Plan to visit Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda that leis far northwest of the country, home to the giant mountain gorillas and to the golden monkeys. Volcanoes National Park is a forested area in the Virunga Mountains that border Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s most visited tourism park with the most preferred tourist attractions.
Check out why tourist flock to visit Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Face off with the Mountain Gorillas.
Meet and encounter the Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, you will love seeing the mountain gorillas in the wild. There are about 10 gorilla families in the misty Volcanoes National park and your reservations allow you an hour watching each family eat, sleep, and move about.
A closer look at a family of mountain gorillas, part of the reasons why you should Visit Volcanoes National Park
Get an amazing experience to see the mountain gorillas. The chance to see the gorillas in their native habitat is amazing. You trek to where the gorillas are located and spend an hour very close to them; watching them eat sleep and play is extremely outstanding. Gorillas will come so close to you that you could touch them. The groups of people are small so it is a very intimate experience. Do not mind about the US$ 1500 cost of the mountain gorilla trekking permit the experience is far unmatched in Africa.
Meet & Track the Golden Monkeys.
While most tourists visit Volcanoes National Park with the great desire to have a face-to-face encounter with real gorillas in the mist, others come-by to meet and track golden monkeys. Trekking to see the golden monkeys is another highlight of Volcanoes National Park. Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti) is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the “Blue Monkey” and is endemic to the high altitude forests. Come and see the Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive and often spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor. There are two habituated groups of Golden Monkey, one group comprises around 80 – 100 members and has its home at the foot of Mt Sabyinyo. The permit to track golden monkeys in Rwnada is at US$ 100.00 per person and the trek can last for up to 3-4hrs. Golden monkey trek in Uganda, can only be done in Mgahinga National Park, one can only see them here.
Hike Bisoke Mountain.
Hiking and climbing options are available for visitors seeking to experience great hiking experience. Visit and hike Bisoke Mountain Bisoke Mountain which is among the peaks of the Virunga mountain ranges found along the border of Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo and this is the most popular mountain hiking adventure in Rwanda.
Bisoke Mountain peak at 3,711m, is on the Rwanda side. It is a moderate hike which is done within a day (a total of seven hours for the round trip). The hike to Bisoke Mountain is very rewarding with a beautiful scenery and great views of the lush Virunga and Rwanda’s hilly landscape, a cloud experience at the top of the volcano. You also get to observe up-close an array of unique mountain wildlife. Besides the mountain gorilla trek in Rwanda, visitors can spare a day to do this amazing hike to Bisoke Mountain.
Visit the Musanze Cave.
Musanze caves in Volcanoes National park, formed by centuries of geologic activity centered around the Virunga volcanoes next door, the 1.25-mile long Musanze caves are located just outside of the town they share a name with, and are only a about 2 hrs drive from Kigali.
The Musanze Caves have enormous opening (and an equally huge number of bats resident inside), the greenery outside spilling over into the twilight within makes for a fantastic photo opportunity. Though today they’re a tourist attraction, the caves were used as a shelter during war time for many centuries leading right up into the modern era, and as such, it’s an important site to local people. Thus, out of respect for the area’s residents, access is limited to guided visits.
Expert guides guide visitors in to Musanze caves every day and they can explain the history of the caves from their formation to present day. The tours make an excellent add-on activity for the afternoon after you re done with your morning gorilla trek or a golden monkey trek. Visitation fee to Musanze caves is US$ 50.00
Dian Fossey Trek
Dian Fossey Hike leading you to the grave of the famous primatologist Dian Fossey that spearhead the research and the conservation of the mountain gorillas. Through her research she raised awareness of their vulnerability and promoted conservation initiatives, including setting up the Karisoke Research Foundation. The Dian Fossey hike is a half day excursion, typically taking around 5 hours and a fee is US$ 75.00 Dian Fossey is buried on the slopes of Mt Karisimbi near the graves of the gorillas she studied for so long.
A lot leaves to be desired and to be explored as you planning to visit Volcanoes National Park including village visit to share the local livelihood of the communities, beyond the gorilla experience which is a cultural experience in the communities, visiting the Dian Fossey museum in Musanze town (Free of charge), have an opportunity to meet the gorilla doctors as well for conservational talks on how gorillas are well taken care of and being monitored from human threat. Give yourself much time on your visit to the great park to explore the Africa you have always dreamed of and change a life.