Volcanoes National Park

Visited: Nov. 2021 Reviewed: Dec. 10, 2024 Submitted in:

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is home to endangered mountain gorillas. Nestled in the Virunga Mountains, this iconic park offers visitors an unforgettable adventure into the lush bamboo forests. Known primarily for its mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone seeking a deeper connection with the natural world. A Pristine Haven for Wildlife The park's claim to fame is its population of endangered mountain gorillas. Trekking through its lush, misty forests to observe these gentle giants is a profound experience. The park’s conservation efforts, in partnership with local communities, have successfully increased gorilla populations, offering hope for the survival of this incredible species. Beyond gorillas, the park is home to golden monkeys, forest elephants, and a vibrant array of bird species, making it a hotspot for biodiversity. Each visit is a reminder of this unique beauty. Impeccable Gorilla Trekking Experience The gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park is exceptionally well-organized. From the warm welcome at the visitor center to the informative briefing by experienced guides and park rangers, every detail is designed to ensure both visitor safety and the preservation of the habitat. Trekking itself is an adventure, through dense bamboo forests and steep, verdant hills. While the trek can be physically demanding, the reward of spending an hour with a gorilla family is beyond words. Their human-like behavior, gentle demeanor, and captivating presence leave a lasting impression. Community Engagement and Cultural Immersion One of the standout aspects of Volcanoes National Park is its close relationship with local communities. Initiatives like the Iby’wacu Cultural Village provide visitors with an authentic glimpse into Rwandan culture. From traditional dances to local crafts, these experiences enhance the visit while supporting sustainable tourism and community development. Scenic Beauty and Accessibility The park’s breathtaking landscapes are reason enough to visit. Towering volcanoes, dense forests, and rolling hills create a dramatic backdrop for exploration. The cool, misty air adds an ethereal quality to the environment, making every moment magical. Located just a three-hour drive from Kigali, the park is easily accessible for short trips, making it convenient for travelers with limited time. Key Highlights Gorilla Trekking: The ultimate bucket-list experience. Golden Monkey Tracking: A delightful alternative or addition to gorilla trekking. Cultural Encounters: Engage with the local community through cultural performances and activities. Mountain Hiking and Nature Walks: Explore the park’s diverse flora and fauna on well-maintained trails. The Travel Tips - Best Time to Visit: The dry seasons (June to September and December to February) are ideal for trekking. - What to Pack: Sturdy hiking boots, waterproof jackets, and gloves for the trek. - Permits: Gorilla trekking permits are limited, so book well in advance - What's the Cost of gorilla Permit: International Foreigner:$1500pp, Foreign Resident:$500pp Rest of African Residents:$500pp and East African Citizens:$200pp Final Thoughts Volcanoes National Park is more than just a wildlife destination—it’s a sanctuary for the soul. The park’s extraordinary landscapes, world-class conservation efforts, and enriching cultural experiences make it a place of profound beauty and inspiration. Whether you come for the gorillas, the culture, or the scenery, Volcanoes National Park will leave you with memories to cherish forever. For those seeking an authentic and transformative adventure, Volcanoes National Park is Africa at its finest!

Visited: Oct. 2023 Reviewed: Oct. 30, 2023 Submitted in:

For most visitors Rwanda means Volcanoes National Park, and Volcanoes National Park means mountain gorillas. This is the original Gorillas in the Mist destination, Africa’s most hyped gorilla park, and the place where famed American primatologist Dian Fossey spent many years studying the gorillas. Up-close (sometimes so close you can virtually feel the gorilla’s breath on you) mountain gorilla sightings are a given and the park’s vegetation (compared to some other gorilla parks) is comparatively clear and conducive to easy sightings. However, having been lucky enough to see mountain gorillas in every park in which they exist, the gorilla-watching experience at Volcanoes National Park feels a little too polished and, dare I say it, not quiet wild enough. When I tracked the gorillas here I was surprised to arrive at the park offices to find around 80 other tourists milling around, as well as souvenir sellers and a dance troupe. It didn’t exactly feel like the African wilderness. Spoken by our guests about Volcanoes national park

Visited: Aug. 2021 Reviewed: Aug. 14, 2021 Submitted in:

We trekked mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park for about 3 hours, this activity is out of this world. Whoever goes for a vacation should include gorilla trekking on their bucket list. We had an amazing experience.

If you are in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is a fantastic place easily accessible from Kigali. The mountain gorilla trekking is very well organized, you can do this via a tour agency or on your own. A must-do experience while in Rwanda! You get to spend an hour with the gorilla family once you locate them. It. Is an experience you will never forget, the hour goes by in a jiffy. These creatures are magical, with soulful eyes, and very human like behavior. We saw a family with a 2-year old playing with his 4-year old brother, while a mother was nursing her baby boy. The silverback was pretty mellow, but did treat us to a chest thumping show. Once you observe these wonderful creatures for any length of time, it is hard to imagine how poaching has almost managed to make these ancestors of our extinct. The park has done a wonderful job of conservation and preservation so it is gratifying to see that the mountain gorilla population may finally be on an upswing. In any case, while not cheap, keep in mind that your $$$ funds this amazing work. The and trackers were amazing. They take real pride in the work they are doing, and they know the various gorilla groups that they have habituated really well. Thank you

I was fortunate enough to trek the mountain gorillas in two countries and two parks. My first trekking experience was my best. I did Volcanoes and had such a great experience. The trek was more scenic and I felt the guides and rangers were better here. It is more expensive than Bwindi but it also looked like they were doing more to give back to the local communities here. I would gladly return.

I was fortunate to have the possibility to visit the park at the end of 2015. It was a totally amazing experience. At first I was really impressed by the country of Rwanda. So different from what I expected. A well-organized country that still had managed to keep the origin. We stayed at hotel in Musanze and the hotel helped with arranging transportation to the park. When we arrived at park there was a local dancing and singing group performing along with serving coffee or tea. They divided us into groups and a guide were assigned. We had a really good guide. Very dedicated to his work. He told about the park, the gorillas, the mountains and informed us about the members "our" group. Then a short ride to the starting point of our walk. We were offered to have a carrier. It was local men from the village living on carrying backpacks for tourists. It was not expensive, so even if you perfectly well can carry your own backpack, its a good way to support the members of the village by hire a carrier. Then the walk started. Through fields of eucalyptus trees. Then we went into the park and it was getting more steep. The walk was shorter than I expected and then we met up with guards watching "our" group 24 hours, seven days a week, to protect them from hunters. We left backpacks and other stuff with the guards and the carriers and took the final climb up to the group. Suddenly we met the old man and his wife. The former silver back. He was patiently sitting there, not paying much attention to us. After a while, taking pictures, we moved on and then met the son, the present silver back. He was taking his morning nap. Around him was several females and kids. We spent an hour together with the group. A totally amazing experience. I could hardly believe it was true being close to them and they totally accepted us being there. I can highly recommend this trip. Its quite expensive for tourist, 750 USD, but totally worth it. The monies cover the cost of the guards protecting these vulnerable and amazing animals.

Volcanoes National Park has 8 habituated groups of gorillas available for daily tracking and up to 8 visitors are allowed per day, for one hour only. Gorilla treks can be over and done with in less than 3 hours or, in adverse circumstances, take 8 or more hours. The guides are well-trained, fluent in English and it's best to make use of the blue uniformed porters, as even a bag pack eventually gets heavy, especially when carrying a few litres of water, for oneself and to spare for others who did not think ahead. Bring sturdy boots and wear long sleeved shirts or wind breakers as the thorns and branches otherwise inflict bloody scratch marks. One final recommendation ... take the extra time to visit Lake Kivu as Gisenyi where some fine beach side resorts like the Lake Kivu Serena or the Paradis Malahide offer fine hospitality. Alternatively take time out and cross Uganda Boarder to Lake Mutanda where Chameleon Hill Lodge offers an amazing hospitality!

This is a really nice place to go. Theo have 12 different gorilla families in the mountains and we visited the amazing Sabyinyo group. Our guide was very good and knowledgeable. Usually they recommend a distance of at least 7 meters to the gorillas but this time the gorilla silver back came up to us very close as you can see on my profile pictures. The weather was really good this day with no rain and not too much sun. When it's raining it must be very slippery to walk up and down that hills. Before we went up on the mountains it was a show of local dancing with a lot of drums. I must say that I am really impressed of the way Rwanda has taken care of the gorillas and strongly recommend a visit both to Rwanda in general and specially to Volcanoes Park.

Nothing can prepare you for your first sighting of a silverback gorilla. He is HUGE! He could easily rip you limb from limb and you immediately respect and admire this docile creature and wish man were more like his primate cousin. The trek was tough, and there were leeches and mosquitoes to deal with, but I would do it again in a second, even with the increased prices.

The existence of gorillas in Africa's rain forests has been known for centuries not only in Africa but the whole world. 2000 years back,early records were taken by the sailors that landed from the North African province as they tried to capture some apes in the western lowland and the eastern lowland. in the early 1900, the other specie of the mountain gorillas was identified, some what bulkier than its lowland cousins. Mountain gorillas rank among the rarest animals in the world with just 840 gorillas in the existence. Half of the total number are in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park and the bigger number in Parc National Des Volcans Ruhengeri. Have a memorable experience Gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans with your guides leading you through the forest,get a grip of yourself, this is not a joy ride, there are steep areas, rough and rugged foot path but meeting the giant ape will be worth your effort. You always enjoy an hour with the gorillas, you are going to find out that gorillas are extremely social and dwell in groups with the dominant being the silver back with their female mates usually viewed nursing their babies. While on your gorilla trip to Parc National Des Volcans, do not hesitate to stop over at the Karisoke research center. This center was established by American Zoologist Dian Fossey, who had dedicated part of her life for safety of the mountain gorillas, therefore we can not talk about gorillas in Rwanda and miss out Diana Fossey. Here you can also see the grave of Digit, one of her most treasured primate friends.