This Portal guides you to Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri, Rwanda and provides gorilla tracking safari facts and other adventurous activities. Get all the information on; mountain gorilla groups in Rwanda, the best time to go gorilla tracking, what to carry on a gorilla tour, accommodations in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, hiking mountains in Virunga and many more interesting facts about the park.
Volcanoes National park which is consisting of 160km2 of mountain forest should be on your mind while trying out any safari in Rwanda. This is the home to the six Virunga volcanoes and still the world’s famous mountain Gorillas. The forested slopes of mountains make those magnificent natural settings that make you get thrilled with the world’s best experience of Gorilla trekking. Tracking these endangered species on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes is a magical experience. Hike throughout the mountain forests just to experience these awesome gentle creatures or make your way through airy bamboo forests to find the charming Golden Monkey. Also accessible is the ‘Dian Fossey grave Trail’ – a stunning yet challenging hike to 3,000 meters up high the slopes of the stunning Mount Bisoke or the hike to the beautiful Ngezi Crater Lake at the top.
Volcanoes National Park is also by far one of Rwanda’s conservation epic centers, where by many of the non-profit organizations still base their operations. Visitors can therefore pay honor and respect homage to the legendary scientist and the gorilla advocate Dian Fossey with a thrilling hike to her tomb. A short trip to Rwanda for a Dian Fossey grave hike is rewarding especially to tourists interesting in exploring more about her works in Uganda. Near the park, there are the bustling, active and vibrant markets of the Musanze a place to also immerse you into everyday Rwandan society and culture. Go deep into the earth with the Musanze’s caves which is one of the area’s most recent attractions. However much gorillas still face serious threats from the habitats loss and poaching, many conservation programs and initiatives that have been set slowly and steadily they increase. There are efforts to change attitudes towards the mighty animals since now they are seen as a source of income to local economy gotten from the tourists. This has increased the poacher’s advocacy towards conservation.
Through obtaining mountain gorilla trekking permits, you too are contributing to the conservation and increase in gorilla tours in Volcanoes national park. The funds that are usually generated from the sale of the permits are used for the running of the National Park. A percentage of the funds rose from Park entrance fees are also donated to local communities living adjoining to the parks to contribute to their expansion, development and also improve on the natural resource management within the area.
Best activities done in the Park
Gorilla tracking, golden monkey trekking, Mount Bisoke volcano hike, a visit to the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo and Dian Fossey hike.
How to Get to Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of the easiest destinations to access in Africa with its entire gorilla families strategically located making it easy to trek. A transfer from Kigali International Airport takes a few hours and it’s less tiresome to tourists. The park is found in a small village called Musanze also known as Ruhengeri, which can be accessed by either road or air. By road, one can access the park from Kigali or Gisenyi. This is a 2hours drive, therefore its possible for a tourist to travel from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park and trek the mountain gorillas on the same day. However, one should put in mind that there is no public transport from Musanze to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi.