Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Overview

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is home to endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife. It covers 160 sqkm in northern Rwanda and is easily accessible from Kigali International Airport. The park includes Mikeno, Visoke and Karisimbi volcanoes and is part of the Virunga conservation region, which also includes Virunga National Park in Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has 10 gorilla groups accessible to visitors, including KWITA IZINA reserved for research.

Each day, 80 gorilla permits are available for tourists, costing US$1500 per person.
Here are the groups:

Susa Group: Well-known for being studied by Diana Fossey, this group has 33 members.
Titus Group: Raised by an unrelated silverback after Titus lost his family.
Karisimbi Group: The hardest group to trek, with 16 members including 2 silverbacks.
Amahoro Group: Known for its peacefulness, it consists of 18 members.
Umubano Group: Broke away from Amahoro and has 13 members.
Sabyinyo Group: Recognizable for its giant silverback Guhonda, comprising 13 members.
Agashya Group: Led by silverback Agashya with 27 members.
Kwitonda Group: Named after its dominant silverback Kwitonda, with migration history from Congo, the group has an uncertain location.
Hirwa Group: Formed by migration and has 16 members.
Ugenda Group: Consists of 11 members and is hard to track.
Bwenge Group: Inhabiting the slopes of Karisoke volcano, with 11 members.The national park also has golden monkeys, buffalo’s brushbacks, spotted hyenas, and over 100 bird species.

How to get to Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes national park is strategically located at a small distance from Kigali international airport which makes it easily accessible by visitor and it’s about 2hours drive from the airport through Musanze town to the park headquarters. This also makes it one of the most visited parks in Rwanda.

Best time to visit volcanoes national park

Volcanoes national park is a rainforest which attracts heavy rainfall during the rainy season which makes hiking and gorilla trekking very difficult. Therefore it is important for one to visit the park during the dry season which is in the months on June through to September of every year. And also from December to mid-February before March chips in.

What to pack during your safaris

Do you need to pack anything during your trekking safari? Yes you do and we are here to guide you on what to pack for your gorilla trekking safari. Below is the list of things you need:

Rain jacket

Since gorilla trekking is done from rain forests which attract rainfall at any time of the day, it is advisable for you to carry a rain jacket so as to keep dry from the falling rain.

Insect repellents

Volcanoes national park is not only a home to the mountain gorillas but also a home to various insects which include mosquitoes and ticks, therefore it is very important to carry insect repellent to avoid insect bites and disease infections like malaria.

Long sleeves and trousers

This is one of the most important things to do by the visitors because gorilla trekking involves trekking through the bushes and trees and wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers can help protect against insect bites and scratches from long, sharp grasses.

Cameras

It is every adventurers desire to capture the happy moments in the wilderness with the magnificent endangered species (mountain gorillas). You shouldn’t forget to carry a camera or smart phone with you to capture the incredible moments with the mountain gorillas and other wild animals like the spotted hyenas and the golden monkeys you encounter during you trek in the volcanoes national park.

First aid kit

Visitors who intend to go gorilla trekking are advised to carry a first aid kit with them in case they encounter minor injuries during their adventure. Gorilla trekking up in the mountains involve many things, even the things you would not have expected therefore you are urged to carry a first aid kit in case of an injury.