Must do Activities in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife destinations, situated in the northern region of Rwanda along the famous Virunga Mountain range. The park is famous for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas and its breathtaking views of volcanic landscapes. It’s one of the oldest national parks in Africa, established in 1925 to protect the endangered mountain gorillas that existed at that time. It has a rich biodiversity, home to over 237 bird species, 35 mammal species, 30% of the world’s population of mountain gorillas, reptiles and amphibians. The park offers visitors unforgettable adventures in the heart of nature. The park’s rich biodiversity is supported by its diverse ecosystems, which provide various habitats to the park’s residents, such as bamboo forests, tropical rainforests, grasslands and wetlands. This blog will discuss the must-do activities in Volcanoes National Park, which include golden monkey tracking, bird watching, gorilla tracking, cultural experiences, nature walks and hiking. Travellers planning their safaris in Africa should consider visiting Volcanoes National Park, as it offers various activities that cater to all travellers.
Must do Activities in Volcanoes National Park.
Golden Monkey Tracking.
Golden monkey tracking is one of the best activities in the park, which gives primatologists and nature lovers a chance to explore these Albertine Rift endemics in their natural habitats. Golden monkeys are so playful, and they live in groups of up to 60 individuals. They feed on fruits, bamboo shoots and small insects. Tracking these playful monkeys is easy, as they live within the bamboo forests, and it takes about 2 to 3 hours. Golden monkey tracking involves moving through the bamboo forests in search of these playful golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are endemics to the Virunga Mountains, which are only found within this area in Africa. Visitors will be led by knowledgeable park guides who give more insights about their behaviours. Once they locate them, they will observe more about their lifestyles in the jungle, and they will see them playing, feeding, and taking care of one another, which is a nice experience.
Gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking is one of the must-do activities in Volcanoes National Park, which gives nature lovers an opportunity to encounter these awesome creatures in their natural habitat. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park guide who gives more information about the gorillas and the park’s inhabitants encountered while trekking. Gorilla trekking involves trekking through the dense tropical rainforest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. It starts with a briefing about the dos and don’ts, and later participants are grouped into groups of 8, and each group is assigned a gorilla family to trek. The guides lead the group through the steep slopes to meet their assigned gorilla family, and trekking takes about 2- 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas slept at night. Once they are located, they spend one hour with them learning and observing their behaviours. They will see them playing, Silverback taking care of the family, feeding, which is an once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Bird watching.
This is one of the most incredible activities for bird enthusiasts visiting the park, as they will find the park a paradise for bird watching, with up to 237 bird species residing in the park. These birds include forest birds, the Albertine Rift endemics, water birds, migratory birds and the park’s residents. Birding is led by a knowledgeable park guide who gives more information about the bird species encountered. Some of the birds to encounter include, Little Grebe, Speckled Pigeon, African Olive Pigeon, Dusky Turtle Dove, Mourning Collared Dove, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Diederick Cuckoo, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Crake, Red-knobbed Coot, Grey Crowned Crane, Ruwenzori Turaco, Black-billed Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Marabou, Yellow-billed Stork, European White Stork, Pink-backed Pelican, Hamerkop, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Little Egret, African Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis, Great Cormorant, Hooded Vulture, Crowned Eagle, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Tawny Eagle, African Hawk Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, African Marsh Harrier, Lizard Buzzard, Little Sparrowhawk, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Black Kite, Augur Buzzard, Eurasian Buzzard, Mountain Buzzard, Common Barn Owl, African Long-eared Owl, Speckled Mousebird.
Nature Walks
Nature walks are one of the must do activities in Volcanoes National Park, which give travellers a refreshing way to explore the park’s stunning views of the ranges and its rich biodiversity on foot. This is a guided activity led by an experienced guide who gives more important information about the park’s inhabitants they might encounter. Visitors can walk through the dense forests, open clearings and the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, which offer the opportunity to spot colourful bird species, flora and fauna. The park has various trails suitable for nature walks, like those leading to scenic Twin Lakes Ruhondo and Burera or the peaceful Musanze caves, which blend beauty with cultural and geological significance. Nature walks allow travellers to fully connect with nature without the intensity of long treks.
