Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri is located in Kinigi District offering gorilla Trekking tours in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri is incredible to explore as travelers encounter and engage with the Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat as they take you through their daily livelihood. They carry out many activities which include breast feeding, copulating, leadership, patrolling, playing .
Volcanoes National Park is located in Rwanda’s Ruhengeri-Kinigi District and famously known to offer amazing Gorilla Trekking Tours to all travelers from all over the world interested in trekking and watching the majestic Mountain Gorillas in their natural forest habitat. The Park is situated in the mist-covered highlands of northwestern Rwanda with Golden Monkeys, endangered mountain gorillas and dramatic volcanic landscapes (Mountain Volcanoes).
Getting to Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri (Musanze District) takes you a period of 2.5 hours’ drive from Kigali Rwanda’s capital city covering an area of 160 square kilometers and stretches to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda) and Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo). The Park includes bamboo forests, montane rainforest, grasslands, swamps, five dormant volcanoes (Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Bisoke, Gahinga and Muhabura).
Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri is most famous for the mountain gorillas i.e 12 habituated families available for trekking as well as Golden Monkeys and various species of birds i.e 200 of which 29 are endemic to the Albertine Rift and these include; the Ruwenzori double-collared sunbird and Grauer’s swamp warbler.
The vegetation of Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri is highly diverse because the park spans an altitude range of about 2,400–4,500 meters on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. As elevation increases, distinct vegetation zones occur, each supporting different wildlife, including the famous mountain gorillas.
Found at the lowest elevations of the park. Dominated by species such as Neoboutonia macrocalyx. Much of this forest has been reduced due to historical agricultural expansion around the park.
One of the most extensive vegetation types, covering about 30% of the park. Dominated by African alpine bamboo (Oldeania alpina / Arundinaria alpina).
Provides an important food source for mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, especially during the bamboo-shoot season.
Characterized by Hagenia abyssinica and Hypericum species. Common on the humid southern and western slopes. Rich in mosses, ferns, and epiphytes due to frequent mist and rainfall. This is one of the main feeding habitats for mountain gorillas.
Dominated by giant heather (Erica species). Found especially on steep slopes such as those of Mount Sabyinyo and higher volcanic ridges. Vegetation becomes shorter and more shrub-like as temperatures decrease.
The highest vegetation belt, occurring near the summits of volcanoes such as Mount Karisimbi. Characterized by giant lobelias (Lobelia wollastonii), giant groundsels (Senecio erici-rosenii), and other cold-adapted plants. Grasslands occur at the highest elevations.
Volcanoes National Park has a cool, wet montane climate due to its high elevation in the Virunga Mountains. The park lies between approximately 2,400 and 4,507 meters above sea level, which results in lower temperatures and higher rainfall than most parts of Rwanda.
Average daytime temperatures range from 10°C to 20°C. Higher elevations are significantly cooler than lower areas. Nights can be cold, especially on the slopes of the volcanoes, with temperatures occasionally dropping below 5°C at high altitudes.
The park receives heavy rainfall throughout the year, averaging about 1,500–2,000 mm annually. There are two main rainy seasons i.e March to May (long rainy season), September to November (short rainy season).
The drier periods occur during the months of June to August (main dry season) and December to February (short dry season). These months are generally preferred for gorilla trekking because trails are less muddy and visibility is better.
Gorilla Trekking is the most prominent safari adventure carried out in the park.
The adventure requires you to get to the park headquarters for short briefing on conduct around the Mountain Gorillas then later you are allocated into groups of 8 with lead park ranger guides who transfer you to the starting points where you leave from to enter the green forest to trek the majestic Mountain Gorillas in their natural forest habitat.
You shall then trek the Gorillas for a period of 3 to 5 hours in Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri as you follow varying trails then after a while, you shall meet the Gorillas and stay I their presence for an hour taking many photos to keep.
The Gorillas can be trekked anytime around the year although the best time to trek the Gorillas is during the dry season in the months of June–September and December–February.
Other than Gorilla Trekking, travelers visiting Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri can go on Golden Monkey Tracking Tour as they get a chance to track and watch the rare species of Golden monkeys which inhabit the bamboo zones in the park.
Tacking the Golden monkeys is exceptional as it includes following varying trails in the green forest for a period of 2 to 4 hours and when you meet the monkeys, stay in their presence for an hour taking various photos to keep with you. After tracking the Golden Monkeys, transfer back to the headquarters for your certificate.
Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri offers multiple hiking routes for adventurers. The hiking adventures are done along the three varying volcanoes i.e Mount Bisoke Hike (3,711 m), Mount Karisimbi Hike (4,507 m), Mount Muhabura & Mount Gahinga. Hiking these mountain Volcanoes gives you a chance to explore the Best of Rwanda as well as view Uganda and the DR Congo at a distance.
While in the Park, travelers can also embark on a hike to the Dian Fossey Grave for a period of 3 to 4 hours enjoying views of the green terrain, wildlife animals till they get to the famous grave of Dian Fossey who lost her life trying to save that of the Mountain Gorillas that where hunted a lot at the time.
When at Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri, travelers can enjoy cultural adventures as they visit the Gorilla Guardians Village where they are welcomed by locals who were once hunters of the Mountain Gorillas. They then take you through their cultural traditions and customs through Music, Dance and Drama. You can engage in these dances as well as some practices and take photos to keep. After the adventure, you shall get back to lodge or Kigali.
While at Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri, you can transfer to visit the Musanze Caves which are located outside the park and a very remarkable destination to explore while on safari in Rwanda. : Ancient lava tunnels used historically for shelter and ceremonies. On reaching the caves, take on treks watching the bats, bird species.
Volcanoes National Park can be visited anytime around the year although the best time to visit the park is during the dry season in the months of June–September, December–February.
