Volcanoes National Park (Parc Nationale Des Volcans) lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The national park is known as a haven for the mountain gorilla. It is home to five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo), which are covered in rainforest and bamboo. The park was the base for the famous zoologist Dian Fossey who is remembered for her part in the fight to protect the endangered mountain gorilla.
The park has a range of vegetation types due to the vast variation in altitude within the park itself. It ranges from Neoboutonia forest, bamboo forest, and Hypericum forest to grasslands at the highest altitude. This variation in altitude offers the stage for an interesting trek through the hills and valleys with breathtaking views from all corners.
The Fauna in the park is in plenty and ranges from the golden monkey, black-fronted duiker, buffalo, Spotted Hyena, and bushbuck with the rare sighting of some elephants. However, the most popular inhabitant of the park is the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) which is a spectacle in itself and a must-see for any visitor to Rwanda. Pure magnificence has never seen anything like it.
The park has also been sighted as a haven for birds with up to 178 species recorded so far. This is especially good for one who wishes to do a big year or one who wants to see the birds in action.
Activities in the park
- Gorilla visits – as of November 2010, there are eight habituated groups open to tourists, allowing for a total of 64 permits per day. Tourists spend an hour with the gorillas.
- Golden monkey tracking.
- Climbing of Karisimbi volcano – this is a two-day trek with overnight camping at an altitude of 3,800 m.
- Climbing of Bisoke volcano – one day.
- Tour of the lakes and caves.
- Visiting the tomb of the famous zoologist Dian Fossey.
- Kwita Izina, the baby gorilla naming ceremony which takes place every year during the month of June in Rwanda
Accommodation in the park
The town of Ruhengeri located at the base of the park offers good choices for accommodation ranging from small and cheap hotels, and guest houses to the more plush hotels like the hotel Gorilla’s Nest & Hotel Muhabura. The inns and B&Bs in this town are world-class and very affordable with some popular names like the home inn, Virunga Hotel, Amahoro guest house, la Palme Hotel, and Ishema Hotel to mention but a few.