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Here are nearby attractions that you should not miss during your visit to Volcanoes National Park.

  • Buhanga Sacred Forest
  • Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo
  • Musanze Caves
  • Ibywachu Cultural Village

Rwanda Mountain Gorillas

Musanze Caves

These ancient caves are found in Musanze district, outside the Volcanoes National Park. The caves were opened to tourism in 2013 after undergoing rehabilitation which involved building staircases and paved trails/paths. The caves are about 2 kilometers long and where formed from lava flows over 60 million years ago – That was the time when the East African Rift Valley was also formed. There are about 32 entrances with main entrance about 10 kilometers wide. The Musanze caves are a popular attraction for those interested in geology or adventure. The bat-filled caves were once hiding grounds for the Batwa pygmies and other tribal groups in the area.

Lake Burera and Ruhondo

These beautiful twin lakes are found in the Volcanoes National Park. Most tourists visit the lake in the afternoon/evening hours and after completing activities within the park – like gorilla trekking. The lush landscape is home to birds and an amazing plant collection. One can go for nature walks, canoeing, birding, camping or visiting the local fishermen. Honeymooners and couples will find the beautiful scenery very calming and refreshing especially after the tiring activities at the Volcanoes National Park.

Gorilla Guardians Village

Formerly Known as the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village, the Centre was founded by Edwin Sabuhoro (a former warden at the Volcanoes National Park) to showcase all that is great about the Kinyarwanda Culture while also providing employment for ex-poachers. Visitors are first taken for a tour of the Centre before settling down to watch cultural dances, learn how to prepare local food or hunt like the Batwa people. You may be invited to wear traditional royal clothes and experience what it was like to be a cultural leader.

Dian Fossey Center

The Dian Fossey Museum also popular as Karisoke Research Center lies in Volcanoes National Park. It sits in between Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi. The museum serves as one of Dian Fossey’s living memories, a world’s renowned primatologist who carried out research on gorillas for 18 years. Her love for gorillas isn’t forgotten, and she plays a big part is spreading the plight of the endangered mountain gorillas to the world. A total of 1063 endangered now live in the wild unlike before when they were at the verge of extinction.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The Volcanoes National Park shares its border with Mgahinga Gorilla National park in South Western Uganda. The park is a known famous gorilla territory that falls in Virunga Massif that is shared by Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This national park is the smallest park and is about 34km that forms part of the bigger Virunga Conservation that is 434km if the bigger volcanic mountains. This national park at times host the Hirwa Gorilla Family which roams through the Virunga.  The resident gorilla family is the Nyakagezi and this group is known to range between Uganda and Rwanda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

About 40kms from the Volcanoes National Park lies the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, another location that hosts the mountain gorillas. Many travelers who take gorilla trekking safaris in Africa opt to visit the Bwindi gorillas! The park has also got 18 habituated gorilla groups and is also located in southern Uganda.

Bwindi forest is known to be a UNESCO World Site and it’s in South western Uganda that has half of the gorilla population that totals to over 480 which is half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. The parks cover an area of 33km of the thick montane and the lowland rain forests.

Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is one of African great lakes to visit. The lake has one of the most beautiful islands, blue water, turquoise water, beach front and you imagine you live in paradise – in a lake blue and crystal clear. There are extremely beautiful islands that show an endowed beautiful nature of this part of Rwanda.The paradise of Lake Kivu will help you enjoy; mix pleasure and adventure in your holidays. It helps one relax and keep away from bustling city life, in a beautiful virgin beach of Kivu island and self possessed atmosphere.If you are a photographic enthusiast, you will not believe the shots you will capture; the sunsets on the beach are extraordinary. By visiting this place you will enjoy breathtaking views.