Volcanoes national park.
Volcanoes national park is located in in the north western part of Rwanda, in musanze, formaly known as ruhengeri and it’s a renowned destination primarily recognized for its population of endangered mountain gorillas. The park was established in 1926 making it the oldest national park in Africa covering 160 square kilometers in northern Rwanda and is part of the larger Virunga volcanic conservation region that also includes Virunga national park in Congo and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda. The parks diverse range of flora supports a rich array of fauna and it contributes to the parks status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attractions in volcanoes national park.
Mountain gorillas;
The park is a home of the endangered mountain gorillas which are also the most popular attractions in the park. The park has a total of 10 habituated mountain gorilla families that are open to tourist visitation. Visitors first gather at the parks headquarters where they are briefed and allocated to the mountain gorilla families they will be tracking and to the guide who will be leading them. Each mountain gorilla is tracked by strictly 8 tourists in a day meaning 88 mountain gorilla tracking permits are available everyday.
Golden monkeys
Golden monkeys are the second attractions in the park after gorillas and are unique species in volcanoes national park. The golden monkeys tend to leave in big groups of up to 60 individuals in a family. The golden monkeys feed on fruits, bamboo shoots and small insects and spend most of their time swinging from one tree branch to another. The golden monkeys in the park are habituated meaning human presence will not frighten them.
Birds
The bird species in the park are predominately unique and rare in the region. Volcanoes national park is one of the key bird watching spots in Rwanda and bird watchers are keen to identify and record key species of birds that are resident in this magnificent national park. The park is a haven of 200 bird species and of which 17 are of Albertine rift endemics. Visitors going for birding only need a packed lunch, a field guide book and good binoculars to be able to spot their favorite species. Some of the bird species in the park can include; African swamp hen, grey headed bush shrike, bat hawk, narina trogon among others.
Volcano Mountains
Rwanda is a home to some of the most spectacular mountains in east Africa. The country has five volcanoes which include mount Karisimbi, with the highest point in Rwanda and the 2nd highest in Africa, mount Bisoke the volcano sits at an altitude over 3000 meters and offers incredible views of the surrounding region, mount Muhabura for avid enthusiast, head to the summit of mount Muhabura, mount Sabinyo with the 2nd highest peak in the park and mount Gahinga a beautiful mountain that is accessible from the nearby town of magonga and offers breathtaking views and unique experiences all located in the country’s Virunga mountains region. Each of these stunning peaks offer its own unique experience.
Twin lakes.
Rwanda’s Twin Lake of Lake Bulera and Lake Ruhondo are the popular and most visited twin lakes by most tourists. Named as twin lakes because they are situated in the same areas and their physical connection. It’s believed that the two lakes were formed after volcanic glaciers from the erupted volcanoes blocked river Nyabarongo that flows towards the northern part of Rwanda.
The twin lakes were formed as a result of volcanic eruption of Virunga massif sharing a combined surface area of 2800 hectares of land.
Activities to do in volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking safaris.
The park is a very popular destination in Rwanda because of mountain gorillas trekking expeditions. Mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda are adventurous, exciting, fun and educative. The gorilla trekking process in the park is quite interesting because you get to see a number of gorillas in the park. Visitors will get to the bamboo trees where the gorillas are found and shall be able to see the behavior of the gentle giants while in the wild for example, their feeding patterns, eating the bamboo tree which is quite an exhilarating experience. During the trekking you will embark on your hikes to the different Virunga Mountains depending on the different Gorilla groups which include; the karisimbi gorilla group found on mount karisimbi among other gorilla families. Gorilla trekking is a unique experience that requires a permit, which can be obtained from the Rwanda development board or through a tour operator.
Bird watching
Volcanoes national park is a popular Rwanda birding safari destination with rare Albertine rift endemic species and unique bird species that are harder to spot elsewhere. Birding at volcanoes national park is one of the best activities to do when visiting east Africa. The park is home to approximately 180 remarkable bird species. Expect to witness different bird species which include; the lovely francolin, weird weavers, Rwenzori turaco, archer’s ground robin among others. Birding in the park like other activities begins in the morning.
Golden monkey trekking
Golden monkeys are a rare and endangered monkey species. Because the monkeys feed on the lower slopes of the mountain, which are fairly accessible, golden monkey trekking is less difficult than gorilla tracking. The golden monkeys are beautiful, charming, very active and very entertaining to track, they are highly social creators that leave in different groups depending on the elevation. On a golden monkey trekking experience in the volcanoes national park, it will be better for one to enjoy the moment rather than trying to get a photo as it will be a hard one. Trekking golden monkeys in Rwanda is an equally great choice and option as the activity is fully developed for tourists to partake in.
Hiking
Rwanda is a great destination for mountain hiking and trekking trips. A trip to volcanoes national park is an adventure of a life time. The park offers several hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging with stunning views of the Virunga Mountains. The most popular hike is the gorilla trekking, where visitors can get up close with the endangered mountain gorillas. There are various things that you will see during the your hike and these include the wonderful scenery in the volcanoes, a great large number of butterflies, different bird species, mountain gorillas, monkeys and other primates.
The hikes on the volcanoes can be taken on different mountains and different places.
Nature walks.
Engaging in a forest walk or guided walk is an astonishing way that tourist can explore some of the attractions especially the primate species, birds, tree species and butterfly species that exist within and around volcanoes national park. During the nature walks, you will be able to see several primates’ species other than gorillas. The most common hiking trails within the volcanoes national park include; the Ngenzi lake trail leading you to the spectacular Ngenzi lake – a tinny, shallow and scenic lake situated on the foothills of mount Bisoke, hike to the Dian fossey gravesite without missing to visit the grave of the woman who died saving the mountain gorillas, hike to the twin lakes of Ruhonda and Bulera introducing tourists to two of the most spectacular lakes within volcanoes national park.
How to get to volcanoes national park
You can land in Kigali international airport after which you drive for 2 hours to reach the park. You will have to use a private means to access the park since there are no public transport means from Musanze to Kinigi park headquarters. Public transport services are only available from Kigali town / airport or Gisenyi to Musanze town.
Best time to visit volcanoes national park.
Volcanoes national park is open for gorilla trekking and hiking throughout the year. Sightings of gorillas are almost guaranteed and don’t depend on the weather. However, the trails become very slippery in heavy rain and hiking is definitely easier in the dry season months, from June to august, and to a lesser extent in September, January, and February.
Accommodation in volcanoes national park
Budget lodges
There are so many budget lodges around the park. Some of the budget lodges offer equally comfortable facilities matching the level of some mid-range lodges. Some pf the budget lodges include; hotel Muhabura, Kinigi guest house, villa gorilla among others. They have single rooms and twin rooms. The facilities are good and so are their services.
Luxury lodge
This includes mount gorillas net lodge among others and located northern Rwanda’s Musanze district nestled in the forest of eucalyptus trees. The lodge offers a family sized magnificent accommodation at the jack Hannah’s cottages with beautiful views of Rwanda hills and slopes of volcanoes national park
Mid-range lodge
Le bamboo gorilla lodge a mid-range lodge in the park located in the Kinigi at the boundary of the volcanoes national park. The lodge was constructed using environmentally friendly materials enabling it to blend with the surrounding ecosystem. The lodge amenities include; daily housekeeping, fire place, coffee, bathroom among others, the facilities also include, bar and restaurant, free Wi-Fi, laundry services among others.
