Tourist Attractions in Volcanoes National Park.
Tourist Attractions in Volcanoes National Park: Situated in northwest Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park borders Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For the uncommon and endangered mountain gorilla and golden monkey, the national park is a sanctuary.
Along with serving as a home for various wildlife species, it is also the location of five of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga Mountains: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. In order to save the mountain gorillas from poachers, the park was initially gazetted in 1925 and covered a tiny region that included the Karisimbi, Mikeno, and Visoke volcanoes. It was Rwanda’s very first national park.
The park’s boundaries were then expanded into Rwanda and the Belgian Congo in 1929 to create the Albertine region, a vast area of almost 8,000 km2, which was divided into what is now Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in the late 1970s.
The administrative and main town in the area, Musanze town, also known as Ruhengeri, is around 13 kilometers from the park. Located in the districts of Musanze, Gakenke, and Burera, Volcanoes National Park is a section of the Afro-montane forest and tropical rain that flank the Virunga mountain range, which consists of eight tall mountains shared by three East African nations.
These include Karisimbi, which means “high nest,” Bisoke, which means “mouthful,” Mikeno, which means “small one,” Senkwekwe, Sabinyo, which means “old man’s teeth,” Gahinga, which means “piles of stones,” Muhabura, which means “the guide,” which is where one of the strenuous mountain gorilla trekking activities in volcanoes takes place, and a visit to Karisimbi’s tomb (grotto), where the park’s first conservation warden is interred.
On clear days, the park provides tourists with breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes, the undulating hills of the park, the Empaqué De Gisenyi, Ruhondo, Kivu, and Burera of Rwanda, as well as the local populations and the ease and observations of rural life in certain countries. In particular, this park is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
Tracking mountain gorillas is one of the main draws for visitors to Volcanoes National Park. Ten habituated gorilla families can be found in the national park and are accessible for trekking. Additionally, Rwanda’s portion of the vast Virunga massif is covered by Volcanoes Park, which borders Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in Congo. In Rwanda, visitors who wish to see mountain gorillas must get gorilla licenses, which cost $1500 each for an hour of interaction. The Rwanda Development Board is responsible for issuing all permits.
An additional popular activity in Volcanoes National Park that draws thousands of visitors to this area is golden monkey trekking. Every traveler should not miss the chance to see the amazing golden monkeys on their safari in Rwanda. Travelers can only witness golden monkeys in their native environments in the Volcanoes of Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.
Visit Volcanoes National Park’s Attractions
Climbing volcanoes
Volcanoes National Park is home to three extinct volcanoes in addition to animals. Hiking to the summit of any volcano in this park offers visitors the added benefit of breathtaking views of Kigali, Rwanda’s undulating hills, the Virunga volcanoes, and the local population. The experience of climbing MT Karisimbi, the most popular volcano, is well worth the effort.
Caving
On your Rwandan safari to Volcanoes National Park, make sure to explore the Musanze caves. You are led inside subterranean caverns by knowledgeable guides who also explain Rwanda’s history, secrets, and other information.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is a treasure trove of biodiversity and natural beauty. Its volcanic terrain, diverse primate population, and conservation efforts make it a top ecotourism and adventure destination. Visitors to the park are treated to an absolutely remarkable experience in one of Africa’s cleanest countries and the most breathtaking setting of a thousand hills, whether they choose to walk to view mountain gorillas, climb volcanic peaks, or participate in local customs.
