Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park, with an area of 160 square kilometres, is dominated by the five impressive volcanoes after which it is named. Located in the northern province of Rwanda, along the border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes constructed at the western branch of the Great Rift Valley. In the snowy summiting of Mount Karisimbi, the most authentic ash cone still counts among the main points of attraction in the entire world. Closer to the Park headquarters, hikers can also identify Diane Fossey’s grave on Mount Bisoke. This beautiful national park is a haven to numerous world’s population of mountain gorillas, and through private guides helps maintain the revenue for their restoration and protection to a self-sufficient level. Moreover, at least 178 forests wildlife species have been established in this park, 13 of which are primates.
The park is divided into five sectors, two of which, namely, Sabinyo and Bisoke, are occupied domestically by the mountain gorillas. Located just 96 kilometres by road from the Rwandan capital, Kigali, the park is situated on the mountainous slopes that the highest point of the rift has constructed by boomeranging northeastwards.from the summits of the establishing cones, it is possible to take in wondrous sweeping views of the very peaks that have created the topography of the Great Lakes: these being the clear blue crater lakes. The keys to the age-old success of Volcanoes National Park lie in its forest heritage. As a forest national park, it has conserved and enhanced a part of a dense wooded area that was once nearly global in its extent, tracking back to the time at which the first human species to use mythical speech departed from the forests that embraced them.
The Volcanoes National Park (VNP) is bordered on the southwest by the Rwanda Virunga’s National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and on the west and northwest by the Virunga National Park in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park and the contiguous Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo are the next most important area for the conservation of mountain gorillas after the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. This important biologically rich region in east-central Africa was first protected in 1925 as a small area of historical cultural significance. In 1929, the boundaries were expanded by the Colonial Aristocratic Belgian rulers.
Until 1969, the Volcanoes National Park boundary, except for certain changes, was demarcated by natural features like the summits of the volcanoes with the lowest points in the saddle between the Mikeno in the Congo and the Visoke in Rwanda as a joint border. Today, the park stretches from forest montane, bamboo marsh, heather-moorland, and grassland at over 1600 m to the Afro-Alpine zone at 3000 m where it reaches a high point of 4,507 m; Mountain Karisimbi to the west. The terrain is the most rugged of all the gorilla parks. It consists of twelve volcanic peaks, of which Karisimbi (4,507 m) is the highest. Dian Fossey’s grave (2,835 m) is near the Karisoke Research Centre, which lies below the Gahinga (3,473 m) and Muhavura (4,127 m) cones bordering Rwanda and Uganda
Today’s Volcanoes National Park area has been described since the late 19th century when the colonial military officer Oscar von Bongaie traveled to Central and East Africa.
Today, the mountain gorilla study is encouraging up to 80% of the world’s population visits to Virunga Park.Here are some of the acticitties that can be done in Volcanoes national Park:
Gorilla trekking: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is the major tourist activity in Rwanda with the highest number of trekkers/ tourists recorded every year. A gorilla visit can entail a 1 to 4-hour trek through the forest, led by experienced trackers who have spent their entire lives living in or close to the forest.
Golden Monkey tracking: Golden monkeys are rare primates that are found in the Virunga Region. During your visit to Volcanoes National Park, you will meet the golden monkeys in the bamboo forests. There are two habituated groups of golden monkeys that can be tracked by visitors.
Bird watching: The Volcanoes National Park features among the best places to go birding in Rwanda. It boasts of over 180 bird species that have been recorded in the park including unique and rare species. At least 18 Albertine Rift Endemics (birds that are restricted to the Albertine Rift) are found within the park boundaries.
Hiking: For hikers the Virunga is a region not to miss. There are a number of hiking trails in the majestic Virunga Mountains. You can also enjoy cycling the area. The most popular hikes in the area include; Mount Bisoke Hike and Mount Karisimbi Hike (2 Days).
Twin Lakes Tours: Try your hand at fishing within the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo. A boat cruise along the lake will reward you with sightings of heavily terraced and cultivated hills, and the Virunga Volcanoes. Visitors can be able to plan their Trip with Focus East Africa tours which offers the best packages.
