The Volcanoes National Park is Africa’s oldest rainforest, it is the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on earth and is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is situated in the north western part of Rwanda, covering an area of about 160 square kilometers. The park contains the highest amount of biodiversity of any forest in Africa and contains a large variety of different plant species as well as more than 300 different types of mammals.
The Volcanoes national park is famous for housing half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world, the Virunga mountains, primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys, the golden monkeys, bird species like the handsome Francolin, Dusky turtle love, Ruwenzori turaco, Ruwenzori nightjar, the dusky crimson wing, plant species among other attractions that can be seen within the park. In this article, we bring you the key points that make Volcanoes national park unique;
- Home of the Mountain Gorillas
Volcanoes national park is one of the few places on Earth where you can track endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. The park is a home to almost third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas that can be seen during your Rwanda safari experience. It protects twelve gorilla habituated groups that are usually found along the slopes of the different mountains these include the Agashya gorilla group, Amahoro gorilla family, Ugenda gorilla family and others.
As you trek the incredible mountain gorillas, you can as well visit Dian Fossey tomb where Dian Fossey, the American primatologist who studied and protected gorillas here was buried.
- Home to five Virunga mountains
Of the 8 volcanoes in the Virunga mountains, Volcanoes national park protects 5 of them- Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. Shared among the 3 countries – Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, the mountains are known for providing excellent hiking experiences. The landscape features lush rainforests, lava flows, and crater lakes, around the volcanoes create dramatic scenery and rich biodiversity.
- Home to the Karisoke research station
When Dian Fossey was still alive, she established the Karisoke research station to aid with her research on the mountain gorillas in the park. At the Karisoke research station she got information on the threats to gorilla conservation whose primary factor was the poachers and a number of other threats, at the research station, Dian Fossey with the help of her team she took care of gorillas that were hurt during the operations of the poachers. Today the research station has more than 300 staff that are focused and interested in protecting the gorilla species and the research station is a center piece for the gorilla research in the world.
- 4. Biodiversity Hotspot
Besides mountain gorillas, Volcanoes national park is a home to other wildlife species including primates like golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, mammal species like forest elephants, buffaloes, and over 200 bird species. These species can be spotted during different encounters like nature walking, hiking, gorilla trekking, birding and golden monkey tracking.
- 5. Accessibility and Safety
Unlike some remote parks, Volcanoes National Park is just a 2-3 hour’ drive from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. Rwanda is known for being one of the safest and cleanest countries in Africa, making travel to the park relatively smooth and comfortable.
- Protects the highest mountain among the Virunga mountains
Volcanoes national park protects the highest mountain among the Virunga mountains which stands at an elevation of 14,787ft. If you are looking for a hiking challenge then the park is what you should choose to access mount karisimbi which can be hiked at a cheap price as seen in volcanoes park fees and permits. While hiking the Karisimbi Mountain, you will come across numerous bird species, golden monkeys, mountain gorilla families and so many more to make your time in the park and hiking the mountain memorable.
In conclusion, Volcanoes national park is the most visited destination in the Republic of Rwanda due to the above -mentioned activities and attractions. But, it can also be combined with other destinations like; Nyungwe forest national park for chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk, Akagera national park for wildlife viewing and boat cruise and many others. Book your safari today with Primate Safari Experiences for the best encounters.