If you are asking yourself why you should visit Volcanoes National Park, we’ve got you covered. Volcanoes is unlike other African national parks. The unique vegetation, unspoiled landscape and unique ecosystem offer tourists the chance to see a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat.
Make sure to have a good camera to snap a photo of the signature animal – the mountain gorillas. The experience of exploring Volcanoes National Park engulfs senses completely, so visiting this unspoiled jungle touches something stupendous.
Volcanoes National Park can be overwhelming with so much to see and do everywhere you turn. Here, we bring you some of the top-notch reasons why you should visit Volcanoes National Park. These include the following: –
Unmatched Gorilla Trekking adventure
As far as mountain gorilla trekking safaris go, Volcanoes National Park is the most iconic destination in the whole World. A few meters near the mountain gorillas, in the misty deep rainforest will stay with you forever. With numerous trailheads and numerous gorilla families, you are sure of having the best of your time while trekking the mountain gorillas in this park.
Excellent Birding opportunities
If you long to sight the Albertine Rift endemic bird species, look no further. Whether it is luck or not, you will be treated to a mammoth of bird species especially the species that are endemic to the Albertine rift valley.
While the handsome francolin, Rwenzori batis and strange weavers tend to be elusive, you won’t have difficulty spotting the Baglafecht weavers, Red-backed shrike, blue-spotted wood doves, Cinnamon-chested bee-eaters and the Lagden’s bush-shrike.
So, enjoy an amazing birdwatching experience in the Volcanoes.
Invigorating and Awe-inspiring Hikes
Mountain climbers who hike the Karisimbi and Bisoke volcanoes are usually met with disbelief when describing the boundless wonder of being at Volcanoes National Park. This is because of the magnificent views surrounding the areas.
The feeling of nature engulfing hikers as they crisp the mountain air, and the spectacular crater lake on the peak of Mount Bisoke. The snow veiled peak of Mount Karisimbi and varying vegetation zones on the slopes of these mountains, are all indescribable, in just words.
Home to the Dian Fossey Grave
The history of mountain gorilla conservation in Rwanda is closely related to the life and death of Dian Fossey. If you watched the ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ film and was inspired by her life, you can visit Volcanoes to see the spot where she set up her Karisoke Research Center. Hike to Dian Fossey grave site and that of her favorite gorilla – Digit and even pay your respects.
Safety of Volcanoes National Park
Generally, Volcanoes National Park and Rwanda as a whole is one of the safest and most secure destinations you will ever visit in Africa.
Ease of Access
Compared to other gorilla trekking destinations like Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla national parks as well as the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda’s Volcanoes is easier to access. Within only 3 hours’ drive from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, you will have reached.
This means it is possible to trek gorillas in one day and even head back to the city, which is not possible with the other two countries, unless you take a flight.
More About Volcanoes National Park
At an elevation of 2,400 to 4,507 meters above sea level, Volcanoes National Park is an isolated region spanning for over 160 square kilometers across the north-western part of Rwanda.
Visitors can encounter a wide range of wildlife species including leopards, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and waterbucks, as well as hike the steep slopes of the Virunga volcanoes.
The park was gazetted in 1925 to conserve the mountain gorillas and other species that were threatened. This makes it one of the oldest national parks on the African continent.
If you are interested in gorilla tourism, you are probably aware that the park is the final resting place for Dian Fossey, the American primatologist who sacrificed her life for the good of gorilla conservation. The park is also a home to five of the eight Virunga Volcanoes that include Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga, Muhabura and Sabyinyo Volcanoes.
Opulent accommodation facilities in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of the few popular up-market destinations in Africa offering options for unwinding and comfort during your visit. Some of the up-market lodges to stay in during your visit are Virunga Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Gorilla’s Nest, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Kwitonda Lodge, Bishops House and Tiloreza Eco-Lodge among others.
How to get there
Volcanoes National Park is within the northern province of Rwanda, and is only 105 kilometers and 2 hours’ drive from Kigali, the capital city. Given the short driving distance, road transport is the main transport means and it’s easy to undertake a 1 day gorilla trekking tour. Travels usually involve relishing the cool, quiet and serene rolling hills before arriving Kinigi Park Headquarters for the start of your planned tourist activities.