Volcanoes National Park
Customized
Price - $On Request
Places Covered
Volcanoes National Park
Highlights
- Enjoy The Nature And Beauty Of Africa.
- Stunning Views With Mesmerizing Surroundings.
- Make Memories For Life Time.
This is Rwanda’s most important tourist hotspot which is 160km and protects Rwanda’s sector of the Virunga Mountains, at least six extinct and three active volcanoes that overlap the Ugandan and Congolese borders and protect more than half of the global population of the magnetic mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park is a splendid and ecologically diverse destination. This chain of steep free standing mountains, spanning altitudes of 2,400m to 4,507m, and linked by the fertile saddles that are formed by solidified lava flow, ranking among the most stirring and memorable of African land scape. The tallest member of the chain and the most westerly part of the national Park is karisimbi on the border with the DRC, and Mgahinga and Muhavura on the Ugandan border.
Mountain gorilla tracking is the most popular activity in Volcanoes National Park and its home to mountain gorillas. However, the most important activity after gorilla tracking is a visit to the habituated family of the golden monkeys, hike to Dian Fossey former camp and the grave on the forested slopes of Karisoke and an overnight hike to the highest point of the summit of karisimbi.
Gorilla tracking
Mountain gorilla tracking is a crossed eyed wildlife experience with in the Virunga; these vast animals weigh three times the weight as well as the average man. The mountain gorillas have no tails, have shorter arms and dense black hair than the lowland cousins. These are visited on a daily basis than any other wild animal, and they are fascinating animals to the extent that some interact with their visitors, often approaching them and greeting them as they walk past. It’s vital for the trackers to pack lunch, mineral water and cameras are also highly recommended for the trek. The hike usually takes one to four hours depending on which group you are tracking. Usually the visitors spend one hour with the gorillas and it’s not allowed to smoke or eat in their presence.
Golden Monkey Tracking
This is a very beautiful monkey with bright rufous red on the back, cheek & tail, has got black legs, crown and tip of the tail, pale patch that is around the nose and the month. The golden monkeys are widely spread in the forests of northwest Rwanda and Southwest Uganda, these monkeys stay in bamboo forest and they are naturally shy animals. The permits for golden monkey trekking in Rwanda go for $100 per person and the beauty about the gorilla trek in Rwanda is that it doesn’t limit the age of the people who participate in the trek and the number of people. These monkeys are easily found since most of them live just right below the volcanoes Mountain and can swing from the bamboo tree in the forest.
The tourists get to see monkeys that have short tails that were cut off because they got stuck in the bamboo trees and they get an hour to view the creatures and get to know about their different characteristics from the experienced tour guide who goes with them. The easiest way to track them down is by following the left over bamboo shoots which are always left by monkeys after eating. These monkeys always out in the open and feast on the cones and food in the fields owned by the farmers near the forest making it easy for the tourists to see them as they swing and forth.
The golden monkeys live in the Albertine region and they are Albertine Endemics. The endemic refers to species that are confined in that specific area. The Albertine region is an area which is filled with valleys and mountains including many tree species that make up the forests surrounding the area and after looking at the various traits of the Golden monkeys.
Bird watching
Bird watching is another common activity that is carried out in Volcanoes National Park because this forest is a home to many bird species totaling to 300. In case you are a keen bird watcher, it’s possible to see more than half of that number. There are over 180 bird species that were recorded in the park in the 1980s and 15 species in 2004 after a biodiversity survey. There are birds like the Grauer’s rush warbler which is vulnerable and a local bird species commonly seen in the swamps, the other bird species seen here include; handsome francolin, the Archer’s ground robin, the red faced woodland warbler, the dusky crimson wind, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, Rwenzori batis, as well as the strange weaver. Birding starts in the morning with a briefing and together with the well trained birding safari, you will enter the jungle to search for the different bird species that live in the forest.
Hiking
Hiking the volcanoes National Park is the best offer to varied tourists, ascending the Karisimbi which is a good activity for the trekkers. The other alternative is to climb Mount Visoke to its remarkable crater lake. Get to Hike to dian Fossey , an American researcher who started her research in Kabara in Congo and later moved to Rwanda where she built her camp on the saddle between two Virunga volcanoes. Diane stayed with the gorillas for 18 years in Rwanda; she was mentored and inspired by Lous Leakey and Jane goodall respectively.
Long the trek, the tourists are able to see buffaloes, monkeys and warthogs that live inside the forest, the trek usually takes three hours. Camp guides will show you around and traveler will be able to see Diane Fossey’s grave, the hut in which she lived for so many years as she did her research on mountain gorillas and Digit’s grave, one of her favorite gorilla which was killed by poachers.
Musanze Caves.
This cave is a natural underground chamber in a cliff or hillside which is large enough for human beings to enter. The cave is good for the tourist walk, trails and stairs that take you in the dark interiors of the caves that show a good picture of a home with several rooms. The site is located at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park and you can easily see primates and birds.
The Iby’ Iwacu Cultural Village
Iby, Iwac means treasure our home and heritage located next to the car park at the trailhead of the sabyinyo group and group thirteen, the award swinning venture was founded in 2004. The village offers a busy agenda that lasts for about two hours. At the village, the travelers experience am amazing cultural dances, traditional meals and drinks like the Banana beer and juice for those who may decide to have an overnight stay at the village.
The Ngezi Lake Trail
Ngezi is a scenic and shallow crater lake at the foot of Mount Bisoke in Volcanoes National Park, the trail takes 4 hours to and fro accompanied by a park ranger, along the trail you can see various monkeys and birds. The trail gives you to enjoy the Virunga Volcanoes in Volcanoes nNational Park.
How to access Volcanoes National Park?
Volcanoes National Park is about 105km away from the country’s city and Airport(Kigali), it can be accessed by road and by air. By Air you can land in Kigali international Airport after which you are driven for 2 hours to reach the park. You can also use both private or public transport. A cab can be hired at only $50 dollars to transport you to the park.
Dian Fossey Tomb & Hike
Dian Fossey is one of the greatest and most prominent primatologist of the 20th century, she was considered an authority in all issues related to the endangered mountain gorillas from 1967 till her death in 1985. She was born in 1932, and she spent most of her life studying mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and at her Karisoke Research camp/ center located between Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi in Rwanda. She made the world to know about mountain gorillas and also advocated for their protection against extensive poaching. Due to her work and efforts, gorilla poaching reduced extensively. By gaining the trust of mountain gorillas that had been fearful of the humans due to large scale poaching, gorilla habituation for different gorilla groups became possible.
Dian Fossey was killed in a remote house on top of the mountains in 1985 and was buried next to some of the gorillas she worked so hard to protect. The circumstances surrounding her murder remain a mystery but its belived that her murder was related to her strong conviction and desire to end poaching and protect the gorillas. Despite her bad ending, the legacy and work of Dian Fossey remains and her famous book Gorillas in the mist was later made a film depicting her personal life and work with the gorillas. Even after death, her work was not in vain, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Continues to work towards the conservation of the mountain gorillas by running several projects including taking care of gorilla groups with in East and central Africa.
For those who love mountain gorillas, visiting Dian Fossey tomb and gorilla cemetery located near her former Karisoke Research camp between mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke is a must. The hike is a great way to pay homage to one of the greatest mountain gorilla reserachers. Get to learn about her work with the mountain gorillas. A trek to Dian Foseey is less packed with visitors compared to the more popular gorilla trekking. And this means you might want to book in advance most especially during the peak months between June and September. The hiking takes about two hours at most for one in good shape. The hike is arranged in the morning hours and the visitors report to Kinigi park offices in the morning for briefing by one of the rangers. The briefing takes 30 minutes’ and then drive to the foot of mount Bisoke which is the starting point. The armed rangers will protect you from wild animals and poachers while the porters help you carry extra luggage and when passing through the difficult terrain. Hiring a porter is $10 per person, you will also be given a walking stick that will help you with the slippery terrain. The permit to Hike the Dian Fossey grave costs $75 per person per day.
Musanze caves
Musanze is the largest district with in the northern province of Rwanda and its capital Ruhengeri which is known as Musanze and it serves as a center for tourism in Rwanda and its where volcanoes National Park is located. This is the most mountainous part of Rwanda and has got dense vegetation and it’s so famous for the mountain gorillas and the endemic golden monkeys. It is the most visited district in Rwanda and has got the components to make sure that you have an extra ordinary holiday adventure. Musanze makes up the biggest part of the gigantic volcanoes national park and is also home to five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga chain and these include; Bisoke, KaRISIMBI, Muhabura and Gahinga.
On the outer side of Ruhengeri, are also the Musanze caves and are a geological treat. These caves go 2km and are covered in the lush greenery and the inside of it are the homes for the bats. In case you are not so brave enough to adventure inside, the beautiful vegetation around the caves make a good pictures and great to explore. The afternoon can be spent canoeing down the river where the mountain gorillas rest and play. The water found here is so still and great and its one of the best way to view the fantastic Rwandan countryside and the wildlife in that area. There are also many museums which show case the honors of Rwanda’s past and the great future.
The caves can be visited at any time of the year by the visitors that visitors that come to Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park has got over 10 habituated gorilla families which are for tourism, a maximum of 8 people can visit each gorilla group per day spending a maximum of 1 hour on each visit. These groups include;
Susa Gorilla Group; The group was first studied by Diane Fossey on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi. It has got 40 individuals with 3 silverbacks; the second largest group of mountain gorillas in the world. The group is the hardest to trek as it tends to span high in the mountains. Susa group is totally so catchy with gorillas dropping the bush and Bamboo forest.
Sabinyo Gorilla Group
This group lies on a gently forested area between mount Gahinga and Mount Sabinyo, the group consists of 11 individuals and 2 silverbacks. The group is situated on a flat to gentle slopping and the trek takes 40 minutes or less, the slopes aren’t too intimidating though very slippery after rain. The group is led by the largest and powerful silverback Guhonda and heaviest gorilla ever at 220kg
Amahoro Gorilla Group
This Amahoro family means peaceful and the group consists of 17 individuals and 1 silverback. It was named after its peaceful silverback called Ubumwe.
The Umubano Gorilla Group
Umubano literally means living together, the group consists of 11 individuals and 1 silverback. This group was originally a member of the Amahoro group but split after Ubumwe and Charles fought and later Charles grabbed a few females from Ubumwe and formed his own group.
Hirwa Gorilla group
The group was formed in 2006 by a silverback that had broken away from Susa group and it consists of 9 individuals including 1 silverback, 3 babies, 3 adult females as well as 2 sub adult females.
13 Gorilla group
This group has got only 13 individuals with 1 silverback and 12 adult females, but currently the group consists of 25 individuals. The group is the dearest to the guides since its silverbacks are more approachable than those in other groups.
Kwitonda Gorilla group
This group crossed into Uganda from DRC, due to the Congolese civil war and the group stayed in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and later crossed to Volcanoes National Park. The group consists of 18 individuals led by 1 silverback called Kwitonda which literally means humble.
Karisimbi Gorilla Group.
The Karisimbi gorilla family is sometimes called Susa B because the gorilla group broke from the main Susa group A in 2009. The Karisimbi gorilla group is dominated by Nyamakangaga silverback who’s so ambitious about protecting his family from any danger. The gorilla group comprises of 15 members that include 1 female adult, 2 infants, 4 silverbacks and one black back that live on the slopes of Karisimbi Volcano.