Volcanoes National Park- Rwanda Gorilla Trekking – Gorilla Safaris Africa.
In Rwanda’s Northwestern Province, in the Musanze region, sits the well-known Volcanoes National Park. Also known as Parc National des Volcanoes, the park covers an area of about 160-km2 made up of diverse bamboo, marsh, grassland, and heath zones. It also gets its name from being located on five of the eight massifs of Mount Karisimbi (4507 m), Bisoke (3711 m), Sabinyo (3634 m), Gahinga (3474 m), and Muhabura (4127 m). It shares a boundary with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Because there are gorillas in the park, Rwanda is a major tourist destination and a fantastic location for gorilla trekking. By building a research facility for gorilla conservation, renowned primatologist Dian Fossey increased Rwanda’s fame and made Volcanoes the country’s most well-known park.
The Buhanga Eco-Park and Musanze Caves, which were formed 62 million years ago following the most recent estimated volcanic eruption, are located inside Volcanoes National Park’s limits. In addition, the park’s features, such as its mountainous relief, lakes, rivers, wildlife, birds, and four various types of vegetation, boost visibility and ensure that you will only have uncommon encounters on your visit.
Things to do in Volcanoes National park.
Gorilla trekking:
This is the primary destination for tourists within the park’s lush vegetation. At Volcanoes National Park, there are roughly 12 fully habituated gorilla groups, each with at least one silverback who oversees the females, the young and everyday activities. A gorilla hike in Rwanda can only be started if a maximum of 8 persons have paid the 1500 USD permission fee to view a particular group of gorillas. A number of different groups are available, including Susa, Agashya, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Bwenge, and Hirwa. You must be older than 16 to engage in the activity under a ranger’s supervision. Do not forget to get your permit in a timely manner.
Golden monkey trekking:
Although being an endangered species, golden monkeys should still be seen on your safari. In addition to gorilla trekking in the park, this activity allows visitors to view a variety of species. The golden monkey, a subspecies of the blue monkey, is most frequently observed in the Virunga region. This activity has gained popularity because it may be enjoyed before or after your gorilla trip. In this exercise, there are over 100 individuals in each group, and a male leads each. $100 USD is the price.
Dian Fossey tomb hike:
The Karisoke Research Center, which was built on September 24, 1967 between Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi, is where you may find Dian Fossey’s tomb. She was a gorilla conservationist and American primatologist. Her headstone was erected near to the cemetery, next to her favorite gorilla, Digit. Tourists would not be able to interact with wild gorillas and they would struggle to become acclimated to humans without her groundbreaking research. Go celebrate her incredible efforts on your gorilla safari by paying the $75 USD hike to her tomb.
Mountain hiking: The climbers up the volcano will also enjoy themselves. These walks lead you to Mount Karisimbi (400 USD for 2 days), Muhabura (100 USD), Bisoke, and Gahinga (75 USD). All of these hikes are planned during the day and overnight and offer beautiful vistas at their summits, including snow.
Iby ‘iwachu cultural visit:
When you leave the park, this is the ideal location to stop by. The activity, often referred to as the gorilla guardians’ village, involves tourists becoming involved in local culture by dancing, singing, and visiting herbalists to sample their culture. You can also decide to sample their regional fare, including juices like banana brew. You would not want to miss this inexpensive activity, which costs only $35.
Twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo:
If you prefer being outside with beautiful landscape, you should go to these lakes. The hills and deep bottoms of the lakes are well known, but the scenery is what really draws the eye. There are numerous birds and close-by waterfalls, making relaxing activities like canoeing and photography possible.
Exploring Musanze caves:
Without a trip to Musanze, a gorilla safari in Rwanda would unquestionably be incomplete. These tunnels were once used to store food during battles, but now they have captured the hearts of many. As soon as your lights are turned on when you first enter the caverns, bats that are hanging from the ceiling will start to shine. Only your footsteps will be audible at the end of the caves, where silence will be at its very best. The price of this activity is just $50.
Bird watching:
For birders, this is another exhilarating encounter. The park is home to approximately 200 bird species, many of which are unique and found nowhere else but in the Albertine Rift. Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Batis, and Rwenzori Turaco are a few of the species to watch out for.
Best time to visit the park.
Whatever the activity, you can always find it planned at the park throughout the year. The dry season, however, is when most visitors like to visit the park because the roads are navigable. June through September and December through February are the relevant months. Heavy rains throughout the wet months of March through May and October through November make the roads slick and muddy, but they are ideal for photographers and people interested in chimpanzee trekking.
Accessibility.
From Kigali city, the park is accessible through a 1- to 2-hour drive to Kinigi. Drive time to Volcanoes from other parks is 4-5 hours from Nyungwe and 5 hours from Akagera. You should keep in mind that there are no scheduled flights from Kigali to the park.
The drive to the park from the Ugandan border at Cyanika in Kisoro takes only 30 minutes, 2.5 hours from Bwindi, and 10 hours from Entebbe International Airport through Mbarara-Kisoro.
Accommodation options.
Accommodation facilities within the park and outside range from Upmarket, midrange to budget. Choosing a facility would depend on one’s desire and finances.
Among the best include
- Bisate Lodge,
- Virunga Lodge,
- Kwitonda Lodge,
- Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge,
- Da Vinci Lodge,
- Kinigi Guest House
- Muhabura Lodge
For additional information about Volcanoes national park and inquiries, feel free to contact Adventure In the Wild Safaris for quick and satisfying feedbacks.