Volcanoes National Park is the seductive safari spot on a Rwanda safari. The park is located in the far-reaching Virunga region’s southernmost part. In Volcanoes National Park, mountain gorillas can be found in large populations. The park is situated in the basin of the Albertine Rift. Mountain gorilla populations are also widely known in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the Park, and Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The national park offers a number of other safari activities in addition to the mountain gorillas, which are the main attraction for most tourists. These include hiking to Diani Fossey’s grave to see the famous primatologist from Rwanda who is buried there, seeing birds in the park, and seeing golden monkeys. Volcanoes National Park’s beauties are the focus of the ideal Rwanda safari.
Attractions in Volcanoes National Park.Â
Mountain gorillas.
The main draws of Volcanoes National Park are the mountain gorillas and the gorilla trekking safari experience. Mountain gorillas are large animals, therefore tourists shouldn’t miss the chance to observe them. These are some of the primary reasons why the majority of tourists visit the country. As the largest living primate and carriers of 99.8% of our genetic material, mountain gorillas may be explored on your Rwanda safari, making it the most incredible safari ever.
Wildlife.
Volcanoes National Park is well-known for housing mountain gorillas. Golden monkeys are among the many wildlife species that call the park home. Among many other species, there may also be forest elephants, spotted hyenas, buffaloes, duikers, and bushbucks. The park is home to large populations of 178 different bird species, including 29 that are exclusive to the Albertine Rift.
Research center of Dian Fossey.
The research station is located in the Volcanoes National Park, which is well-known for being the home of American primatologist Dian Fossey, who dedicated a considerable portion of her life to ensuring appropriate mountain gorilla conservation. At the base of Mount Karisimbi, where Dian Fossey lived and campaigned to preserve mountain gorillas, she started her research.
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Museum in Musanze was created both in her honour and to welcome visitors and provide them the opportunity to learn more about her achievements, which inspire the majority of travelers. Since it has been there since it was founded, doing a Rwanda safari there is the greatest way to unwind in Volcanoes National Park. The strongest motivation to undertake environmental protection and conservation is given to tourists by this. While visiting Musanze, tourists may be able to plainly observe the Virunga Mountains.
Virunga Mountains.
The volcanic mountain attractions in Volcanoes National Park include Mount Muhabura, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, and Mount Gahinga, to name just a few. These volcanic mountains offer the best hike tours of these dormant extinct volcanoes because they are extinct volcanoes. While hiking the volcanoes, visitors can see a variety of species, and each volcano has its own set of permissions.
Activities done in Volcanoes National Park.Â
Gorilla trekking.Â
Gorilla trekking safari is the most well-known safari activity in the Park. The park guides provide an orientation regarding the rules for gorilla trekking at the park’s administrative centre. After the briefing, skilled park rangers can divide the tourists into eight-person groups and lead them into the forest. The duration of the activity might range from 30 minutes to 8 hours, depending on where the gorillas are. You might have an hour to spend with the gorillas after you find them, watching them play, groom one another, feed, and engage in other behaviors.
For 1500 USD per permit, per person, you can reserve a gorilla trekking permit at Volcanoes National Park to trek these animals on a Rwanda safari and make wonderful safari experiences.
Golden monkey trekking.Â
Golden monkey trekking is another well-liked safari activity practiced in Volcanoes National Park. Travellers have the chance to observe the magnificent golden monkeys since they are native to the Albertine Rift, just like mountain gorillas in the wild. The safari activity of hiking with golden monkeys in a park provides guests with unforgettable safari experiences.
Hiking Virunga Mountains.Â
There are five Virunga Mountains in Rwanda, making it one of the countries in Africa where you may see the most of them. Visitors can witness a variety of bird species while on hiking safari, including the odd weaver, Ruwenzori Turaco, Ruwenzori double-collard Sunbird, Archer’s Ground Robin, red-throated alethe, Rwenzori batis, long-tailed cisticola, and others. Additionally, tourists can view a range of primate species, including the walking-friendly black and white colobus monkeys, as well as other plant species.
Dian Fossey hike.
Without taking part in the Dian Fossey climb in Volcanoes National Park, which gives you the chance to learn more about her contributions to Rwanda and the preservation of mountain gorillas, a safari in Rwanda wouldn’t be complete. Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Station, where she carried out various research on how to protect mountain gorillas, giving up her adult years to care for and study gorillas. This is one remarkable component of her life story.
The extraordinary susceptibility of mountain gorillas to disease, especially when walking with them, is one of the things Dian Fossey learned about them. Because of this, it is recommended that trekkers maintain a 7 metre distance from gorillas in the wild in order to avoid getting sick and spreading sickness to one another. Dian Fossey carried out a tremendous lot of research to stop a drop in the number of these species in their native habitats. By creating regular patrols, she also put an end to poaching in the park. She was discovered dead in her cabin during this time and interred in the gorilla graveyard with her pals.
Other intriguing safari activities to do in Volcanoes National Park includes caving the Musanze caves, visiting the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo, Cultural tours especially the Iby’Iwacu cultural village.
Best time to visit Volcanoes National Park.
Anytime is the right time to visit Volcanoes National Park, though the best time to explore the park is during the dry months of June through September, that’s when the gorilla trekking trails can be dry and easily passable and at the same time that’s the period when the gorillas species can be easily spotted hence making it the best time to visit the park.
Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park.
Visitors that come to the Park will find the best accommodation alternatives there. Luxury, Mid-range, and Budget-friendly lodges options include Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, Muhabura Hotel, among many others.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park.Â
Volcanoes National Park is accessible from several points across many different countries. The journey from Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, to that location takes two hours. Volcanoes National Park is also easily accessible from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Virunga within an hour of driving from Goma, and travelers from Uganda can do the same via the Cyanika border within a one- to two-hour ride.