Accessing Volcanoes National Park.
Travellers visiting the park often wonder how they will be accessing Volcanoes National Park, and this blog will guide them on how to access the park. Volcanoes National Park is a thrilling safari destination for nature enthusiasts and primatologists, which gives them an opportunity to explore the park’s rich biodiversity. It’s one of the most sought after national parks in Rwanda, celebrated for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. It’s one of the most accessible national parks in Rwanda, approximately 2 to 3 hours drive from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, to the park. This makes it one of the most accessible gorilla destinations in Africa, which attracts thousands of travellers to come and have a close encounter with these awesome creatures.
Volcanoes National Park has a rich biodiversity, hosting up to 30% of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorillas, 200 butterfly species, 12 primate species like golden monkeys, 237 bird species, including forest birds, water birds, Albertine Rift endemics, and the park’s endemics, which are rare to find elsewhere. The park’s rich biodiversity supports the various activities which travellers can enjoy on their safari like golden monkey tracking, gorilla tracking, bird watching and nature walks. The park can be accessed either by road transport or by air transport using a chartered helicopter from Akagera Aviation.
Accessing Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park can be accessed by either road or air transport, depending on the client’s budget and preference. You can access Volcanoes National Park by road, either by self-driving or using a trusted travel company, Caracal Explorers to handle all the arrangements. This is the best option for travelers who enjoy scenic drives, as it is also cost-effective. The distance from Kigali to the park is approximately 110 km, which takes about 2 to 3 hours drive. The roads are well-maintained and paved, offering beautiful views of Rwanda’s hilly landscape as you travel northwest. Along the way, various stopovers depending on your itinerary.
Alternatively, you can take a bus from Nyabugogo Park in Kigali to Musanze. However, this public transport option involves several stopovers to pick up and drop off passengers, making the journey approximately 4 to 5 hours long. Although this method is more budget-friendly and allows you to save money, it can be time-consuming and somehow hectic.
By Air transport, travellers can use a chartered helicopter from Kigali International Airport directly to the Musanze airstrip, which takes about 45 minutes to reach the park. Air transport is the fastest way to reach the park and is often chosen by luxury travellers or those who prefer not to spend hours travelling. The helicopter can land directly at your booked accommodation or at the nearest helipad, with transfers arranged to your accommodation. This service is provided by Akagera Aviation.
When to Visit the Park
After discussing accessing Volcanoes National Park, let’s see the best time to visit the park for a safari. The park is open throughout the year, and the best time to visit is determined by traveller’s plans. Just like any other African national park, it receives two seasons, the wet season and the dry season, both of which provide exceptional safari experiences. The dry season is from December to February. These months receive little to no rainfall, the park is dry, which makes it easy to penetrate it. The short vegetation cover provides clear views of wildlife and bird species, making it the best time for photography safaris. The wet season is from October to November and March to May; these months are characterized by enough rainfall, the park is muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate.
