What to See in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?

What to see in Volcanoes national park Rwanda? Volcanoes national park one of the most visited national parks in Rwanda is located in the northwestern side of the country. The park has a lot of attractions which tourists can go and see at any time of the year. Mountain gorillas are the main attractions in the park and these have attracted thousands of tourists in the country who come just to see the closest creatures to human beings since they do share 98%human DNA with human beings.

Apart from mountain gorillas, tourists can see over 200 bird species in the park, the rare golden monkeys which are found only in this park in Rwanda, and the 5 Virunga mountains – Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. If you want a safari to Virunga national park, you can simply text us at Africa Adventure Vacations limited and let us know what you would want to have on your safari and we shall organize for you everything. The following are top things to see in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?

Encounter mountain gorillas in volcanoes

The main attractions in volcanoes national park are the mountain gorillas. There is a certain population of mountain gorillas harboring in the thick montane vegetation of volcanoes national park mostly on the slopes of Virunga volcanoes. The mountain gorillas live on Virunga volcanoes such as Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga, Muhabura, and Sabyinyo.

The mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park can be seen by all people above the age of 15 years only if they have valid gorilla trekking permits. These permits are sold at the Rwanda Development Board or can be got from a trusted local tour operator at a fee of $1500 per person per trek. To trek the mountain gorillas in the dry season, you will have to book the gorilla permit in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences since the permits are sold out on a first come first serve basis.

If you have the gorilla trekking permits, you will wake up early in the morning and join other trekkers at the briefing point where the rangers will teach you about the dos and don’ts of the mountain gorilla trekking activity in volcanoes. After the briefing, the trekkers will be led by the armed ranger guides in the jungle to look for the mountain gorillas but while looking for them they are likely to see different park animals and sounds of different birds. Once they meet the mountain gorilla family, they will be given one hour to be around them learning about their habits, watching them do daily activities, and taking photos.

Golden monkeys in volcanoes

Volcanoes national park being home to the endangered golden monkeys, the tourists to the park can take time and go watch these primates in their natural habitats. Just like mountain gorillas, to see the golden monkeys in volcanoes Rwanda you will have to first acquire a trekking permit which is sold by the Rwanda Development Board to people above the age of 12 years.

Possessing a golden monkey trekking permit, on the day of trekking, you will walk to the briefing point where you will meet other trekkers and rangers. You will first get briefed by the rangers about the dos and don’ts of golden monkey trekking after which the armed ranger guides will lead you through different trails of the park.

As you are in the trekking trails looking for the bamboo where the golden monkeys could be, you are likely to see park animals like the elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, spotted hyenas, bush-bucks, giant forest hogs, monkeys, birds, and different plants. Once you have found the golden monkeys, you will be given 1 hour to watch them do daily activities, learn about their habits, and take photos.

Encounter birds in volcanoes national park

Volcanoes is home to about 200 bird species and bird lovers to the park are likely to see so many of these while using different park trails. The commonly seen bird species in volcanoes include handsome francolin, strange weaver, Ruwenzori turaco, African green broadbill, red-faced woodland warbler, African goshawk, bronzy sunbird, crested barbet, collared apalis, archers ground robin, palm nut vulture, Sharpe’s Starling, Ruwenzori batis, grey-headed bushrike, Ruwenzori apalis, African green broadbill, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Ruwenzori nightjar, lagden’s bush – shrike, Thick-billed Seedeater, brown necked parrot, nirana trogon, red chested sunbird, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, and dusky turtle dove among others.

Mountains in volcanoes national park

Hikers can simply visit volcanoes national park to hike any of the Virunga volcanoes. Volcanoes hosts 5 out of the 8 Virunga volcanoes and these are Sabyinyo, Bisoke, Karisimbi, Gahinga, and Muhabura all open for hiking. There is no specific age of people supposed to hike any of these mountains you just have to be physically fit in order to succeed to the top. Hiking any of these mountains will help you to see different vegetation covers, animals, the park surrounding and on top of some of the mountains, there are lava lakes. Karisimbi and Bisoke are the most hiked mountains in volcanoes national park.

What is the best time see things in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?

Tourists can visit volcanoes national park and engage in different activities at any time of the year but the dry season months are the best time to visit the park. The dry season happens in December to February and June to September and during these days, there is little or no rainfall which makes the trekking trails dry, the vegetation in the park is thin giving clear views of the park wildlife, and the roads to the park are passable.

The rainy season is not bad to visit volcanoes national park after all you get huge discounts on accommodation facilities. The rainy season occurs in March to May and October to November and is characterized by plenty of rainfall which makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the roads to the park are impassable and the vegetation in the park is thick giving unclear photography and unclear views of park animals.

Accommodation in volcanoes national park

Tourists to volcanoes national park have a wide range of accommodation facilities where they can stay while on a safari to the park. The accommodation facilities are built-in and outside the park and do range from budget to mid-range to luxury options such as Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, One $ Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Musanze Caves Hotel, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Amahoro Guesthouse, Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel, and Amakoro Songa Lodge among others.