The Special Features of Volcanoes National Park

What makes the National Park of Volcanoes special?

Volcanoes National Park is home to endangered mountain gorillas, which are constantly available to visitors searching for thrilling gorilla tours in Rwanda. It is believed to be the oldest national park in both East Africa and all of Africa.

Situated on the border of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Volcanoes National Park. The habitat of the critically endangered mountain gorillas is the main draw of Volcanoes National Park.

The verdant woodlands on the foothills of the Virunga mountains are home to these amazing animals. Wandering through the forest, visitors get an amazing chance to get up close and personal with these gentle giants.

The park is home to rare primate species known as golden monkeys in addition to mountain gorillas. It’s an amazing pleasure to watch these colorful, energetic monkeys. Black-fronted duikers, hyenas, bushbucks, and buffaloes are a few additional animal species.

Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo are among the five Virunga Mountains that can be found in Volcanoes National Park. With about 160 km2 of bamboo and rainforest, it is the smallest national park in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park offers a plethora of distinctive features and experiences—but only if you engage with them.

There is a rare species of mountain gorilla in the park.

Mountains gorillas.

The presence of unique and critically endangered mountain gorillas on the numerous Virunga Mountain slopes is one of Volcanoes National Park’s most distinctive features. To witness the various gorilla species that can be found on the slopes of these mountains, especially in bamboo trees because they eat bamboo, you will need to hike several Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes National Park, such as Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Bisoke, and Mountain Gahinga.

A fulfilling experience that will give you an adventure of a lifetime is hiking in the Virunga Mountains. A gorilla climb offers the opportunity to witness a variety of bird species in addition to primate species like black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, mona monkeys, and golden monkeys.

Encompassing five beautiful Virunga peaks, Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is home to Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura, five of the eight Virunga Mountains. The Susa, Karisimbi, Amahoro, Titus, Kirwa, Kwitonda, Sabyinyo, Umubano, Agashya, Ugenda, and Bwenge groups are among the roughly thirteen distinct gorilla families that call these majestic volcanoes home. This is the most remarkable fact about them. Both tourists and academics can frequently spot these families.

Volcanoes National Park is home to golden monkeys, which are critically endangered.

Volcanoes National Park is the only place in Rwanda where endangered golden monkeys can be found. There are golden monkey trekking permits in Rwanda; nevertheless, there have been reports of seeing these monkeys in Nyungwe National Park, which also has chimpanzee trekking.

The endangered golden monkey, which is endemic to the endangered mountain gorilla, can only be found in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda. It costs $100 per person to trek these fascinating monkeys in a national park with volcanoes, and the trek starts early in the morning. Visitors must abide by the same guidelines and regulations for trekking as they do for gorillas.

There are amazing trekking opportunities at the National Park of Volcanoes.

Trekking offers visitors an incredible safari experience in the Volcanoes National Park.You will be rewarded with many fascinating sights to see when hiking in Volcano National Park, including golden monkeys in bamboo woods and the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.

Along with numerous gorilla families, you will also be able to observe a diverse range of bird species, such as the gorgeous francolin, collared apalis, Ruwenzori Turaco, red-faced woodland warbler, and strange weaver.

It will also allow you to see Dian Fossey’s gorilla cemetery, where poachers in Volcanoes National Park slaughtered some of her favorite gorillas, including Digit. At this gorilla graveyard, Dian Fossey was buried next to her gorilla friends after finding herself dead in her cabin.

What location is Dian Fossey’s grave?
Fossey Dian

In order to prevent gorillas and other animals from going extinct, American primatologist Dian Fossey risked her life. The extremely endangered mountain gorillas were kept safe because to Dian Fossey’s unceasing efforts, which included her daily patrols and setting poachers’ homes on fire. Furthermore, Dian Fossey used the media to inform poachers about the harm they were doing to the different gorilla families and the risks they were posing.

Home to almost 200 different species of birds

Volcanoes National Park is among the most unusual and captivating national parks for birdwatching safaris. Over 200 different bird species can be found in the park, which also has a wide variety of plants, including 13 that are unique to the Virunga Mountains and 29 that are endemic to the Albertine Rift.

Rwandan birding tours in Volcanoes National Park offer a wide range of bird viewing opportunities, including the Red-faced Barbet, Shoebill Stork, Masked Mountain Apalis, Miombo Wren-warblers, Woodpecker Genolek, Red-faced Barbet, and Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher.