanoes national park in Rwanda is golden monkey tracking.
Golden monkeys are considered an endangered species and during tours in Volcanoes national park, they can be encountered around the forests where tourists can spend 1 hour with them. A briefing is also carried out before the golden monkey trek.
In comparison to gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park, golden monkey trekking is less strenuous and tourists can spend about 4 hours searching for the golden monkeys. These golden monkeys can be spotted around the bamboo forests in the national park where they can be observed and recorded.
The cost of a golden monkey permit in Rwanda is 100 USD per person visiting Volcanoes national park to spend time with the habituated golden monkeys which can be seen around the slopes of the mountains in the park.
Hiking
Hiking is another activity which can be done during tours in Volcanoes national park which consists of steep slopes and also the Virunga volcanoes.
The locations for hiking in Volcanoes national park include Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi , Mount Gahingaamong others which are part of the Virunga mountains which form the beautiful scenery in the national park. The highest of the mountains is Mount Karisimbi at an altitude of 4507 meters.
The Dian Fossey hike is another experience that tourists enjoy when visiting Volcanoes national park and involves a visit to the grave of Dian Fossey who was a conservationist who dedicated her life to studying and protecting mountain gorillas, and her final resting place is located within the park.
The hikes in Volcanoes national park take about 3 to 4 hours and for the Karisimbi hike it can take hikers about 2 days to get to the summit and back, the Mount Bisoke hike takes about 6 to 7 hours.
Cultural experiences
Volcanoes National Park is also a destination where tourists can take part in cultural tours that provide an insight into the local communities and their traditions.
Tourists visiting Volcanoes national park get to visit nearby villages and interact with the Rwandese locals, and learn about their traditional practices and customs. Some of the cultural experience involves visiting the Iby’iwacu village which is also referred to as the gorilla guardians village.
Visitors have the chance to interact with local residents and participate in activities such as traditional food preparation, basket weaving, visiting the kraals during the tour to Iby’iwacu village which is located in Musanze.
The Iby’iwacu village is also a location where tourists enjoy vibrant traditional performances that include energetic local dances, drumming sessions, and captivating music performed by the locals dressed in their local attire and this tour is another way of gaining insight into the significance of music and dance in Rwandan society.
Guided nature walks
Nature walks around Volcanoes national park is an activity which allows visitors to immerse themselves in the diverse nature of the surroundings of the national park which is made up of bamboo forests and also the Virunga volcanoes.
This activity is done in company of a ranger guide during tours around Volcanoes national park. Nature walks can be done by tourists of different ages including children on safari in Rwanda and these walks take tourists through the more accessible habitats of the national park and offer an opportunity to spot a variety of wildlife and learn about the unique ecosystems in the national park.
Bird watching
Bird watching is another activity which is done in Volcanoes national park and there are numerous bird species that are found in the destination. There are over 200 bird species found in the national park.
Some of the bird species which can be seen around Volcanoes national park include Albertine Rift endemic species. Bird of the park include Black Cuckoo Shrikes, Grey headed Bush shrike, African Green Broadbill, Kivu Ground Thrush, Rwenzori Nightjar, Brown woodland Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Red Backed Shrike, Cinnamon chested Bee eater, Red Chested Sunbird among others.
Visiting the twin lakes
Tourists can also engage in visits to the twin lakes which are Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo where they can enjoy boat rides.
Visiting the twin lakes in Rwanda is a way to relax after the gorilla trek and other activities in Volcanoes national park.
Other activities which can be done around Volcanoes national park is visiting the Musanze caves.
How to get to Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is located about 2 hours drive from Kigali city in Rwanda and international flights can be booked to Kigali international airport during tours in the country.
