OVERVIEW
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is located in the far northwestern part of Rwanda. It is along the slopes of the Virunga ranges bordering Uganda and Congo. The park spans a total land area of 160 square kilometres in Kinigi, 107 kilometres from Kigali.
The Belgian colonial administration established Volcanoes National Park in 1925. Today, the park draws fame for its endangered mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking. Dormant volcanoes in the Virunga ranges inspired the park’s name, and its boundaries cover three of the five volcanoes.
The volcanoes covered by the national park include Bisoke, which has a crater lake on top, and the Karisimbi volcano. Karisimbi is the highest of all, standing at a height of 4,507 metres above sea level. The other volcanoes include Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura, making up a total of five.
Volcanoes National Park is a premier destination for tracking primates. It shelters a number of rare golden monkeys and endangered mountain gorillas situated in the bamboo forests. This national park has different vegetation types. They include the evergreen bamboo forests, the open grasslands, the swampy vegetation, and heath on the higher mountain slopes.
Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda originally shared this national park along the Virunga ranges. The three nations later divided the park and renamed their respective sections. Congo created Virunga National Park, Uganda established Mgahinga National Park, and Rwanda designated Volcanoes National Park. All these national parks have identical tourism resources.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park shares most of its tourism attractions—such as primates, the Virunga ranges, and bamboo forests—with its two neighbors, Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park.
ATTRACTIONS
Volcanoes are a premier destination for tourism activities because they have a variety of attractions. These include the endangered mountain gorillas and rare golden monkeys. The physical attractions include the volcanoes, caves, Crater Lake, bamboo forest vegetation, heath, swamps, and open grasslands, which offer different experiences.
Mountain gorillas
This is the only national park in Rwanda that accommodates mountain gorillas. It is one of three countries in the whole world that accommodate these primates. Rwanda serves as a premier location for trekking mountain gorillas, primarily because Volcanoes National Park shelters 10 habituated gorilla families. Notably, each family follows a dominant silverback who acts as a guardian for all its members. Consequently, the park treasures these mountain gorillas as its flagship attraction to promote and sustain its tourism activities.
Golden monkeys
Volcanoes National Park is home to the endemic golden monkey species, which are only found in the Albertine Rift Valley. These golden monkeys are significant for tourism activities such as golden monkey tracking, which enhance the tourists’ experience by observing the monkeys sway in the tree branches.
Birds
Volcanoes National Park is home to about 200 bird species. These include the Albertine endemic species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Several species of colourful birds attract bird enthusiasts.
Forested vegetation
Volcanoes National Park is covered by various types of vegetation, which includes the bamboo forests that shelter the endangered mountain gorillas. These forests are significant for ecological support because the mountain gorillas feed on these bamboo shoots as their food. The forests also promote tourism activities such as nature walks and hiking.
Virunga ranges
This national park is located along the slopes of the Virunga ranges, hence giving an opportunity to hike to the top of mountains like Karisimbi, Bisoke, and Sabyinyo. Some of these mountains also have tourism resources, such as a crater on top of mountain Bisoke. The mountainous nature of the ranges not only offers a hiking experience for tourists but also offers a clear view of the natural vegetation at lower altitudes, making it possible to see the beauty of the park.
ACTIVITIES
All the activities in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda are charged separately depending on the tourism site you would like to visit.
Gorilla tracking
Gorilla trekking refers to a guided trek of tourists into the wilderness to locate, observe, and study the habituated mountain gorilla families in their natural habitats. Being home to 10 habituated gorilla families, Volcanoes National Park is a premier destination to track down gorillas in the wilderness. This activity costs USD 1500 for foreign non-resident tourists. Foreign residents pay USD 500 for the gorilla permits. Local East African tourists pay USD 200, and other African tourists pay USD 500.
Golden monkey tracking
This activity involves the guided movement of the tourists into the deeper forests of Volcanoes National Park in order to locate and observe the habituated golden monkeys in their natural habitats.
This activity costs USD 100 for foreign non-resident tourists. 65 US dollars for foreign residents in Rwanda, while Rwandan citizens pay RWF 4000. East African local citizens pay USD 65, and East African Foreign residents pay USD 80 for golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcano hiking and nature walks.
Volcanoes National Park is situated in the Virunga ranges, which are made up of five mountains: Mountain Bisoke with a crater on top, Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Mountain Karisimbi, which is the tallest volcano of all. These dormant volcanoes promote hiking and nature walks for tourists to the tops of these volcanoes, which give them a clear view of the beautiful scenery of the park.
Nature walks cost 55 US dollars for foreign non-resident tourists; Rwandan foreign residents pay 40 US dollars, Rwandan citizens pay RWF 3500, and East African local citizens pay 35 US dollars.
Village experiences.
Volcanoes National Park is located in areas occupied by the local people with local traditions and behaviours. It would be better for the tourists to visit the nearby communities such as the Iby’iwacu cultural village situated near the park in order to experience Rwandan traditional culture through dance performances, storytelling, and traditional medicinal healing.
Bird watching
Volcanoes National Park has about 200 recorded bird species, and this makes it a suitable destination for bird watching. Bird watching refers to the guided trek of the tourists into the national park to locate, identify, observe, and study different bird species. This activity requires the use of instruments such as binoculars and lens cameras in order to view the birds clearly even if they are at a long distance.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Virunga National Park has a number of accommodation options ranging from Luxury, mid-range, and budget accommodations. These include;
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Best View Hotel, Sabyinyo Lodge, Mountain Gorillas Nest Lodge, Faraji Hotel, among others.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Volcanoes National Park can be accessed by road via the paved roads from Kigali International Airport to Kinigi, 107 kilometres, which can take you approximately a 2-hour drive. The road connects you to Ruhengeri town, 10 kilometres from Kinigi park headquarters, where tourist visitors register before accessing the park.
The park can be accessed by air from Kigali through the use of helicopters, taking you to the park.