Would you like to travel to the Volcanoes National Park? This is the most accessible park for gorilla trekking in Africa.
How you plan to get to Volcanoes National Park really matters regardless of the safari activity you intend to do. Volcanoes Park Ruhengeri is lying in Northwestern Rwanda and the distance from Kigali to this park is about 104km. This translates into 2-3 hours’ drive using a well-serviced 4×4 safari vehicle and depending on the speed of your driver guide.
The advantage with a road trip to Volcanoes National Park is that visitors have ultimate opportunity to explore several other attractions en-route. This park is set in the rich region with scenic rolling hills, and getting there by road allows you to appreciate why Rwanda is dubbed the Land of a Thousand. Volcanoes National Park Rwanda lies in Musanze district, and also surrounded by Nyabihu, Burera and Rubavu.
Road travel is one easiest way tourists can get to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla safaris or any other safari activity. By road you need 2-3 hours to drive from the heart of Kigali city or from the airport. You can begin your journey as agreed with your local tour operator. With road travel, there are several comfortable 4×4 rental cars to hire for your navigation to and from Volcanoes Park Ruhengeri.
Location of Volcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes National Park is surrounded by five Virunga mountains in the northern part of Rwanda. The park lies in the Musanze District (former Ruhengeri). The protects five Virunga volcanoes that include Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Sabinyo and Mgahinga. Because it is located in the Virunga Mountains, It forms part of the extension of the Congo-Nile Divide, separating two of Africa’s most important watersheds.
How to Get to Volcanoes National Park
The Park is located in Musanze (Former Ruhengeri) which is 2 hours drive from Kigali. When you reach the town, you will find Karisoke centre where research about these gorillas is carried out from.
The easiest to reach Volcanoes National Park is to use Musanze which was called Ruhengeri which can be basically reached by using a public transport from Gisenyi, and Kigali on the very day you track (you need to be present at the ORTPN office in Kinigi, along the park entrance, by 07.00), however this Is not a dependable choice of using public transport. There’s no public transport available between Musanze and the park headquarters at Kinigi.
Options of getting to Volcanoes N/Park from Kigali
This Park can be accessed by both air and road transport, whereby with the former, you land at Kigali International Airport then proceed to the Park on road. Volcanoes National park is situated about 105 kilometers/65 miles west of Kigali in a small village-Musanze (Northern Province) and is a 2 hour’s drive to access the Park hence someone can track these Mountain gorillas and still go back home on the same day. Musanze can be accessed by Public transport from Gisenyi or Kigali. However, there is no public transport from Musanze to Kinigi Park Headquarters.
By road; Use a rental car from your reliable tour operator and driver guide will be available to take you through a memorable road trip to your destination. This is the best option because it guarantees you comfort and safety on the road. Alternatively, you can also catch up with a bus that sets off from Nyabugogo Taxi Park in Kigali and you get to Musanze town. Your trip may take 2 hours’ drive from Kigali to Musanze and you will set off at around 9:00am.
What is the nearest city to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?
Musanze is the nearest and most vibrant tourism hub to Volcanoes Park. From Musanze, it is easier to connect up to the park and you begin your adventures. You can use a rental car or taxi and you connect to Kinigi area.
En-route to Volcanoes National Park
Driving up to Volcanoes NP is memorable as it comes with some stopover points, especially at Nyirangarama. This is one point where you can grab some delicious food and drinks, or stretch your legs. It is ideal for guests on transit to Musanze town too, and from Kigali, it is about 45km.
All trekkers have to arrive at the Park Headquarters for briefing by 7am; hence tourists who spend overnights in Kigali have to start driving by 5am.
Therefore, Parc National des Volcans (PNV) is the prime destination that draws thousands of tourists to the Land of a thousand hills because it is one of the four National parks in the entire world where the Mountain gorillas can be tracked. This Park is the most visited of all the four countries because it is just 105 kilometers/65 miles and 2 hours drive from Kigali International Airport, hence tourists can track and go back on the same day.