Guide to visit Volcanoes National Park Rwanda 2024 : Volcanoes national park is the oldest national park , the park is also known as Parc National Des Volcanos in a French ward and Pariki Y’igihugu in Kinyarwanda language. The park was gazetted as a national park in 1925 purposely to protect and conserve the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of the country in Musanza earlier known as Ruhengeri. The park covers 160 sq km of rainforest and comprises of five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains such as Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Muhabura, Bisoke and Karisimbi. It borders Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda. The park is the home of the two largest remaining population of Mountain Gorillas of over 11 habituated gorilla families such as , Karisimbi, Amahora, Susa A, Umubano, Kirwa, Kwitonda, Bwenge , Ugenda Titua Agashya , Sabyinyo groups . This magnificent creatures thrive in there natural habitant within the Rwanda park of the Virunga Mountains , a range of six extinct and three active volcanoes that also extend in to Uganda and democratic republic of Congo. The park also boast beautiful vegetation types, animal species for example buffaloes, bush backs, elephants, giant forest hogs, golden Monkeys, hyenas, black-fronted duiker among others .
Here are some of the guides to visiting volcanoes national park 2024-2025
Gorilla Trekking; gorilla trekking is the popular activities visitors on Rwanda safaris commonly carry out while at the Volcanoes national park. The highlight of any trip to Volcanoes National Park is undoubtedly gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity in volcanoes national park where visitors gets an opportunity to move on foot into the tropical rainforest in hunt for habituated mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to be followed during trekking. After the briefing, you will start the trekking in the forest which takes about 2 hours to 6 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located since naturally they move from one place to another in hunt for food. During trekking, you will be able to spot other primates species, birds and once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment where you will be able to learn about their habits, behaviors, how the carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, record videos and take pictures to show people back home.
Other Wildlife and Activities
Besides gorilla trekking, you can also encounter the rare Golden monkey tracking in the park, Volcanoes National Park offers excellent opportunities for bird watching with over 200 bird species exists. You will also get opportunity to explore the legacy of renowned primalogists in Dian Fossey Memorial who dedicated her life to studying gorillas, also engage in Volcano Climbing such as Mount Bisoke, Vising Twin Lakes, visiting Dian Fossey’s Tomb and finally touring Iby’iwacu cultural village and other communities among others.
Accommodation in volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park has a wide range of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari such as Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Volcanoes Lodge, Mountain Gorilla Next Lodge, Davinci Gorilla Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Muhabura Hotel, Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Garr Hotel, Le Palma Hotel among others.
The rules and regulations you should follow include
Avoid littering in the park to avoid accidents like primates choking on the little which can hinder the sustainability goals for the park.
Eating in the presence of the primates is prohibited because they can easily lead the species to attack you.
Avoid making noise in the park because it can trigger the animals as a threat which can lead them to easily attack you which can be fatal because of the fact that they are wild animals.
Hooting during the game drives in the park should be avoided because it can cause distress and in a way it can lead the animals to attack you as a protection mechanism and because the animals are wild they can easily attack you if they do not feel safe.
You should avoid making unnecessary movements when you get in the presence of the wild animals to avoid being attacked.
Follow the lead of the guide as you participate in the different activities in the parks this is because they are knowledgeable about the different trails in the park which can help you getting lost or getting attacked by vicious wild animals.
Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park
A gorilla trekking permit is a legal document that is issued by the Rwanda Development Board to any visitor above the age of 15 year allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park costs 1,500 dollars per person for foreign nonresidents. Foreign resident are charged 1,500 dollars per person, 30,000 Rwandese Francs per person for East African residents. You are advised to book a permit a month before the trekking date.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes national park is located in northwestern part of Rwanda and can be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kigali International Airport to the park headquarters which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive. Volcanoes National Park can also be accessed by public means of transport from Kigali to Musanze and then hire a private taxi to the park headquarters.
For more information about the travel guide to gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris or through our website.
