Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is found in North-Western Rwanda. The Park spans an area of 62 square miles and is mostly covered by equatorial rainforest. Volcanoes National Park attains its name from the fact that it is home to 5 of the 8 volcanoes that form the ranges of Virunga. The volcanoes within the park are Sabyinyo, Muhabura, Karisimbi, Gahinga and Bisoke. It’s equally bordered by rich ecosystems of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in D.R Congo
History of Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park first attained gazette status in 1925. It was initially a very small expanse made up of mountains Bisoke, Karisimbi, and Mikeno. The major goal at the time was merely the conservation and protection of the mountain gorillas from rampant poaching activities. It can be fairly said therefore that it was the first gazette National Park on the African continent.
The Park was extended in 1929 when more land was attributed to it as far as colonial Congo. From 1967, shortly after the arrival of American primatologist Dian Fossey, the Park became an extensive conservation area for the mountain gorillas. Karisoke Research Center was later founded with its base between the mountains Visoke and Karisimbi. Numerous mountain gorillas were saved due to the institute’s efforts and by the time of Dian Fossey’s murder in 1985, Karisoke Research Center’s Mountain gorilla conservation works had caught the attention of the international community. The Park survived the 1994 Rwanda genocide and presently blooms with numerous wildlife species besides mountain gorillas.
Uniqueness of Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is the only park with mountain gorillas in Rwanda. This feature makes it the most visited Park in the country. Tourists come from all over the world to trek the primates. The Park also has geographic features that make it outstanding i.e. the five Virunga volcanoes of Sabinyo, Muhabura, Karisimbi, Gahinga, and Bisoke.
Attractions in Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorillas
As noted, the park is the only destination in Rwanda to find these primates. The mountain gorillas within the park are an extension of the Virunga ecosystem which is the only area in which the mountain gorillas are found globally. The Park has over 13 habituated gorilla families readily available for Trekking.
Golden monkeys
Apart from the mountain gorillas, the Virunga ecosystem similarly houses the golden monkeys that are only found in the area globally. The species has an outstanding physical appearance which makes it the main center of attraction. They similarly roam around the jungles of Volcanoes National Park.
Birds
Volcanoes National Park has a recorded number of over 178 bird species. Since the Park is located in the western rift of East Africa, over 13 bird species are endemic to the region. Some of the birds migrate from as far as the Congo River basin, and others from the far land areas of the Great Lakes region.
Virunga volcanoes
There are five, with each standing individually within the park. They include mountains Muhabura, Sabinyo, Gahinga, Karisimbi and Bisoke. Each of these mountains has distinct features such as the difference in elevation, area cover, and geographic formations like cones, calderas, and craters, among others.
Activities in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking
This is the most common activity and is done by tracking the available mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. For one to trek mountain gorillas, they are required to have a trekking permit purchased from the Rwanda Development Board or through a local tour operator.
Each permit costs $1,500. Trekkers are grouped into 8 individuals per group to participate in the trek. The trek takes an average of 2 to 7 hours depending on the movements or shifts in the gorilla families. This is done with the help of rangers who not only act as guides but also provide sec
