Visit Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills in 2023
Take a Visit Rwanda, often known as the “land of a thousand hills,” is really one of the world’s most spectacular places, thanks to its breathtaking landscapes and kind, friendly people. Its volcanoes, montane rainforest, and open plains are all home to a wide variety of exotic animals.
Visitors travel from all over the world to view the gorgeous gorillas, but that’s far from all there is to do and see in the area.
Travelers come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the magnificent gorillas, yet there is so much more to see and experience.
About the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Welcome to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, The park is regarded as the highlights of Rwanda , that acts at the hub for tourism in this country of a thousand hills, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda combines five volcanic mountains, Bisoke, Karisimbi, Muhavura, Gahinag and Mount Sabinyo, this park is a sub section of the former albert cook national park that was created I during the Belgium colony in 1922 before the park was changed to Virunga National Park in congo, after the 19th Century, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda was created after an agreed discussion by the 3 colonial master, the British in Uganda, Belgium in congo and the French that were in Rwanda. From the treaty, a subdivision of the 3 parks were created out of the main Virunga national park , to have Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, and Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda covers 160 km2) in total of which part of the park is forested, with volcanic boundary fence , at the moment plans are under way to re instate the park to its original boundary . New resettlement schemes are underway to increase the size of volcanoes national park.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is one of the trans boundary natural habitat that was gazette by the IUCN to save the endangered mountain gorillas alongside other unique species such as the Golden monkeys, forest Elephants , cape buffalos, duikers, many of the Albertine birds are found in this park
Most of the activities done in this park are all day activities or day tours except the hike to Mountains Karisimbi that requires an overnight stay. All activities done in this iconic park start from the Centre point which is Kinigi park office
Things to do in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Hiking and primate-spotting are just two of the many activities available to guests of Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Gorilla and golden monkey trekking, volcano hikes (Bisoke, Karisimbi, and Muhabura), nature walks, bird watching, canoe rides on the twin lakes, cave exploration, community walk experiences, and boat rides on Lake Ruhonda are just some of the things that can be done in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is an essential part of every safari in Rwanda, since there are more than 20 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. Only the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda are home to the world’s remaining gorilla population, which is critically threatened. In Volcanoes National Park, you’ll find almost the whole population of gorillas in Rwanda. The Amahoro, Muhoza, Kwitonda, Kwisanga, Umubano, Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Susa, and Hirwa families are among those who will be paid a visit.
The journey starts with a briefing at the park’s headquarters, and then continues with a climb up the mountain’s bamboo landscape. Each party of trekkers is limited to no more than eight individuals to ensure the safety of the gorilla families you see. Once you have located a gorilla family, you will have one hour to observe and photograph these magnificent animals. READ MORE
Golden monkey tracking
Seeing the golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park is a must for anybody planning a safari to the area. They’ve been conditioned to make sightseeing easier for visitors. The bamboo groves at the base of the Virunga Volcanoes are home to the majority of the continent’s golden monkey population. A guide will help you find the best places to see golden monkeys, tell you about the primate species that live in the park, and otherwise make your golden monkey tracking experience a breeze. READ MORE
Exploring the Musanze Caves
In times of conflict, the monarchs of Rwanda would utilize these ancient caverns to stockpile food supplies. Today, they make for quite the sight for tourists at Volcanoes National Park. Many bats adorn the cave ceilings, and when you point a flashlight at them, their glowing eyes catch the light. Your footsteps and the heavy dew droplets hitting the cave floor are the only sounds you’ll have heard as you make your way to the cave’s exit and into the sunshine. Visiting these caverns is like taking a trip back in time. READ MORE
Gorilla Guardians Village
As you prepare to depart Volcanoes National Park, stop at Iby’Iwacu Village, now known as Gorilla Guardians Village. You may enjoy the facilities whether you stay for a few hours or a few days. Do you want to try something different for dinner? Prepare and/or consume regional specialties like banana beer and banana juice. Try some of the locally produced and brewed herbal remedies if you’re a doctor or botanist. After your questions have been answered, take it easy and enjoy the local music and dancing performed by a local dance troupe. READ MORE
Dian Fossey Hike:
When it comes to studying primates, Dian Fossey is in the top tier. The poaching of wildlife, especially mountain gorillas, in Volcanoes National Park was considerably decreased because to her bravery and resolve. She saved the mountain gorilla population from extinction, which would have happened without her. She also gained the dominant male gorilla’s respect and trust by mimicking his calls, a technique she deemed novel at the time. Hundreds of people each year go to the area between Mounts Karisimbi and Bisoke to pay their respects at the old Karisoke Research Center and her tomb. In all, the guided trek takes roughly three hours. One may get a sense of what she went through, how determined she was, and how much she cared about the gorillas by hiking up the volcanoes to her old base. READ MORE
Visiting the Twin Lakes
Visiting the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera is a great way to unwind after participating in a strenuous activity like gorilla trekking. Beautiful vistas of birds and the extensive mountainous scenery with waterfalls may be seen on a boat excursion over the deep waters of these two lakes. If you want to discover more about what sets the lake islanders apart from the other Rwandan tribes, a trip to the islands is a great way to do it. READ MORE
How to get to the Volcanoes National Park
Hotels and resorts are concentrated in the Musanze region, which may be reached by either private or public transportation. The park is located two hours outside of Kigali on a paved road. However, you’ll need transportation to get to the park’s trekking point, and a 4×4 is suggested due to the road’s rough terrain.
There is no doubt that you can get to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali. The northern Rwandan district of Musanze may be reached in under two hours by car from the capital city of Kigali. If you leave Kigali at 4 a.m. sharp, you may do the whole gorilla trek in a single day. From Kigali or Gisenyi, visitors may take a bus to Musanze, where they can then rent a vehicle to take them to the park headquarters. The most convenient option is to hire a tour operator to transport you from the airport to the Park Headquarters in Kinigi, where briefings for the different activities take place. From Entebbe Airport, visitors must travel around 10 hours to the Border crossing location between Uganda and Rwanda on the way to Volcanoes National Park.
Accommodations in Volcanoes National Park
Musanze town and Kinigi right on the park’s borders both have a wide range of lodging options, from luxurious resorts to more modest hotels. Mid-range options include the Amarembo lodge, the Le Bamboo lodge, the Da Vinchi Gorilla Lodge, and the Ingagi Park View lodge, while high-end options include the Gorilla Nest, Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda, Virunga, and Five Volcanoes. The Muhabura Hotel, the La Palme Hotel, the Garden Palace Hotel, etc., are just a few of the inexpensive hotels available.
Partnerships
Visit Rwanda is proud to partner with some of the world’s biggest brands to share the beauty of the country with millions around the globe.
Sleeve Sponsor
Arsenal Football Club
Premium Partner
Paris Saint Germain
Yellow Jersey Sponsor
Tour du Rwanda