Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is one of the smallest national parks in northwestern Rwanda. It was gazetted in 1925 as a proactive area for the growing population of gorillas and protects them from poachers. Volcanoes cover a distance area of 160 square kilometers and comprise a few volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains, such as Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Muhabura, and Bisoke. Volcanoes National Park borders the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The first American primatologist, Dian Fossey, camped in Volcanoes National Park for her gorilla behavior study in 1966 until her murder in 1985. Volcanoes is home to Golden Monkeys and Mountain Gorilla.
Volcanoes National Park is the most visited park in Africa for Gorilla trekking because more than 340 gorillas and ten habituated groups of gorillas can be seen here and thus attract people from all over to come and see.
Other creatures such as golden monkeys, African buffaloes, harnessed bushbucks, spotted hyenas, duikers, and over 180 bird species and more than 16 endemic subspecies of the Rwenzori Mountains and Virunga National Park can be seen here.
Volcanoes National Park is the oldest National Park in Africa; after its establishment in 1925, four years later, in 1929, the edges of the Volcanoes Park were extended into Belgian Congo and Rwanda to create the Albert National Park, which covered 8,095 square kilometers after the Belgian colonial government supervised that Albert National Park. A few years later, some of the land in Albert’s Park was reserved for human beings’ residence.
Safari Tour activities in Volcanoes National Park
Hiking Tours: Climbing in volcanoes is a must activity in Rwanda Safaris; climbers prefer hiking on Mount Bisoke, which extends three thousand meters heights and is one of the best outdoor hiking activities in Rwanda; adding a unique tour to Ngezi Lake will be a superb choice.
Primates tracking tour: One of the best Rwanda safari experiences is visiting gorillas in Volcanoes National Park alongside Golden monkeys; this experience can also be combined with Dian Fossey’s tombs to learn about attribution she made from 1966 to 1985 before she was murdered by poachers in her cabin at Karisoke, she also established Karisoke Research Centre specifically for studying Gorillas lifestyle—gorilla permit cost 1500$ per adult.
