Best Time to Visit Volcanoes National Park

Are you planning your safari in the park and wondering about the best time to visit Volcanoes National Park? This blog will guide you on when to visit the park for a memorable safari experience. Volcanoes National Park is one of the top safari destinations in Africa, situated in the northwestern part of the country, bordering Mgahinga National Park and Volcanoes National Park. It’s the smallest national park in the country, covering an area of about 160 square kilometres. It is part of the greater Virunga conservation area with the major aim of protecting the endangered mountain gorillas.

 Volcanoes National Park became a base for Dian Fossey, an American primatologist and naturalist who advocated against the poaching of the mountain gorillas, and she made many campaigns against poaching. The park has a rich biodiversity, hosting over 237 bird species, 30% of the total population of mountain gorillas, 37 mammal species, 12 primate species and butterflies, which beautify the park.

The park’s rich biodiversity contributes to the park’s diverse tourist activities, such as gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, nature walks, hiking and cultural encounters. Volcanoes National Park is open throughout the year, and the best time to visit the park depends on the traveller’s interests. Just like any other park, Volcanoes National Park experiences two seasons, the wet season and the dry season, both of which provide exceptional safari experiences.

Best Time to Visit Volcanoes National Park

Wet Season

 This season is from October to November and March to May, which is characterised by heavy rainfall; the park is muddy and slippery, making penetration of the park challenging. The vegetation cover is tall and dense, which makes viewing animals from a distance challenging and taking clear pictures. During this period its easy to get gorilla trekking permits since few travellers visit the park. The wet season is the best period to do birding in the park, as this is the breeding period for many bird species, and migratory birds always come to the park in this season. They run away from Europe due to harsh weather conditions and in search of food. The availability of abundant food in the park during this season prevents birds from going deep into the park in search of food, making bird watching easy and memorable. This season also favours budget travellers as accommodations and travel agencies give discounts during this season.

Dry Season

 The dry season is referred to as the best time to visit Volcanoes National Park, which runs from June to September and December to January. During this season, the park is less muddy and slippery, making it easy to access and search for the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. The vegetation cover is short and scattered, creating clear views of wildlife species and having clear photos. This period is commonly known as the peak season, and it’s hard to get gorilla trekking permits in this season unless you book early, like three to six months.