Gorilla Trip To Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
A gorilla tour and safari to Volcanoes National Park is a purely life-changing experience that rewards travelers with a close encounter with our wild cousins, the endangered mountain gorillas with whom we share 98% of our DNA.
One of the most visited National Parks in Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park, thousands of tourists love to take part in this lifetime experience of trekking the magnificent mountain Gorillas. These endangered species are found in the Virunga Mountain Range of Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC Congo. Rwanda's Gorilla has been great with the conservation work on these gentle giants, the mountain gorillas’ population keeps growing by the day. Gorilla trekking tours are one of the top tourist attractions in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park runs a very smooth gorilla trekking operation. The gorilla tours are well organized and structured.
Volcanoes National Park is a stop centre for all Rwanda gorilla safaris sheltering the highest number of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Conservation area. The strategic location of the VNP roughly 2 hours drive from Kigali International Airport make it the most accessible gorilla national park in the world. Besides gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is a home for golden monkeys, a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects among other creatures which together make a complete Rwanda wildlife safari package.
Spanning a 160 sq. km area in the northern part of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is part of the great Virunga volcano conservation region spanning Virunga National Park in Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. It was initially a small area around Karisimbi, Mikeno, and Visoke volcanoes which was gazetted to protect the Mountain gorillas that were facing the threat of extinction as a result of poaching.
The unique opportunity to see gorillas in their natural habitat is unforgettable, some even say life-changing. Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up bamboo-covered slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour just a few feet away from the gentle creatures.
The Gorilla tour activity starts as early as 7 am every morning when Volcanoes National Park rangers and guides walk with tourists through the muddy bamboo forest looking for the gorillas. It takes about four to eight hours for a tourist to encounter the gorilla to spend one hour with them as they carry out their daily activities.
There is a limited number of tourists to take part in the activity daily, only 8 people are supposed to be joining a group to visit one of the 18 mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorillas do not stay in the same spot hence the need to do some tracking before you spend your magical one hour with them. They usually climb higher up the mountain in the dry season and descend in the wet season, so your tour guide might have a general idea of where the group you are tracking might be during a particular season, but there are no guarantees that you will find them where you expect them to be.
Eight tracking permits are issued per troop per day, meaning the encounter is as intimate and as unobtrusive as possible. With only 96 permits available each day in Rwanda, it is highly recommended to book in advance, either online or via a reputable tour operator.
Gorilla Families in Volcanoes National Park:
There are several gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park and these include;
1. The Amahoro group: this group is usually found between the Karisoke and the Visoke peaks of the Virunga volcanoes. This group has about 17 gorillas. Together with the Umubano group of 11, they are the furthest from the park headquarters.
2. The Sabinyo Group is usually found between Mt. Sabinyo and Gahinga. It has about 12 individuals, with a couple of silverbacks in the group.
3. Agashya Group, formerly referred to as “Group Thirteen”, is often found close to the Sabinyo group, and has about 25 gorillas including two silverbacks.
4. The Susa Group is the largest in volcanoes NP with about 40 individuals, including 3 silverbacks. This group is usually found high up on Mount Karisimbi, which makes for a relatively more challenging hike, but it is well worth the effort.
5. The Karisimbi Group, which split from the Susa group a few years ago, can be found in the Mt. Karisimbi area. Tracking these two groups requires a full-day hike.
6. The Kwitonda Group has 18 members and was habituated in the DRC. They crossed the border into Rwanda in 2005, and are now open for visitation.
7. The Hirwa Group has around 11 members including one silverback and a pair of twins.
8. The Bwenge Group, named after the group Silverback, has 11 members and can be a tough trek.
9. The Ugende Group, whose name means “on the move” – because its 11 individuals are always moving to new areas is also quite difficult to track.
For those interested in tracing the footsteps of Dian Fossey, her tomb is a 30-minute drive from the park headquarters and then a two or three-hour hike through the forest, to above 3,000m altitude.
The annual Kwita Izina gorilla-naming ceremony is a special time to visit the Volcanoes National Park, with guided tours leading up to the main event providing an opportunity to meet park staff and conservationists, attend cultural evenings, and a celebration in Musanze.
At the naming ceremony itself, there’s music, dancing, and discussion about Rwanda’s great strides in gorilla conservation and the great challenges that remain.
Other wildlife species in Volcanoes National Park:
In addition to mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is home to golden monkeys, Spotted Hyenas, buffaloes, elephants, black-fronted duiker, and bushbuck. The park also harbors 178 bird species including at least 29 endemics to the Rwenzori mountains and the Virungas
Access to Volcanoes National Park:
Volcanoes National Park is located in a small village called Musanze previously well-known as Ruhengeri, which is very accessible by public transport from Gisenyi or Kigali or from the airport. The drive to Volcanoes National Park is 2 hrs and hence one can do gorilla tracking on the same day and drive back to Kigali after the trek.
You will be required to arrive at the headquarters in Kinigi, at the park entrance, by 7:00 am, therefore, if you hope to trek gorillas for one day, you have to wake up very early for your journey so that you are on time.
Best time to visit Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park takes place throughout the year though the dry season is preferably the best time to visit the park. Here is the full guide on when to visit Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda’s weather, seasons, what to carry for your trip, among other
Where to Stay in Volcanoes National Park
Staying in a safe, comfortable, and quiet environment is a key essential for a successful and enjoyable safari. Below are some of the Accommodations in Rwanda ranging from high-end, midrange, and budget hotel options.
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel:
The lodge offers relaxing high-end accommodations, with beautiful views of the rolling hills of the Land of a Thousand Hills. Accommodation comprises 13 bedrooms (double/twin), and a VIP cottage. Each facility is air-conditioned.
Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge:
Super luxury lodge located in northern Rwanda’s Musanze district nestled in a forest of Eucalyptus trees. The lodge offers a family-sized magnificent accommodation at Jack Hannah’s cottages with beautiful views of Rwanda’s hills and slopes of the Volcanoes National Park.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge:
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is located in the Musanze district close to the Parc National des Volcans park headquarters an excellent location for gorilla trekking. The lodge is situated at the foothill of the Virunga ranges comprising of a wonderful view of the rolling hills.
Best View Hotel:
Situated in Ruhengeri, Best View Hotel is a superlative hotel that every traveler should stay. The hotel offers high-quality accommodation services for travelers to Volcanoes National Park and all over Rwanda. All rooms in the hotel have free Wi-Fi Internet services and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.
Faraja Hotel:
Staying at Faraja Hotel feels like being in a home outside a home. The lodge is situated in Musanze along the Ruhengeri-Gisenyi road with breathtaking views of the Virunga volcanoes. The hotel has a total of 38 cottages split into 12 king-size rooms, 10 standard singles, 12 queen-size, 3 singles, and 1 junior suite. Rooms have private bathrooms, warm showers, and free access to Wi-Fi Internet.
Garden Place Hotel:
The hotel is the best place you would rather be. It is situated in Ruhengeri offering comfortable stylish accommodations to both business and holiday travelers. It takes an hour and 30 minutes to drive from the airport to the lodge hence easy access. Regarding the rooms, the hotel has 28 rooms divided into 17 double, 2 VIP’s and 9 standard rooms.
Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge:
Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge has a total of five cottages which are all self-contained and designed in a natural setting providing travelers with enough privacy. The lodge has well-experienced staff who provide superb services to the clients. Quality local and international foods are served alongside all beverages meeting every traveler’s expectations.
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge:
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is located in Musanze district northern Rwanda neighboring Volcanoes National Park. The lodge is located on the foothills of Mount Sabinyo, a volcanic mountain that makes up the Virunga ranges.
Gorilla Solution Lodge:
The lodge is situated in the Kinigi sector, Musanze/Ruhengeri district roughly 2hour drive from Kigali airport. The lodge is in the shadows of Mt Karisimbi overlooking the chain of Virunga volcanoes.
Hotel Muhabura:
The hotel is located north of Kigali in Musanze province opposite the Musanze district headquarters. The hotel comprises 30 rooms and apartments that offer a cozy environment to relax in after gorilla trekking or a day visit to the Northern area of Rwanda.
Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel:
Modern hotel with a unique character and a pleasant ambiance located in Musanze north of Kigali. The hotel comprises 31 spacious comfortable rooms with an ensuite bathtub and shower. An impressive bar is attached to the restaurant.
Virunga Lodge:
The lodge is situated about an hour’s drive from the park headquarters, Virunga Lodge is currently one the area’s top lodges and certainly has one of the most spectacular locations of any camp in Africa – high on a ridge overlooking both Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo.
Arrange and Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
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