Volcanoes National Park is the closest national park to Kigali City, conveniently located about two hours’ drive away. Tourist activities in the park are popular destinations for visitors to the “land of a thousand hills.” The conservation area is the oldest national park in Africa, having been gazetted in 1952. It is home to the critically endangered mountain gorilla species, a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei. The park gained international recognition through the work of American primatologist Dian Fossey and its appearance in the film “Gorillas in the Mist.” The primary pursuits in the protected regions are hiking the Dian Fossey Trail, trekking with gorillas and golden monkeys, birdwatching, guided nature walks, and experiencing Rwandan culture in the national park’s foothills.
It is feasible to conduct tourism operations in Volcanoes National Park due to the conservation area’s abundance of attractions. There are five of the eight series of Virunga volcanic mountains, including Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Karisimbi, and Mountain Sabyinyo. Some of these are shared by the neighbouring countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The presence of resident mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the bamboo forest area gives many tourists even more incentive to visit Volcanoes National Park. Other animals, such as forest elephants, black-fronted mountain duikers, and over 180 species of birds, are also present in the park but are rarely seen.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
A once-in-a-lifetime event, mountain gorilla trekking is the centrepiece of tourism activities in Volcanoes National Park. It’s among the most fascinating safari activities in Africa. It takes two to eight hours to find the primates; during that time, you are allowed to interact with them, take pictures of them, and watch as they play and roll over trees while adhering to the rules and regulations of the gorillas. The mountain gorillas coexist peacefully with other primates and animal species without becoming enthralled. This activity involves hiking through the forest, so it would be necessary for one to be physically fit.
Volcano Hiking
While in the protection area, hikers can ascend four of the five volcanic mountains: Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura. Because of Mount Sabyinyo’s extremely rough and difficult terrain, hiking is only possible from the Ugandan side of the mountain, not from Rwanda. It is ideal to walk in the protected conservation area during the dry season when there are less puddles and more accessible pathways leading to the summits. Because each mountain walk is completed independently and is at a different elevation, reaching the peak takes a varied number of days. On a safari, the stroll through the forest is among the most breathtaking experiences possible.
Hiking the Dian Fossey Trail
The Dian Fossey Trail is among the Volcanoes National Park’s most well-known hiking routes. There were rumours that the American primatologist who dedicated her life to ensuring the survival of mountain gorillas resided on the Karisimbi mountaintop. Despite her efforts to protect monkey populations, she was also successful in influencing others who opposed conservation. Sadly, Dian Fossey was killed in cold blood; her murderer is still at large. She was buried in the forest next to the gorillas that meant the most to her. Hiking into the jungle to commemorate her graveyard offers incredible experiences; if you’re lucky, you might even see some mountain gorillas or monkeys along the way.
Golden Monkey Tracking
Golden monkeys are an endemic species that are only found in the Virunga region. The tracking process starts with a morning briefing from park rangers at 7:00 am. The hike to find the monkeys takes two to three hours, and it’s easier than hiking to find mountain gorillas because the monkeys live in the bamboo forest on the lower slopes. They also appear to be constantly eating, as evidenced by their puffy cheeks, which are frequently filled wit at addition to the previously listed activities, you should also go birdwatching at Volcanoes National Park and engage in cultural activities nearby to gain insight into Rwandan culture.
To sum up, Volcanoes National Park is the most popular conservation area. There are lodging options nearby that range from the best value to luxury; a few examples are Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silver Back Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Lodge, Gorilla Mountain View Lodge, and Virunga Lodge. The park is close to Kigali, so visitors can stay there and make it to the tracking point early in the morning. The drive northward through the charming little villages is breathtaking against the backdrop of the rolling mountains.