Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park in northwest Rwanda is considered the premier place for trekking gorillas and golden monkeys. The park houses not only primates but also five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Massif, contributing to its stunning beauty and remarkable biodiversity.
Numerous remarkable avian species, including Rift Valley endemics, draw many ornithologists to Volcanoes National Park. The burial site of renowned American primatologist Dian Fossey is located within the park. This site serves as a significant attraction for several travelers who honor the memory of this deceased primatologist.
What renders Volcanoes National Park an awe-inspiring tourist destination?
Mountain Gorillas, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
The primary attraction of Volcanoes National Park is undoubtedly the mountain gorillas. The park, along with Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and DR Congo’s Virunga National Park, constitutes the Virunga Mountains’ ecosystem and safeguards over fifty percent of the global population of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Among the three parks in the Virunga Mountains, Volcanoes National Park attracts the greatest number of visitors. The majority engage in gorilla trekking while simultaneously exploring additional activities in the park, such as volcano hiking, golden monkey tracking, and bird watching.
Sir David Attenborough’s depiction in his 1979 work, Life on Earth: A Natural History, provides one of the most exemplary accounts of the gorilla trekking experience.
“Exchanging a glance with a gorilla conveys greater meaning and mutual understanding than with any other animal I am acquainted with.” Their vision, auditory perception, and olfactory sense closely resemble ours, allowing them to see the environment similarly to us. “If there exists any opportunity to transcend the human condition and imaginatively inhabit the realm of another species, it would undoubtedly be with the gorilla,” he remarked following his visit to Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla families at Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda
Twelve gorilla families have been acclimatized for tourism in Volcanoes National Park. Other gorilla groups in the park are acclimated for research and study purposes. The gorilla families encountered by trekkers comprise Agashya, Susa, Sabyinyo, Kwitonda, Igisha, Karisimbi, Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Muhoza, Bwenge, and Ugyenda.
Due to the endangered status of mountain gorillas, gorilla trekking is stringently regulated to facilitate their conservation and ensure their survival in their natural habitat. Each gorilla group is visited daily by a maximum of eight trekkers. Visitors are allowed to see gorillas for a maximum of one hour, and silence is required throughout this time.
To trek mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, each visitor acquires a gorilla permit for a substantial fee of $1,500. A significant portion of this sum is reinvested to facilitate the conservation of gorillas and their habitat, while 10% is allocated to assist the local community people.
Golden monkeys
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is primarily renowned for its endangered mountain gorillas; nonetheless, the stunning golden monkeys represent the second most significant attraction in the park. Similar to their relatives, the mountain gorillas, golden monkeys are exclusively located in the Virunga Mountains. In terms of allure and engaging guests, golden monkeys surpass gorillas. Golden monkeys draw several primate fans due to their remarkable photogenic qualities.
Additional fauna in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park is home to various animals, including gorillas, golden monkeys, and the uncommon forest elephants. It is estimated that approximately 50 persons inhabit the park. Some fortunate visitors may see forest elephants during their journey to the Karisoke Research Centre. Buffaloes are occasionally observed in forests, among smaller ungulates such as bushbucks, black-fronted duikers, bush pigs, and gigantic forest hogs.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Five of the eight volcanic summits of the Virunga Mountains are included within Volcanoes National Park. Despite the inactivity of all five volcanoes, their presence in the park provides tourists with a striking experience. The mountains comprise Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura. The volcanoes align adjacent to one another, forming a dentate aspect that provides a remarkable visual impression for tourists. Mount Karisimbi boasts the highest elevation at 4,500 meters, but the most of the park is situated slightly above 2,000 meters above sea level.
Vegetation in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
The diversity of flora types in Volcanoes National Park is influenced by its considerable altitudinal range. Tropical and bamboo forests are seen at lower altitudes, whilst montane forests and Afroalpine shrublands are situated at the highest elevations in the park. Between the volcanoes, there exist thickets, marshes, grasslands, and small lakes.
Kwita Izina – The gorilla-naming ceremony held in Volcanoes National Park
Kwita Izina is an annual ceremony for naming newborn gorillas. The ceremony draws inspiration from the Rwandan practice of naming children. A number of conservationists and prominent persons from around the globe are invited to name these juvenile primates. Designating names for gorillas has been crucial in their conservation and securing their future existence in the wild. Since 2005, more than 300 gorillas have received names. The ceremony features remarkable cultural performances encompassing music, dance, and conservation dialogues.
