Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is located in the North western part of Rwanda bordering Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda all inclusive of the Virunga Massif.

popularly known to be home to five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga massif whereby these volcanoes include Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga, Muhabura and Sabyinyo. Most visitors to Rwanda fall in love with Volcanoes National park because of the shy endangered ground dwelling herbivores Mountain Gorillas and the species of the Old world monkey family known as Golden monkey primates. characterised with thick tropical rainforests, bogs, shrubs, thick bamboo forests where Golden monkey primates habited and Swampy related areas.

Flora & Fauna.

Volcanoes’ vegetation varies considerably due to the large altitudinal range within the park. Some lower montane forests  characterised. Between 2400 and 2500 m, there is Neoboutonia forest. From 2500 to 3200 m bamboo forest occurs covering about 30% of the Park area. Hagenia-Hypericum forests  characterised on the humid slopes in the south and west of the Park, which covers about 30% of the park.

The vegetation from 3500 to 4200 m  characterised by Lobelia wollastonii, L. lanurensis, and Senecio erici-rosenii and covers about 25% of the Park. From 4300 to 4500 m grassland occurs. Secondary thicket, meadows, marshes, swamps and small lakes also occur, but covering a small area of the Park. Different Wildlife species habited in the Park include the mostly wanted shy endangered ground dwelling herbivores Mountain Gorillas, Golden monkeys, black fronted duiker, buffalo, spotted hyenas, bush bucks and rarely spotted elephants. Over 178 species of birds  recorded sightable in the suburbs of Volcanoes National Park.

How to get there?

By road Kigali- Ruhengeri- Gisenyi highway  the best route of reaching this park in the North western part of Rwanda, usually a period of about 2-3 hours  taken when travelling from Kigali city or airport up to Volcanoes National park.

What to do.

The major activities done on a visit to Volcanoes National park in the North Western part of Rwanda include Mountain Gorilla trekking which requires a permit and this permit costs $1500 USD per person usually booked in advance before your trekking dates such that its processed in time, Golden monkey tracking which involves meeting with the species of old world monkey family in the bamboo forested areas, the permit for golden monkey in Rwanda’ Volcanoes National Park costs $100 USD per person, Iby’wacu cultural experience is another activity done around the Park whereby this village is located near the Park so this experience is usually done after the Gorilla trek at a cost of $20 USD per person, other activities done include Dian Fossey hiking at a cost of $75 USD and Volcano climbing which include Karisimbi and Bisoke.

Accommodation.

Volcanoes National Park has different accommodation facilities of different categories reserved for visitors to stay on a visit to the Park. These facilities  grouped into three including budget, midrange and luxury facilities characterized with good services provided.