10 Best Things to Do in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Despite the fact that volcanoes national park is mainly known for gorilla trekking  there are other rewarding activities that can be carried out by tourists.

The park is a hub of many tourist attractions including golden monkeys, Mt hikes, visiting Diana Fossey grave,  the twin lakes. Let us try to talk about one by one in details.

Gorilla Trekking.

This is the most frequently carried out activity in volcanoes national park. Gorilla trekking in volcanoes will totally give you a wonderful experience because it has  over 11 habituated groups in the park. Some of the gorilla families to see in Rwanda include Amahoro, Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Susa and many others.

Gorilla trekking refers to the process of hiking  dense forests, rugged terrains, and the steep hills in search for the endangered gorillas.

Gorilla trekking is only done once in  a day and its approximately a 2hrs activity but it depends on the location of the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking starts with a briefing at the headquarters. A briefing is one of the things you should not miss out since it gives you detailed information about  the gorilla trekking activity.

The briefing helps you to know which gorilla family you will  trek, rules and regulations to follow while in the forest.

When you are done with a briefing, you will join a group of 8 people and go for trekking. Make sure you have the necessary tools for trekking such as good hiking boots, insect repellents, long sleeved clothing, packed lunch and many others.

Once you sight the Mt gorillas only one hour is given to you to spend with them.

The one hour includes you taking photos with the gorillas, see how gorillas feed, and how they behave with other animals.

After trekking you will go to the park headquarters and winners will be awarded with certificates.

Note.

Before trekking in Rwanda, you must have obtained a gorilla permit. A gorilla permit can be obtained by booking using  the Rwanda development board (RDB)  website.

However you can also book a permit using any trusted tour company like Active African vacations. A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1500. In addition to that booking with a tour operator is very advisable since they can organize for you a whole trip.

Golden Monkey Trekking.

This is another popular activity done in volcanoes national park.  Golden monkeys are the next to gorillas so trekking them will be another ultimate experience. Golden monkey trekking takes place once a day.

The golden monkeys are one of those captivating features that make volcanoes national park very famous. The golden monkeys are very active compared to the gorillas.

Golden monkey trekking also starts with a briefing that entails one with rules and regulations to follow while in the forest, and the necessary information about the golden monkeys.

When you are done with the briefing you will go to the forest in a group of 16 people and trek for the golden monkeys.

You will be able to sport some monkey species such as red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys ,black and white colobus monkeys and many others. Golden monkey trekking is another interesting activity.

Before going for trekking you must have obtained a golden monkey permit and it costs $100. the permit can either be obtained from Rwanda development board website or book with any trusted tour operator.

Mountain Hiking

This is another activity that makes volcanoes national park more outstanding since its a home to the three volcanic mountains. These mountains include mt Karisimbi, mt Bisoke and mt Muhabura.

Mt Bisoke hike

Hiking is an out standing activity but try not to ever miss  hiking Mt Bisoke. The   mountain  harbours a crater lake on its top. The mountain is 1217 feet. Hiking this amazing scenery starts with a  briefing at the park head quarters at Kinigi with a briefing. It  is approximately a 6 hours activity. While hiking Mt Bisoke you will be able to see different wonders for example the  lake at the middle, the plant species and some bird species.

Mt Karisimbi

Hiking the highest volcano of Virunga is a true definition of adventure. The mountain is 4507m above sea level.

The mountain gets  its name Karisimbi from a Kinyarwanda word amasimbi which means white shell because its summit its white capped.

It is situated along Rwanda and the  boarder  of Democratic republic of Congo on the  western rift valley.

Hiking mt Karisimbi may be a bit strenuous but it will expose you different adventures like the beautiful land features, unique alpine and   plant species and many others. Hiking this mountain takes 2 days .

Visiting Dianna Fossey Tomb

You can not talk about volcanoes national park and miss out the greatest primatologist  Dianna Fossey.  A trip is more than complete when you miss visting the Dianna Fossey tomb.

This is because she was a great primatologist who totally spent all her life conserving and protecting  gorillas.

She really played a nice job during her times and when you visit her tomb you will be able to learn more about her and also be given her history. She was killed in 1985 by unknown people and buried with in volcanoes national park.

Dianna Fossey  also established the Karisoke research center and when you reach it you will still learn more of her good works left behind.

Ibyiwachu cultural site

Culture is what defines ones customs and social behaviors of a certain society so waking up one day in to another motherland and listen to various music, see how people dance, listen to stories  is an extra ordinary experience.

Rwanda is one of those countries that hold a nice culture you will always need to encounter with at Ibyiwachu cultural site . Visiting this scenery will help you meet with the local people and expose you to the taste of culture and traditions of Rwanda.

This entails you learning about their culture through music and dances ,listen to the interesting stories and also interact with their traditional medicine men. They will also tell you more facts about their life in the past.

Birding

Birds are almost every where in the world but volcanoes national park is one of the very unique destinations to carry out your birding safari from .

This is because the park is a habitat of over 200 species of birds with a high number of many Albertine birds.

Some of the birds to  sport in the park include Rwenzori Turaco, collared sun birds, Grauers rush warbler, collared Apalis and many others.

Birding in volcanoes national park will completely be quite remarkable since you will engage with those birds you have never seen in life.

Exploring Musanze caves

This is among the most activities carried out by tourists while in volcanoes national park. The cave is situated underground all because of the volcanic eruption that occurred.

Hiking to  Musanze will help you sport a variety of different plant and tree species.  The unique thing about Musanze it has steeps inside and a very big entrance.

While inside the cave you will be able to see bats, plant species that grow by the wall sides and also great views of the wider Virunga ranges such as Gahinga, Muhabura and Karisimbi.

The place is a popular tourist attraction but serves as a cultural site to the Rwanda people. Its from where their kings were crowned from. Make sure you dont miss out exploring Musanze caves while on your trip to volcanoes national park.

Visting the twin lakes

The twin lakes are among those fascinating scenarios to look at while at volcanoes because they offer scenic views to tourists. The twin lakes were formed due to volcanic eruptions and they are  lake Burera and L Ruhondo.

Paying a visit to these lakes will expose you to  the stunning views  of the lake as you sport all kinds of bird species such as  the black pelicans, fly catchers, and many others.

Different activities can be carried out for these lakes such as a boat cruise, canoe ride and many others.