Top 5 Things To Do and See in Volcanoes National Park
Top 5 Things To Do and See in Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park was gazetted in 1925, making it the first ever national park in Africa. This park is the most popular national park in Rwanda, and one of the best place in the world to see the endangered mountain gorillas.
Volcanoes National Park was a base for the American Primatologist and conservationist, Dian Fossey. She conducted extensive research on the then critically endangered mountain gorillas whose numbers were declining. Her works brought world attention to the need to protect mountain gorillas. Because of her, the number of mountain gorillas has increased and the whole world is interested in conserving these apes.
Volcanoes National Park is one of the Rwanda top safari destinations and here are the top 5 Things To Do and See while on a Rwanda Safari.
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of the best place in the world to do gorilla trekking in Africa. The park is home to one of the biggest population of mountain gorillas with 12 habituated gorilla families open for visitors. Gorilla trekking is a must do activity on a Rwanda Safari. These endangered primates are only found in three countries that is Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park open for gorilla trekking include are many. These include Amahoro, Umubano, Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Susa and Hirwa among others. Each day, a group of 8 people are permitted to visit each of the families.
The trek begins with a briefing at the park headquarters, and thereafter a hike up the bamboo terrain of the volcano. There are guides and porters for each group of trekkers to lead you through the misty forest. As you look for the gorilla family assigned to you, the trek takes approximately 30 minutes to 6 hours. This is dependent on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. You are allowed to spend only one hour in the presence of the gorillas. Watch them groom, play, feed and take amazing pictures and videos for yourself.
Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Golden monkeys are another endangered primate specie found in Volcanoes National Park. Trekking these playful primates on a golden monkey trekking experience is a bucket list activity while on a Volcanoes National Park safari.
The park has troops of golden monkeys that have been habituated for tracking. Most of the golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park are found in the bamboo forest at the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes. The golden monkey trekking experience is done with a guide to lead you through the misty forest and tell you all about the history of the park as well as the experience along the way.
The trek takes approximately 30 minutes to 3 hours and visitors are allowed to spend only 1 hour’s watching these playful primates jump from one tree to another, pick fruits and take amazing pictures.
Note: Unlike Gorilla Trekking, golden monkey trekking takes a much shorter time to find these playful apes.
Volcano Hiking
If you love hiking, Volcanoes National Park is a great destination. Five Volcanoes namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo are all available. Mount Bisoke and Sabyinyo are the most commonly trekked volcanoes in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park offers two hiking options to choose from; the Day and Overnight Hike. The Day Hike leads you to Mount Bisoke one of the volcanoes in the Virunga ranges, the volcanoes stands at 3700 meters with a crater lake at the top.
An overnight hike is a long Mount Karisimbi, the second highest volcanic peak in the Virunga Ranges. Along the trails are diverse vegetation zones from bamboo, Afro-Montane to savannah. The hike is of the most challenging hikes in with a snow-capped peak especially in the dry season of June-August.
Visiting Musanze Caves
The Musanze Caves are age-old caves once used to store food supplies for the kings of Rwanda in times of war. Visiting these beautiful caves is a quite a scene to behold while on a Rwanda Safari in Volcanoes National Park.
The cave ceilings are studded with lots of bats whose eyes sparkle in the dark when you shine your flashlight. Towards the cave end and into the daylight, all you’ll hear amidst the silence is your footsteps and thick dew drops hit the cave’s floor.
A walk through Musanze Caves is literally a walk down memory lane.
Cultural Experience at Gorilla Guardians’ Village
The Ib’Iwacu Village is also known as Gorilla Guardian’s village. It is close to the park, making it a perfect destination while on a safari in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Participate in local dances and drama, visit the medicine-man for an insightful tutorial on usage of several plants and herbs. Also be crowned king and queen for a day, take part in preparing local meals and drinks like banana juice or banana brew beer during your experience.
In conclusion, Volcanoes National Park is a great destination to visit on an Africa Safari, from incredible encounters with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys to adventures volcano hiking experience.
