Things to Do in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda By a Local Guide

Things to Do in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda By a Local Guide. The Top 5 Attraction and Activities in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. In 1925, Africa’s first national park, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, was officially established. Until her death, biologist Dian Fossey studied mountain gorillas in this park. As a result of her efforts with these magnificent primates, Gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park is now the most popular safari activity in all of Rwanda. Located two hours outside of Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, is Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Visiting Volcanoes National Park on safari is a must if you’re in Rwanda, and here are the top things to do there.

Things to Do and See in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Gorilla trekking:

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda’s – Volcanoes National Park

There are 12 gorilla families that have become acclimated in Volcanoes National Park. If you’re planning a safari in Rwanda, you really must do gorilla trekking. Only the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda are home to the world’s remaining gorilla population, which is critically threatened. Volcanoes National Park is home to all of Rwanda’s remaining mountain gorillas. The Amahoro, Umubano, Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Susa, and Hirwa families are among those you should pay a call on.

Beginning with a briefing at the park’s headquarters, the journey continues with a climb through bamboo forests to the summit. Each trekking group, no larger than eight individuals, is accompanied by a guide who shows them the way to the gorilla families’ homes. Once you have located a gorilla family, you will have one hour to observe and photograph these magnificent apes.

Golden Monkey Tracking:

Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Seeing the golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park is a must for every primate enthusiast planning a safari in the park. In order to improve the visit for visitors, they have been habituated. The bamboo forest at the base of the Virunga Volcanoes is a popular habitat for golden monkeys. When you go on a golden monkey trek, an expert guide will help you find the primates, tell you all about the park’s history, and show you the best places to see the monkeys. Finding golden monkeys is significantly faster than searching for gorillas.

Exploring the Musanze Caves:

These ancient caverns served as supply depots for Rwanda’s royal family during periods of conflict. Visitors to the Volcanoes National Park today are treated to a truly spectacular sight. Many bats adorn the cave ceilings, and when you point a flashlight at them, their glowing eyes catch the light. Your footsteps and the heavy dew drops hitting the cave floor are the only sounds you’ll have heard as you make your way to the cave’s exit and into the daylight. Exploring these caverns is like taking a trip back in time.

Volcano hiking:

Hiking enthusiasts visiting Volcanoes National Park have their pick between the Day Hike and the Overnight Hike. One of the Virunga volcanoes, Mount Bisoke, is the destination of the Day Hike. It has a crater lake at its peak and a height of 3700 meters.

Mount Karisimbi, the second-highest volcanic peak in the Virunga Ranges, is the focus of the overnight hike. This path passes through a variety of ecosystems, from bamboo to Afro-montane to savanna. The dry months of June, July, and August make this hike one of the toughest around a snow-capped summit.

Bisoke Volcano Hike:

The trip up Bisoke Volcano is exciting and memorable because of the crater lake at the summit. It takes the same amount of time to trek to the peak and back down to the starting point—about 6 hours. The hike begins at 8:00 am local time, however some experienced hikers can do it in as little as 3 hours if they meet at Kiningi at 7:00 am. Skilled ranger guides take hikers to the summit of the volcano, and all necessary equipment is given.

Dian Fossey tomb hike:

One of the most well-known things to do in the park is to take a stroll to the Dian Fossey Tomb. Hikers must drive for 30 minutes from the park’s headquarters to reach the Karisoke camp, and from there, it’s only a 10-minute walk to the park’s border. The tomb or grave is located at a research facility, which is another 1 hour and 30 minutes’ walk from the park’s entrance.

When you get there, you can see the house where Dian Fossey was killed in 1985, as well as where she was buried next to her favorite gorilla and roughly 20 other gorillas that had been killed by poachers or died of natural causes.

You’ll need to be in good physical shape for this trip, as it involves a lot of uphill and forest travel. To really appreciate it, you’ll need to exercise a bit more patience.

Those who go hiking are the only ones who

Experience Rwanda’s culture at Gorilla Guardians Village:

Visiting the nearby Iby’Iwacu Village, now known as Gorilla Guardians Village, is a great way to round up your time in Volcanoes National Park. You can enjoy the facilities whether you stay for a few hours or a few days. Do you want to try something different for dinner? Prepare and/or drink some of the regional specialties, including banana beer or banana juice. Try some of the locally grown and brewed herbal remedies if you’re a doctor or botanist. After having your questions answered, relax by watching and listening to local dancing groups perform traditional songs and dances.