Volcanoes national park

In the northwest of Rwanda, there lies a concentration of attractive species of flora and fauna that is, Volcanoes National Park. The park showcases the absolute meaning of a place gifted by nature. Volcanoes National Park is home to the most endangered creatures on the planet therefore making it an important conservation area.

The park covers an area of about 160 square kilometers that comprises thick tropical rainforests, 5 of the 8 Virunga mountains that is to say Mount Muhabura, Sabyinyo, Bisoke, Mikeno, and Karisimbi. This makes it a perfect habitat for the creatures it hosts, especially the primates and bird species.

The vegetation of Volcanoes National Park varies according to the altitudinal ranges which contributes to the park’s exceptional beauty. As you go high above the slopes of the Virunga mountains, you are exposed to the wonderful lush vegetation that makes the park a place to look out for nature lovers and photogenics.

A brief history of Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park was first gazetted as a small conservation area in 1925. It only included the Karisimbi, Bisoke, and Mikeno Mountains. The creation of the park was to help protect the mountain gorillas in the park that were prone to extinction due to the unending and kind human activities in the region, especially poaching and encroachment on their habitat for purposes of settlements and practicing small-scale agriculture.

In 1929, the borders of the park were extended further into Rwanda and Congo to encompass two other volcanoes since they were also a playing ground for the mountain gorillas and other primate species. Volcanoes National Park boasts as the very first National Park to be created in Africa. In the late 1960s, the park became a base for Dian Fossey, a renowned researcher.

She carried out various conservation practices and research about primates, especially mountain gorillas. She led to the establishment of the Karisoke research center which played a key role in the habituation of the first batch of mountain gorillas.

Unfortunately, Volcanoes National Park became a battlefield in the Rwandan civil war in the early 1990s which put tourism activities at a standstill. However, peace was later restored in 1996 and tourism has been booming since then.

Key attractions of the National Park and uniqueness.

The mountain gorillas are the main attractions in Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park hosts 13 fully habituated gorilla families that are available for trekking on a daily basis.

Visitors should however find it important to remember that each gorilla family can only be accessed by only 8 individuals per day.

For the opportunity to trek the mountain gorillas, one is required to have a trekking permit. Permits can be obtained through registered tour operators. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda goes for a non-negotiable fee of $1500 per person per trek.

Volcanoes National Park is unique especially because of the intact rainforest, and the biodiversity it harbors. It is the only National Park in Rwanda where one could see mountain gorillas. The diverse array of landscapes cannot be left out in factors that add up to its uniqueness.

The overall landscape is made up of the twinning Virunga mountain ranges.

Other things to see in Volcanoes National Park.

Primates.  Volcanoes National Park is not only limited to endangered mountain gorillas but also harbors a series of other attractive smaller primates, especially the golden monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. Lhoests, blue monkeys, and the black and white colobus monkeys.

Birds. Travelers to Volcanoes National Park get the opportunity to observe the Great Lakes endemics especially the shoe bills, sunbirds, hammerkops, African fish eagles, turacos, Abyssinian ground hornbill, black bee eaters, cinnamons, egrets, cuckoo shrike, lanner falcons, black bee-eaters and African darters.

Iby’iwacu Cultural Center. This is a renowned cultural village in the surroundings of Volcanoes National Park. It exposes the guests to the beauty of Rwandan culture. Visitors get the opportunity to taste the local foods of the Rwandese and get deep insights into their ways of life, history, cultures, and traditions.

Twin Lakes. Volcanoes National Park is blessed to host the magnificent Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. These are known to provide breathtaking views and are good spots for photography and sightseeing.

Dian Fossey’s grave. Dian Fossey was a celebrated researcher and played a big role in the conservation of the mountain gorillas and reviving their numbers that were diminishing at a very terrible speed. Visits to her grave site are conducted in the form of respect and to also educate the masses about the beauty of conservation.

Activities done in Volcanoes National Park.

Hiking. Hiking is usually done on the slopes of the volcanoes in the national park. They are usually launched to the Dian Fossey grave site and also on other mountains to the summits to enjoy the sightseeing activity.

Gorilla trekking. The gorilla trekking activity helps visitors to meet the endangered mountain gorillas within Volcanoes National Park. Visits to the gorillas usually start at around 8:00 AM and go on probably up to the afternoon. Guests are allowed a maximum of 60 minutes to enjoy watching the gorillas up close, take pictures of them, and observe their fascinating behaviors as they interact with each other.

Golden monkey trekking. This activity is also done under the company of the Ranger guides who guide the tourists through the jungles and help them meet the exciting primates.

Bird watching. Volcanoes National Park hosts several bird species that are endemic to the Great Lakes region. Travelers to the park get the opportunity to observe them closely using their binoculars.

Cultural encounters. Guests in Volcanoes National Park can also meet and interact with the local Banyarwanda. This is usually done through launch visits to the Iby’iwacu cultural village where guests meet and interact with the local people learning more about their culture.

When to visit and how to access Volcanoes National Park.

The dry seasons form the most appropriate moments in which adventure-seeking travelers can embark on visits to Volcanoes National Park. They are usually in two forms, that is to say the long dry season that always occurs mid-year from June to September and the short dry season that runs from December to February.

Volcanoes National Park is about 105 kilometers from Kigali and can be accessed by road which takes approximately a 2 hours and 15 minutes drive through Musanze town. Volcanoes National Park can also be accessed through Uganda by driving through the southern border of the country and entering Rwanda through the north through the Katuna border post.