Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda · Northern Province · 2318 m
Description
Volcanoes National Park covers the Rwandan flank of the Virunga chain and was the first national park gazetted in Africa. Five of the eight volcanoes stand in it, from Gahinga to Karisimbi at forty five hundred metres, in belts of bamboo, Hagenia forest and afro-alpine moorland. About a third of the world's mountain gorillas live here, and the habituated families are the reason nearly every visitor comes, on a permit priced the same in every month. Golden monkeys, the ruins of the Karisoke camp where Dian Fossey worked and the crater lake on Bisoke fill the other days. Everything starts at the Kinigi gate.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 5 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Mountain gorilla trekking in the Virungas
- Crater lake on Mount Bisoke
- Golden monkey trekking in the bamboo
- Hike to the Karisoke ruins and the Dian Fossey tomb
- Dawn briefing and Intore dancers at the Kinigi gate
- Summit of Mount Karisimbi(Multi-day trip)
- Climb of Mount Muhabura
- Crater swamp on Mount Gahinga
- Ridge climb of Mount Sabyinyo
- Lake Ngezi on the flank of Bisoke
- Birding the bamboo edge for Albertine Rift endemics
- Buffalo wall along the park boundary
- Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony (approx. September)
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- KGL