The Volcanoes National Park Rwanda Official Home (Volcanoes Safaris)

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda A Corporate Site For Tourists and Volcanoes Safaris

Inside Volcanoes National Park Rwanda: Facts, Map, Entrance Prices, Location & Reviews – National Park of the Volcanoes Rwanda, or Parc National de Volcans (PNV), is one of the large Virunga ranges, stretching across more than 8,000 square kilometers. Located in northwest Rwanda, the park shares a boundary with Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park. Originally a tiny area, the park was gazetted in 1925 and expanded over time, making it the first National Park in Rwanda and Africa.

The Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is one of Rwanda’s top tourist attractions since it is home to some of the world’s most critically endangered primates, including mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Besides being home to five of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virungas, this park served as the hub for the incredible research conducted by primatologist and naturalist Dian Fossey beginning in the 1960s.


How Rwanda is Expanding its Volcanoes National Park and Mountain Gorillas Habitat

Our Experience to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

The road to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is already filled with breathtaking scenery, and once you get at the park, the adventure only increases in intensity. In addition, the park is well-known for the “Kwita Iziina” (locally referred to as the “Annual baby naming ceremony of the baby gorillas”), which draws many tourists each year. The Volcanoes National Park is home to a wide variety of fauna, including but not limited to buffalo, bushbucks, black-fronted duikers, spotted hyenas, elephants, and the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas. Plus, the Virungas and Rwenzori mountains are home to more than 178 different bird species, including about 29 that can only be found there.

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda Location

Musanze, also known as Ruhengeri, is a little village about two hours outside of Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, where you’ll find the entrance to the Volcanoes National Park. Kiningi Village is the park’s headquarters and the meeting place for all trekkers before they go on their gorilla tracking adventures. Planning your safari in plenty of time, particularly in regards to the issuance of gorilla permits, is highly recommended. The fee for a gorilla permit is $15,000. If you must visit Rwanda between June and September—the country’s high season—be sure to arrange your trip far in advance to ensure visa and passport availability.

Volcanoes Safaris

Although mountain gorillas are undoubtedly the most alluring reason to go on a Volcanoes safari—and, many would argue, to visit Rwanda—they are only one factor contributing to the country’s increased inclusion on safari itineraries.

Five of the eight volcanoes that pushed out of the centre of Africa are found in Volcanoes National Park, which also preserves the Rwandan portion of the Virunga mountains. Only in terms of volcanic activity are all of Rwanda’s summits inactive. They are buzzing with activity and vitality in every other way.

Because of the large elevation difference between the lower slopes and the volcanic peaks, Volcanoes has a diverse diversity of habitats despite being a relatively small park.

Although there is a lot of vegetation, pathways make it possible to reach the places that gorillas most frequently visit. Much is known about their social behaviour, habits, and migrations thanks to years of research. Quality encounters are virtually guaranteed by anti-poaching patrols and daily tracking.

Although going on a gorilla trek can be challenging, it is not a chore because of the endlessly intriguing fruits, flowers, and leaves found in the forests, as well as the opportunity to view lesser primates and colourful birds.

Gorillas tours in Rwanda

2 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
This Two Days Gorilla Trek Rwanda is a short Gorilla safari well customized for tourists who would want to have only a Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda in the shortest time possible but not much exhausting as the 1 Day Gorilla tour.

Volcanoes National Park Gorillas in Rwanda

Double Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
Four Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari is a Gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda best planned for travelers who would want to have a double Gorilla tracking experience. Double Gorilla trekking is trekking gorillas twice on different days.

Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park

5 Days in Rwanda Itinerary
Five Days Rwanda Safari Primate tracking and Gorilla trekking tour is a trip to the best primate habitats of Rwanda. This 5 days safari in Rwanda takes you to Volcanoes National Park for Gorilla trekking.

Ellen DeGeneres and wife trek Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda

3 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
Three Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari from Kigali is best for Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes Park. A Rwanda Gorilla permit costs US$ 1500 each. On this 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla tour you visit Volcanoes Park.

Chimpanzee trekking Nyungwe National Park Rwanda

6 Days in Rwanda Itinerary
In the Six Days Rwanda Safari itinerary is activities like Kigali city tour, chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk, Gorilla trekking, and Golden monkey trekking in the two national parks.

Eastern rhino in Akagera National Park Rwanda Wildlife viewing

6 Days Rwanda Safari
Rwanda safari includes activities like a Kigali city tour, Trekking Mountain Gorillas, game viewings of wildlife like Lions, Buffaloes, Rhinos, Leopards, Elephants, Zebras, Waterbucks, and many more.

Nyungwe national Park Rwanda

8 Days in Rwanda Itinerary
On this Eight Days Rwanda Safari you will experience offers the best eight days in Rwanda with Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking and Wildlife tour.

Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park

7 Days Rwanda Safari
Seven Days Rwanda Safari, Primates and Wildlife Tour is a comprehensive itinerary of a wildlife, Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking safari.

beautiful Lake Kivu in Rwanda

10 Days in Rwanda Itinerary
Ten Days Rwanda Safari offers the best gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and Wildlife tour in Rwanda with a Kigali city tour, canopy walk and visit to Lake Kivu.

nyungwe Park canopy walk

9 Days in Rwanda Itinerary
Nine Days Rwanda Safari offers the best gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and Wildlife tour in Rwanda. 9 Days Rwanda tour to Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Activities/Things to Do 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 volcanoes safari activity in all of Rwanda. Located two hours outside of Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, is Volcanoes National Park. Visiting Volcanoes National Park on safari is a must if you’re in Rwanda, and here are the top five things to do there.

Gorilla Trekking

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.

Golden monkey trekking

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.

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.

Dian Fossey tomb hike:

One of the most well-known things to do in the Volcanoes National 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.

Best Time to Visit – Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Details on the Best Time to Visit – Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park is available all year for Rwanda Gorilla trekking and hiking. Gorilla sightings are practically certain and are not affected by the weather. However, after heavy rain, the routes become quite treacherous, and trekking is undoubtedly easier in the dry season months of June to August, and to a lesser extent in early September, December, and January.

Best Time

From June through September (It is drier and trails are easier to hike)

High Season

From June through September (Permits may sell out and lodges charge higher rates)

Low Season

March, April, October, and November are all good months (These are the peaks of the rain)

Best Weather

From June through August (Least rain)

Worst Weather

April and March (Most rain, forest trails are slippery)

June to August Dry Season

  • Hiking becomes easier and more enjoyable on drier routes.
  • The sun has a better chance of breaking through the clouds.
  • Gorilla trekking is easier
  • It is hard to obtain the limited gorilla trekking permits in the high season
  • Lodges might be full and charge more

September to May Wet Season

  • Gorilla permits are easier to obtain
  • Lodges might have discounted rates
  • The rain doesn’t diminish the experience of seeing the gorillas
  • Rain can make forest trails challenging
  • It might rain for days
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