Volcanoes National Park, Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, 2 hours’ drive from Kigali bordering Uganda and Rwanda on Virunga mountains, Volcanoes National Park ( VPN protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. Within the boundaries of Volcanoes National Park are Buhanga Eco-Park, an ancient forest holding Rwanda’s most intriguing folklore and Musanze Caves, formed 62 million years ago after the last estimated volcanic eruption.
“In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat,” wrote the eminent primatologist Dian Fossey, “are great, old volcanoes towering almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest – the Virungas”.
Volcanoes National Park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: Karisimbi (the highest at 4,507m), Bisoke with its verdant Crater Lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura. These five volcanoes have become a hiking paradise for the mountain hikers and photographers who like to take landscape photography.
Trekking endangered mountain gorillas through the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colourful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, is only one of the truly unique experiences in the area. Hiking, canoeing, mountain biking and village experiences offer something for everyone to enjoy. The experience is always referred to as once a life. It’s thrilling and off beaten path adventure, that one should not miss out on his/her safari to Rwanda.
The park headquarters’ are in Kinigi, this is where registration and trekking briefing is done before heading to the mountain inn search of these rear species.