Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park protects the Rwandan side of the Virunga Massif, a chain of eight volcanoes shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Five of the peaks, including Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo, rise within Rwanda’s borders, their slopes cloaked in montane and bamboo forest.
Gazetted in 1925 as part of Albert National Park, Africa’s first national park, Volcanoes today protects around a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, alongside golden monkeys, buffalo and forest elephant. It was here that primatologist Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Center in 1967, and the park’s gorilla trekking program remains one of Africa’s most sought-after wildlife experiences.
What to Expect
Gorilla trekking permits cost $1,500 per person and must be booked well in advance through the Rwanda Development Board. Each trek is capped at eight visitors per habituated family, and can involve anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours of hiking through dense, often muddy terrain.
Activities & Wildlife
From tracking mountain gorillas and golden monkeys to hiking volcanic peaks and visiting Dian Fossey’s grave, Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s premier primate destination.
- Gorilla Trekking
- Golden Monkey Tracking
- Volcano Hiking
- Dian Fossey Tomb Hike
Volcanoes National Park is home to around a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, spread across a dozen habituated families. Treks begin at 7 a.m. from Kinigi park headquarters and can take anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours through dense, high-altitude forest before visitors spend a strictly limited hour with the gorillas.
Getting to Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park sits roughly 100 kilometers northwest of Kigali, about a 2 to 3 hour drive on a paved road through Rwanda’s terraced hillsides to the town of Musanze and on to the park’s Kinigi headquarters, where treks begin each morning at 7 a.m. Most visitors fly into Kigali International Airport and arrange a private transfer or self-drive for the scenic journey north.
When to Go to Volcanoes National Park
Best Time to Go
Accommodation
Where to Stay near Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation
Mahogany Springs
Kinigi, Musanze, Rwanda
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Accommodation
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Kinigi, Musanze, Rwanda
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