Things to do in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is one of the most visited safari destinations in Rwanda, celebrated for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas. Travellers planning their safaris ask about things to do in Volcanoes National Park, and this blog will highlight the major things to do while visiting the park. It’s located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, bordering Uganda and the DR Congo. It’s one of the oldest national parks in Africa, established in 1925 to protect the endangered species that existed at that time. It is the smallest park in the county, covering an area of about 160 square kilometers. It’s part of the Virunga conservation region, which comprises Mgahinga National Park, Virunga National Park and Volcanoes National Park, and aims to protect the endangered mountain gorillas.
It has a rich biodiversity, home to over 30% of the total population of mountain gorillas, 36 mammal species, 12 primate species, 237 bird species and butterflies. The park’s rich biodiversity is supported by its unique ecosystems like montane forests, grasslands, wetlands and bamboo forests, which provide habitats to various birds and wildlife species. The park offers various safari activities to travellers, including bird watching, golden monkey tracking, nature walks, cultural encounters, gorilla trekking and hiking. If you are seeking a true African safari experience, Volcanoes National Park should be added to your bucket list.
Things to do in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla Trekking.
This is one of the amazing things to enjoy on your safari in the park, which gives nature lovers and primatologists a chance to see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. It’s a guided activity led by an experienced park ranger who gives more insightful information about the park’s inhabitants encountered. The trek involves hiking through the steep slopes, so participants must assess their level of fitness before travelling. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years. Trekking begins with a briefing at the park’s headquarters about the rules and regulations, and participants are divided into groups of 8. The guide leads the group through the dense forest of volcanoes. Gorilla trekking takes between 2 and 7 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. Once participants locate them, they strictly spend one hour with them observing their behaviours. They will see them feeding, playing, mothers grooming the young ones, which is one in a lifetime experience. Gorillas are our closest relatives on earth, sharing 98% human DNA.
Bird watching.
Bird watching is one of the most interesting things to do in Volcanoes National Park, which gives bird enthusiasts a chance to see the park’s unique bird species. Volcanoes National Park is a paradise for bird watching with over 237 colourful bird species, including forest birds, migratory birds, Abertine Rift endemics and water birds. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park birder who assists travellers by identifying various bird species by listening to their beautiful calls. Some of the birds to encounter on your bird safari in the park include Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Red-chested Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Copper Sunbird, Yellow Bishop, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Archer’s Ground Robin,Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Collared Apalis, Stranger Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Double- collared Sunbird, Hottentot Teal, African Black Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Handsome Francolin, Little Grebe, Speckled Pigeon, African Olive Pigeon, 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, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Black Kite, Little Bee-eater, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher.
Golden Monkey Tracking.
Golden monkey tracking is one of the most rewarding things to do in Volcanoes National Park, which gives primatologists and nature lovers an opportunity to encounter these playful monkeys. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park ranger who gives more information about the park’s inhabitants encountered. Unlike gorilla trekking, it’s easy to locate golden monkeys in the bamboo forests. Golden monkeys spend most of their time playing and swinging from tree to tree, which makes taking clear photos challenging. They live in bigger groups of up to 70 individuals, and participants will have a chance to see them playing, feeding, taking take of each other, which is an amazing experience.
Nature Walks.
Nature walks in Volcanoes National Park gives travellers a refreshing way to explore the park’s stunning views of 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 opportunity to spot colorful 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.
