Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park, also called Pariki y’lgihugu y’lbirunga in local Kinyarwanda and Parc National des Volcans in French, is located in the northwest province of Rwanda in the small town of Musanze (previously known as Ruhengeri). The endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda are kept in this park, which is reputed to be the oldest national park on the continent of Africa. Travelers who would like to undertake gorilla tracking in Rwanda may always find the gorillas here. Volcanoes National Park shares boundaries with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in south-western Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In addition to home to a sizable group of mountain gorillas, this park is also home to Golden Monkeys, an endangered primate species that may provide the most varied range of tourism activities now available within the national park. Five of the eight Virunga Mountain volcanoes—Mount Kirisimbi, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Gahinga, and Mountain Sabyinyo—are also protected by Volcanoes National Park, which spans more than 160 km2 and is home to bamboo and rain forest. The park served as the home base for American naturalist Dian Fossey a number of years ago. a woman whose dedication to gorilla conservation is so evident in her works that they are still in use today
Along with many other creatures that live in the park’s plains, the endangered mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is the main draw. These mammals include black-fronted duikers, golden monkeys, buffaloes, hyenas, and bushbucks. A few accounts also state that, however infrequently, a small number of elephants can be seen at the park. There are 178 species of birds in the world, around 12 of which are primary species and 15 of which are subspecies that are unique to the enormous Ruwenzori mountains and the Virunga protected area. The Rwanda Development Board offers a variety of tourism activities, the most popular being gorilla trekking.
However, there are also other activities like hunting golden monkeys, visiting the Twin Lakes, hiking, seeing Dian Fossey’s burial, exploring the Iby’lwacu traditional hamlet, and going on a few community visits.
The best places to go on safari in Rwanda include the volcanoes national park, the country’s gorilla treks, and the country’s golden monkey treks. For everyone who want to see the magnificence that Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has to offer, Rwanda provides an amazing experience.
What to do while in the volcanoes national park.
Have you scheduled a safari trip to the Volcanoes National Park but are seeking for a variety of activities to partake in in order to fully experience this park? You can reserve a variety of activities for your trip to the National Park of Volcanoes. Out of the three national parks in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is the second smallest. Within its borders are four national parks: the National Park of Volcanoes; the National Park of Gishwati Mukura; the National Park of Nyungwe Forest; and the National Park of Akagera.
Many visitors are drawn to the borders of each of the aforementioned national parks by an exceptional attraction. The animals and culture of Rwanda, a small but lucky nation, can all be included into your safari experience. In addition to offering game drives and boat cruises on Lake Ihema, Akagera National Park is well-known for being home to the Big 5. Together with the abundant flora in both parks, the chimpanzees are the main draws of both Giswati Mukura and Nyungwe Forest National Parks. Both parks have a similar layout and appeal.
Nyungwe forest is also well-known for having the third-best canopy experience in Africa—the canopy walk bridge. Yes, indeed! Africa in its entirety.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park receives more visitors than any other national park, primarily due to the presence of mountain gorillas. One of the three nations where trekking is available and where mountain gorillas call home is Rwanda. You may experience mountain gorilla trekking in the Virunga national park in Congo, the Mgahinga gorilla national park, and the Bwindi forest national park in Uganda. The endangered mountain gorillas are also found in the adjacent countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is accessible by road or air. Domestic flights between locations are provided by Akagera Aviation. After arriving at Kigali International Airport, take a plane to Rwanda and travel for two hours to your hotel in the National Park of Volcanoes, where you will be spending the following several days seeing the park.
Mountain gorilla trekking.
Mountain gorilla trekking is a popular activity in Volcanoes National Park. There are 88 gorilla permits available each day, and they are paid for online on a first-come, first-served basis. To avoid disappointment, advance booking is strongly recommended. There are 11 habituated gorilla families in the Volcanoes National Park: the Susa, Amahoro, Karisimbi, Ugenda, Sabyinyo, Hirwa, and Umubano, to name a few. You can trek with any of these families each day.
The most expensive of the other locations is Volcanoes National Park, where permits for mountain gorilla trekking cost $1500 USD each, but the luxurious experience is unquestionably worthwhile.
Every morning, the mountain gorilla trekking experience begins with a morning briefing by ranger guides about what to expect and the code of conduct in the forest. The trekkers then follow a ranger guide into the forest in search of these gentle giants. When you first see your gorilla family of the day, you will get to spend an hour with them at a distance of seven meters. You can take silent pictures and films, but bear in mind that these are habituated but wild creatures.
Golden monkey trekking.
This is a must-do activity in Volcanoes National Park if you have several days to spend there. The only national parks that provide both the mountain gorilla and golden monkey experiences where silver meets gold are the volcanoes national park and the Mgahinga gorilla national park. You can witness several of these golden monkeys wandering around the forest, making golden monkey trekking less taxing than gorilla trekking. A permit costs $100 USD per person. This is an all-day event that begins in the morning and typically ends at midday.
Hiking to the Dian Fossey tomb.
This is a fantastic chance to learn more about Dian Fossey’s works directly from the ranger guides and in greater depth. As a well-known American woman with a passion for the preservation of mountain gorillas and a degree in primatology, Dian Fossey spent nearly all of her time in the forest with the gorillas for decades before meeting a brutal end one night, which she suspected was caused by poachers with rival agendas.
Her tomb is located directly between the mountain Bisoke and the mountain Karisimbi, which are both in the park and are adjacent to the Karisoke Research Center. She was laid to rest in the park. Prepare to spend a full day in the forest—this hike takes six hours. A good day may see mountain gorillas strolling along this trail, in addition to cattle, forest elephants, and other primates including monkeys.
Hike a volcano.
You can decide to add some spice to your safari experience when visiting Volcanoes National Park by hiking up one of the park’s volcanoes. The mountains of Muhabura, Sabyinyo, Bisoke, and Karismbi are located within the park. Depending on your level of interest, you can walk any of the volcanoes. With the exception of Mount Karisimbi, which requires two days to climb, all volcanoes are reachable in a single day of hiking.
Every one of these volcanoes offers a beautiful vista from the summit, and prior training or expertise is beneficial for any of these treks. While the trek permits for the other volcanoes cost between 75 and 90 dollars, the hike permit for the mountain Karisimbi costs $400.
Take on a nature walk or mountain biking experience.
There is a lot of flora in this park that can be explored on foot, and all hikes are guided, so you get to see the park from foot. To appreciate the natural beauty of the area, go to any lake or the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo. You can also stroll to the Musanze market to meet Rwandans.
If you’d rather, you can rent a bike and visit several of these locations; don’t forget to check out the eco parks in Burera and Buhanga.
Take on a cultural tour.
You will go on a cultural trip while at the Volcanoes National Park to provide a genuine experience to your safari. For an opportunity to observe the traditional layout and management of a Rwandan homestead, visit the Iby’iwachu cultural village. Watch the village’s cultural dancers perform, and if you are inclined, you can even join in on the dance.
A Nyange community also provides cultural walks around several residences to provide guests with an impression of village life in the area. Learn about the way of life of the Nyange community by interacting with its residents. Please contact us to express your interest in visiting the Volcanoes National Park, and we will work with you to plan the perfect trip.
Accommodation in the Volcanoes national park.
Muhabura lodge.
Muhabura is one of the best budget lodges where to stay once you get to Rwanda. The hotel is located just near musanze district headquarters. It has got over very many double rooms, singles, family and standard rooms. All these rooms are ensuite with toilets, showers inside not forgetting the hot water and the warm water inside. The rooms have free Wi-Fi which helps the clients in some work on their internet. They also have a bar which is filled with all the types of drinks that any client may like. The drinks include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and they are wines, spirits, sodas and so many others. The lodge has sauna and swimming pool where all those clients who would like to refresh their minds and relax go. It also has a restaurant which helps to provide all the types of meals to its clients both Fulbord and half bord depending on the type of meal a client may prefer and may like or what he or she has paid for. The lodge has a balcony which gives a great view to its clients to see the volcanoes and the different animal species in the park.
Kinigi guest house.
Kinigi guest house is a well spacious guest house with all the rooms ensuite accommodating a number of people. Kinigi guest house is located in kinigi district and it offers good services which are of budget to its clients. This guest house has got most of the basic services such as the electricity, warm and hot water that any client may like. The guest house also has a bar that is filled with all the types of drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic that is wines, spirits vodka, sodas to mention but a few. It also offers free Wi-Fi to its clients to help in the doing of their work during their stay at the lodge. It has a restaurant that offers food to its clients which is both full bord and half bord depending on what the client has paid for and what he or she prefers. In giving back to its clients as a form of thanking, it gives the clients free space for parking their vehicles.
Le Bambou Gorilla lodge.
This is a 23 ensuite cottaged lodge with double single, twin tipple and standard rooms. The lodge offers its clients with a campsite where the clients set their tents at night to rest. They are then provided with fire at night to provide warmth and protection from the wild animals. Therefore, the security thing is none of a worry now to the visitors in the volcanoes. The rooms have toilets, bathrooms and showers. It also has lounge where people gather to watch television in the evening after their activities. They have a restaurant which offers meals and coffee tea to its clients.
Gorillas Volcanoes hotel.
This is a hotel with big spacious rooms which range to 31. For you information, all these rooms are ensuite with bathrooms, showers, toilets inside. They also have a water heater which provides warm, hot water to its clients while showering. They have a bar which is filled with all the types of drinks which is both alcoholic and non-alcoholic such vodka , spirits ,wines ,sodas to mention but a few. The hotel has a restaurant which provides all the types of meals both full bord and half bord depending on the choice of the client and what he or she paid for. It also has a reception which is always open 24 hours.
Bisate lodge.
This is well built and constructed lodge with different roofs which are different from those of the other lodges. The lodge has ensuite cottages which are double, single, family and standard. The lodge has a bar which is filled with all the types of drinks such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic for example vodka, wines, spirits ,sodas to mention but a few. The lodge has a laundry which helps the clients to iron their clothes and bedsheets to maintain the smartness. More so the clients are provided with free Wi-Fi which helps the clients to continue performing their work without any disturbance.
Virunga lodge
A wooden floor and chucky veranda. Virunga lodge has rooms which are so spacious with double ,single deluxe rooms, twin room and standard rooms. Each of rooms are ensuite with bathrooms, shower rooms and water inside each of the rooms. The lodge has bar which is filled with all the types of drinks that is both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and they include; spirits, wines, whisky, and sodas. Incase of the entertainment or thanking the clients as a lodge, they provide the traditional entertainment to the clients. This entertainment is done by the Indore dance troupes. The lodge provides free Wi-Fi to its clients, spa, sauna and massage. In the lodge , there is a dian fossey room where the clients go to find the and research about the mountain gorillas and the grave. The lodge has a restaurant which serves all the clients with the meals they need. For example they are served with all the types of meals both full bord and half bord depending on what the clients paid for and what they want.