Where is the volcanoes national park located in Africa?

Where is the volcanoes national park located in Africa? Volcanoes national park is located near a small town called Musanze in the northeastern park of Rwanda in East Africa. To get to volcanoes national park you will need to fly to Kigali international airport and from here you will dive for a short while to volcanoes national park. The park is home to mountain gorillas that have made it famous as well as golden monkeys, birds, different mammals, and much more. Volcanoes national park has been positioned as a luxurious destination and for this matter, the permits are the most expensive going for $1500 compared to Uganda’s $700 and DR Congo’s $450. The park can be visited at any time of the year for tourism activities but the best times are the dry season.

Volcanoes national park is part of the Virunga conservation area together with Virunga national park of DR Congo, and Mgahinga national park of Uganda. The park hosts 5 out of 8 of the Virunga mountains and these are Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga, Muhabura, and Sabyinyo. Gorilla trekking is the most done activity in this park but there are other activities you can do on a visit to volcanoes national park and these are hiking, golden monkey trekking, cultural encounters, birding, and a hike to Dian Fossey tomb. To trek mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park, you need to book your trekking permits with a tour operator or you will have to get them direct from Rwanda Development Board.

Things to do and see in volcanoes national park Rwanda

After understanding where volcanoes national park is located in Africa, you need to know the best safari activities done in the Park.

Volcanoes national park gorilla trekking

Because of mountain gorillas, volcanoes national park has made Rwanda famous when it comes to tourism. Mountain gorillas are only found in volcanoes national park in this country and this is a home to over 10 habituated mountain gorillas that are open for trekking at any time of the year. Trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda is done by persons above the age of 15 years and all must have a valid gorilla trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board. Only 8 people are allowed to trek a single mountain gorilla family in this park and the trekking normally starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters where the trekkers are taught about the rules and regulations of the trekking activity. After the briefing, ranger guides lead different trekking groups into the jungle to look for the habituated mountain gorilla families and on finding them they are given 1 hour to around them while watching them do daily activities, learn about their habits and take photos.

Encounter golden monkeys in volcanoes national park

Golden monkey trekking in volcanoes national park is an activity that involves trekking these beautiful primates and staying around them for a maximum of 1 hour. Golden monkeys are rare species of primates and they are only found in the volcanoes national park and Mgahinga national park of Uganda in the whole of Africa. There are only 2 habituated golden monkey families in volcanoes national park and to trek any of these you must have a valid golden monkey trekking permit that is issued out by Rwanda Development Board. Golden monkey trekkers are expected to be at the briefing centers early in the morning by 7 am to have a short briefing from the rangers. During the briefing, the trekkers are taught about the dos and don’ts of the golden monkey trekking activity and from here different groups head out to the jungle to search for these primates. During the search, the trekkers have opportunities of spotting different park animals, birds, and vegetation cover but on meeting the golden monkey troops, the trekkers are given an opportunity of being around these primates for a maximum of 1 hour as they take photos, learn about their habits, and watch them do daily activities.

A hike to Dian Fossey tomb

A hike to Dian Fossey tomb is done between mountain Karisimbi and mountain Bisoke and it’s one of the most exciting experiences you need to do in volcanoes national park. The hike to Dian Fossey’s grave takes 1hour and 30 minutes to reach the grave where the great primatologist was buried. Dian Fossey was an American primatologist who had a love for animals most especially mountain gorillas. She lived in volcanoes national park for so many years and managed to chase away the poachers who were killing mountain gorillas for meat and other reasons and she also managed to start up Karisoke research center next to her favorite gorilla called Digit. A hike to her grave will give you an opportunity to know more about her works and also an opportunity to see some of the park animals as well as birds in the park.

Cultural encounters in volcanoes national park

Iby’iwacu cultural visits are one of the most done activities in volcanoes national park and this is done by tourists that are interested in learning more about the culture of the people in Rwanda. Doing the Iby’iwacu cultural tour gives you an opportunity to learn more about their culture and on reaching their cultural village, you will be welcomed by the guards and you will find different huts and here you will see how they live their day to day life, you can as well taste their local foods. You will be entertained through different cultural dances and drama while at this cultural village.

Encounter birds in volcanoes national park

Bird watching is another activity that one can do in volcanoes national park. Bird lovers need to know that the park is home to over 200 different bird species. While on birding activities in volcanoes national park, some of the bird species likely to be spotted include Great Blue Turaco, Ruwenzori Batis, Grey Cuckoo shrike, Montane Oriole, black-headed waxbill, archer’s robin-chat, doherty’s bush-shrike, Mountain Illadopsis, Pink-footed Puff back, Sharpe’s Starling, Slender-billed Starling, Mountain Sooty Boubou, blued headed sunbird, Ruwenzori Blue-headed Sunbird, Striped-breasted Tit, black and white manikin, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Stuhlmann’s Double-collared Sunbird, cinnamon bracken warbler, regal sunbird, barred long-tailed cuckoo, Regal Sunbird, Thick-billed Seedeater, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Albertine owlet, grauer’s rush warbler, strange weaver, White-starred Robin, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori batis, Red-chested Owlet, francolins, and Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher.

Accommodation options in volcanoes national park

Volcanoes national park is one of the parks in Africa with the nest accommodation facilities that are even ranked among the best in the world. The park is best and comfortable accommodation options that range from budget to mid-range to luxury options and these include One $ Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, Amakoro Songa Lodge, Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge, Five Volcanoes Hotels, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Kinigi Guesthouse, Virunga Hotel, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Villa Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla Views Lodge, Davinci Lodge, Kinigi Hotel, Faraji Hotel, Hotel Muhavura, and La Palme Hotel among others.

What is the best time to visit volcanoes national park?

Volcanoes national park is open for tourism activities at any time of the year but some months are better than the rest. The drier months are the best times for tourism activities in the national park. During the dry months that happen in December to February and March to May, there is little or no rainfall, the roads leading to the park are passable, the trekking trails are less muddy and not slippery and lastly, the vegetation in the park is thin giving clear views of the park animals and best photography.

Travelers can also visit the volcanoes national park during the rainy season of March to May and October to November to enjoy the huge discounts on accommodation facilities. Remember that during this time, the roads leading to the parks are impassable, the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, and the vegetation is very thick. If you are intending to visit volcanoes national park in the dry season, you are advised to book your gorilla permits in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconvenience since Rwanda Development Board issues out the permits on a first come first serve basis.

What to do with Africa Adventure Vacations?

Africa adventure vacations is a tour company based in Uganda licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board and a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Booking with Africa adventure vacations provides you safety and confidence during your safari courtesy of well-trained safari driver guides who are well conversant with all routes and tourism destinations in Africa. You can book with us any of the activities you want to do in Africa such as mountain gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla habituation, Chimpanzee trekking and habituation, birding, golden monkey trekking, game drives, hiking, nature walks, and community tours among others. Booking can be done at any time of the year. Feel free to ask us where volcanoes national park is located in Africa and any other extra information.