Volcanoes National Park
The home of Rwanda's mountain gorillas
Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda and named for the chain of dormant volcanoes that make up the Virunga Massif (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura), Volcanoes National Park is home to endangered mountain gorillas, rare golden monkeys and more than 200 bird species.
The park also offers scenic hiking trails – look out for the tomb dedicated to primatologist Dian Fossey – canoeing and mountain biking.
Rwanda’s 12 habituated gorilla families reside in Volcanoes National Park (VNP), which is just a two-hour drive on good roads from Kigali International Airport.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is generally easier-going than in Uganda, the terrain is gentler and the forest is less dense. VNP’s accessibility makes Rwanda a popular choice for those on limited time. Gorilla tracking permits and many accommodations are considerably more expensive than in Uganda, and the tourism industry here caters for higher-end and more luxurious experiences.
Plan to stay at least two nights in the vicinity of Volcanoes National Park. This will allow you to spend one-night acclimatising and another recuperating after your trek. It is possible to fly in and out on a one-day trek, but we don’t recommend it. There’s much more to the country than one hour with the gorillas!
Gorilla safaris
An expert guide to seeing gorillas in the wild
Gorillas are the world’s largest living primates. Adult silverbacks stand as tall as the average male person, and might be three times as bulky thanks to their muscular physique and prominent pot belly. And yet despite their fearsome appearance, these King Kong-lookalikes are among the most Zen of creatures, spending most of their time chilling on the forest floor and nibbling on whatever vegetarian titbit takes their fancy...read more