Volcanoes National Park Safari Travel Guide

Home to more than half of the world's endangered mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is one of three places where mountain gorillas are still found in the wild. It is one of the best places for gorilla trekking in Africa (and the world).

Where is Volcanoes National Park in Africa?

Volcanoes National Park is in Rwanda, in Central Africa. 

It is one of two national parks named Volcanoes National Park. The other Volcanoes National Park is in Hawaii. 

Here, we’re talking about Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. A small landlocked country, Rwanda is bordered by Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Uganda. The country lies a few degrees south of the equator in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa.

Volcanoes National Park Size

Volcanoes National Park is about 160 km² (62mi²) in size. 

Rwanda is the 4th smallest country on the African continent, covering an area of about 26 340km² (10 170 mi²). 

Where is Volcanoes National Park located in Rwanda? 

Africa’s Volcanoes National Park is in the far northwest of Rwanda. It is in the Virunga Mountains, which form part of the Albertine Rift Mountains.

This extensive mountain range spans the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. Thus, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is very close to the neighboring countries of Uganda and the DRC. Volcanoes Park borders Virunga National Park in the DRC and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. 

The national park is situated close to the town of Musanze, previously named Ruhengeri. The park’s headquarters are based in the small village of Kinigi, in the Musanze area.

How far is Volcanoes National Park from Kigali in Rwanda?

Volcanoes Park is the easiest gorilla trekking destination to access. It is only about 80km (50mi) from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. 

This means it takes about 2 to 3 hours to drive from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park. Compared to the 8 to 9 hours drive from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi National Park in Uganda, getting to Volcanoes is a breeze. 

It is possible to embark on day trips to Volcanoes for gorilla trekking. But, we advise against day tours as it is just too far and there is so much more to see in and around Volcanoes Park.

What is Volcanoes National Park famous for?

Volcanoes National Park is famous for its mountain gorilla population. It is renowned for its gorilla trekking safaris.

• Endangered Mountain Gorillas: Volcanoes National Park is home to over half of the world’s mountain gorillas left in the wild. It is one of the three places to go mountain gorilla trekking in Africa. That means it is one of only three places in the entire world where you can come face-to-face with mountain gorillas in the wild. No small claim to fame!

• First National Park in Africa: Volcanoes Park is also the oldest national park in Africa. Established in 1925, by King Albert I of Belgium.

• Dian Fossey: Volcanoes Park is where famous primatologist Dian Fossey was based from 1967 onwards. This is the place where Fossey conducted her groundbreaking research on wild mountain gorillas. She studied the gorillas of Volcanoes and fought for their survival until her murder in 1985. Today her remains are buried at the former research center next to the grave of Digit, her most beloved gorilla.

• Gorillas in the Mist: Later, the renowned movie Gorillas in the Mist (based on conservationist, Dian Fossey's life) was filmed in Volcanoes National Park.

• Golden Monkeys: In addition to its endangered mountain gorillas, Volcanoes Park is also renowned for its endemic golden monkeys. Tracking golden monkeys is less expensive and not as difficult as trekking the mountain gorillas, so many visitors add this activity to their visit.

Why is it called Volcanoes National Park?

The national park is named after the dormant volcanoes located within it. Of the eight volcanoes that form the Virunga Massif, five are located in Volcanoes National Park. These are Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. 

Due to this string of volcanoes the park is called, Parc National des Volcans (or Volcanoes National Park). 

Volcanoes National Park Ecosystems

The Volcanoes National Park incorporates a marked variety of landscapes that give rise to diverse habitats and ecosystems. As a result, the park hosts a high diversity of animals, birds, and other living things.

Virunga’s steep mountain slopes are swathed in rainforests higher up. As you descend the vegetation changes to bamboo thicket followed by low-lying wetlands and open grasslands.

Wildlife of Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is home to some of the world’s most remarkable and rare wildlife populations. 

The mountain gorilla population in Volcanoes Park is reason enough to visit on its own. There are about 400 mountain gorillas in the national park, more than half the remaining wild population in the world.

Volcanoes Park has much more to offer though. The park is known for its golden monkey population. Golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) only live in the Virunga Mountains and are only found below the altitude of 3000m. This endemic subspecies of the Sykes monkey is a unique and rare animal. A once-in-a-lifetime sighting in the wild.

Volcanoes National Park also hosts rare forest elephants and black-fronted duiker. Other animals include spotted hyenas, buffaloes, bushbucks, and a rich array of reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

Birds of Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

This special Rwanda national park offers remarkable birding. About 180 bird species have been recorded in Volcanoes Park. A relatively high number of species considering the small size of the park.

Birding highlights include sightings of the 29 endemic bird species native to the area. These include the Rwenzori double-collared sunbird.

Rwanda gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park 

All Rwanda gorilla trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park. If you are planning a Rwanda gorilla trek, you’re preparing for a gorilla trek in Volcanoes Park.

• The peak tourist season for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes Park is from June to September. This is when permit availability is scarcest and the prices are highest. It is also when the weather and conditions are best for gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
• Rwanda gorilla treks are conducted in small groups of up to 8 people per trek. 
• There are around 10 habituated gorilla groups that can be visited on guided gorilla treks.
• The duration and difficulty of your gorilla trek will depend on the gorilla family you visit, where they are at the time, and the local conditions at the time.

Find out more about gorilla trekking on our blog in Gorilla Trekking Rwanda vs Uganda, our Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Africa, and the Best Places for Safe & Affordable Gorilla Trekking in Africa

How much does Rwanda gorilla trekking in Volcanoes cost?

In Rwanda, gorilla trekking permits cost $1500 USD. 

You need to book Rwanda gorilla trekking permits 6 months in advance, at the least. 

When is the best time for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?

The best time to go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes Park of Rwanda is in the dry seasons.

The dry seasons are from December to February and from June to August. These are the best times for gorilla trekking and wildlife watching in Volcanoes Park.

The shoulder seasons are always worth considering as prices drop and there are fewer tourists around. Even during the rainy seasons, there are dry spells where it doesn’t rain, but nature is unpredictable, so this can’t be guaranteed. The perk of visiting in the wet season is that the birding is at its best and the forests are lush and green.

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda Weather (When to Visit)

Rwanda's climate is relatively cool compared to other East African countries, due to its high altitude. It gets cold, especially in winter (June to early September), so pack warm clothes for the chilly mornings and nights. Rwanda's climate is also wet throughout the year, so pack a raincoat, waterproof clothes, and good hiking shoes.  

The best times to visit Volcanoes Park in Rwanda are during the two dry seasons. The long dry season, from June to early August, is in winter. The short dry season, from December to February, is in summer. These are the most popular times to visit Volcanoes National Park because the walking trails are less muddy which makes gorilla trekking easier and the weather is generally better. Rwanda receives rainfall even in the dry seasons but you are less likely to get caught in rain showers on your gorilla trek.

The dry seasons also coincide with northern hemisphere holiday times, with the long dry season falling during the summer break and the short dry season over winter break and the festive holiday season. Thus, these are the busiest months for gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

The shoulder seasons are excellent times to travel to Volcanoes in Rwanda. These are the periods just before and after the high seasons (dry months when travel peaks). There are fewer tourists and lower prices (more travel deals and accommodation specials) in the shoulder and rainy seasons.

The perks of gorilla trekking in the rainy and shoulder seasons include lush forest scenery, excellent birding, better prices, and fewer visitors. The gorillas also tend to move down the slopes in the cold wet months and spend more time on the forest floor foraging while food is more plentiful. So, if you don't mind cold, rainy weather these are rewarding times to visit.

History of Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park was founded to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and other vulnerable wildlife in 1925. It was formerly called Albert National Park, after Belgium’s King Albert I.

A few years later (in 1929) the park was expanded into the Congo. In the 1960s it was split into two national parks, namely Virunga Park in the Congo and Volcanoes Park in Rwanda. 

In the 1990s the Rwandan genocide devastated the country and the park became a battlefield and tourism ceased. After years of turmoil, the Rwanda Government re-launched tourism and conservation efforts in Volcanoes National park. In 2005 they introduced a gorilla baby naming ceremony for tourists, involving the local community

Why choose Volcanoes Park for gorilla trekking in Africa?

The fact that Volcanoes Park is easier to get to than Bwindi and Virunga parks, gives it a distinct advantage. Firstly, it is closer to the nearest major airport. Then, Rwanda has good infrastructure in place with decent roads connecting Volcanoes Park and the airport in Kigali. 

Another advantage is the high quality and variety of accommodation available close to Volcanoes Park. There are good options for various travel budgets, from luxury to budget establishments.

One of the main reasons more travelers choose Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking than Virunga is safety. Rwanda gorilla safaris are typically well-managed and the security is excellent. The Volcanoes region is safer for travel, which makes it a popular choice despite the higher cost of gorilla permits in Rwanda.

Lastly, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is often easier than in the other two African gorilla parks. It offers shorter distances, less dense vegetation that is easier to navigate, and hills that are not as steep.