Top 5 Things to Do and See in Volcanoes National Park

Top 5 Things to Do and See in Volcanoes National Park

Gazetted in 1925, Volcanoes National Park was the first ever national park in Africa. The park was used as a base by American Primatologist – Dian Fossey to conduct research on mountain gorillas until her death.

Volcanoes National Park is the Rwandan portion of the Virunga Volcanoes range and beside the wealth of extraordinary rainforest life it safeguards, the park protects 300 mountain gorillas which is around half of the world’s existing population.

A visit to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is unforgettable

Volcanoes National Park is one of the top destinations not only in Rwanda but also in Africa. In this blog, we explore the top 5 things to do and see in Volcanoes National Park.

1. Gorilla Trekking – Meet the Gentle Giants

Volcanoes National Park is the best gorilla trekking destination in the world known for offering the most accessible gorilla trekking. An encounter with these gentle giants is on top of travelers’ bucket-list and is on top of the top 5 things to do and see in Volcanoes National Park.

The park has 12 habituated gorilla families open for gorilla trekking thriving in the forest Virunga volcanoes dominating the park’s landscape. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park begins with briefing at the park headquarters, followed by a hike up the bamboo terrain of the volcanoes depending on the gorilla family assigned to you. You are accompanied by armed rangers and guides, leading you to the habitats of the gorilla families and the maximum number of people per group is 8 people.

Once you have sighted a gorilla family, you can only spend an hour with the gorillas observing their life in the forest, take amazing photos and videos of these giant primates.

2. Golden Monkey Trekking

Volcanoes National Park is one of the few areas on the planet where you can see the endangered golden monkeys in their natural habitat. For a better primate experience, some troops have been habituated, meaning they are less hostile to human presence.

Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park famous in the bamboo forests at the foothills of the Virunga Volcanos. The golden monkey trekking experience takes you through the forest, led by an experienced guide who will share the history of Volcanoes National Park, facts about these primates on your way as he leads you to the golden monkeys.

Unlike gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking experience takes less time.

3. Exploring the Musanze Caves

The Musanze Caves are hundreds of years caves once used to store food supplies for the Kings of Rwanda in times of war. Today, they are quite a scene to behold when visiting Volcanoes National Park. The caves ceilings are studded with lots of bats whose eyes sparkle when you shine a flashlight to the ceiling. As you move towards the end of the cave and into the daylight, all you will have hear in the midst of the cave’s loud silence are your footsteps and the thick dew drops hit that cave’s floor.

A walk in the Musanze cave is literally a walk down memory lane.

4. Visit the Gorilla Guardian’s Village – Experience Rwanda’s Authentic Culture

Formerly known as the Iby’Iwacu Village, the Gorillas Guardians Village is a perfect place in Rwanda to experience the country’s authentic culture. The village is situated close the Volcanoes National Park, making it a perfect place to visit, you can do a day visit or stay for an night.

Here you will be entertained by local dances and drama performed by local people and dance troops, try preparing and even eating the traditional meals and drinks such as banana juice or brew banana beer. For botanist or medical personnel, try the local herbal medicine grown and brewed fresh from the garden.

5. Volcano Hiking

If you are looking for a little bit of challenge on a Rwanda safari, head to Volcanoes National Park for a volcano hiking experience. The park offers two hiking options to choose from that is the Day and Overnight Hike.

The Day Hike leads you to Mount Bisoke – one of the volcanoes in the Virunga Ranges, the beautiful volcanoes stands at 3700 meters with a crater lake at the top.

The Overnight Hike is along Mount Karisimbi – the second highest peak in the Virunga Volcano Ranges. Along this trail are the beautiful diverse vegetation zones from bamboo Afro-Montane to savannah. Also, this hike is known to be one of the most challenging hikes in the range but it is very rewarding. The volcanoes has a snow-capped peak especially in the dry season of June, July and August.

Best Time to visit Volcanoes National Park

Although Volcanoes National Park is a year-round destination, the best time to visit is during the dry seasons, from mid-December to mid-February and then again from June to September. Rwanda experiences two rainy seasons, namely March to May and September to December, making some experiences like gorilla trekking tricky during this time.