Tourist Attractions in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park has a lot of things to see and do. It is in the northwest of Rwanda and shares borders with Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. People know the national park as a safe place for the rare mountain gorilla and golden monkey.
On top of that, five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains are there:
Karisimbi, Bisoke,Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. Other animals also live there. The park was first formed in 1925 to protect mountain gorillas from being killed by hunters. It was originally a small area that included the Karisimbi, Mikeno, and Visoke volcanoes. Kenya’s first national park was there. The park’s borders were then expanded into Rwanda and the Belgian Congo in 1929. This created the Albertine region, a huge area of almost 8,000 km2 that was split up into what is now Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in the late 1970s.
It takes about 13 kilometers to get to the park from Musanze town, also known as Ruhengeri, which is the biggest and most important town in the area. Volcanoes National Park is split into the districts of Musanze, Gakenke, and Burera. It is part of the tropical rain and Afro-montane forest that surrounds the Virunga mountain chain, which is made up of eight high mountains that are shared by three East African countries.
These are Karisimbi, which means “high nest,” Bisoke, which means “mouthful,” Mikeno, which means “small one,” Senkwekwe, Sabinyo, which means “old man’s teeth,” Gahinga, which means “piles of stones,” and Muhabura, which means “the guide.” You can visit the tomb (grotto) of Karisimbi, which is where the first park ranger who worked to protect the gorillas is buried. On clear days, the park gives tourists amazing views of the Empaqué De Gisenyi, Ruhondo, Kivu, and Burera lakes in Rwanda, as well as the Virunga Volcanoes, the park’s rolling hills, and the people who live there, letting visitors experience and learn about country life in some countries. The official name for this park is “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
Trekking with mountain gorillas is one of the main things that people do when they visit Volcanoes National Park. Ten groups of gorillas that live in the national park can be seen on treks. Volcanoes Park also protects Rwanda’s part of the Great Virunga Mountain Range, which shares borders with Virunga National Park in Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. People who want to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda must buy gorilla passes, which cost $1500 each and allow the bearer to interact with the bearer for an hour. The Rwanda Development Board gives out all licenses.
One more popular thing to do in Volcanoes National Park is golden monkey hiking. This activity brings thousands of tourists to the bush. Everyone who goes on a tour in Rwanda should make sure they see a golden monkey. They are truly amazing animals. Volcanoes Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks are the only places where tourists can see golden monkeys in the wild.
Visit Volcanoes National Park’s Attractions
Monkeys that shine
Climbing a volcano
Along with wildlife, Volcanoes National Park is home to three volcanoes that are no longer active. As a result, visitors to this park can hike to the top of any Volcano and enjoy stunning views of Rwanda’s rolling hills, Kigali city, the Virunga volcanoes, and the people who live there. People walk up MT Karisimbi more than any other volcano, and the trip is worth it.
A cave
On your trek through Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park, make sure you stop by the Musanze caves. There are experienced guides who take you into these caves and tell you about their past and other interesting facts about Rwanda.
