Tourist Activities in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is one of the remarkable conservation areas in Rwanda, located in the northwestern part of the country. It’s one of the most sought-after national parks by travellers, famous for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas. It’s one of the oldest national parks in Africa, established in 1925 to protect the endangered animals that existed at that time. This blog will discuss various tourist activities in Volcanoes National Park which travellers can enjoy on their safaris. The park comprises five of the eight Virunga mountains volcanoes, including Muhabura, Bisoke, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Karisimbi, which provide beautiful scenic views of the ranges.
Volcanoes National Park has a rich biodiversity, home to over 238 bird species, including high altitude bird species, Albertine Rift endemics, Migratory birds and the park’s residents. It’s also home to over 30% of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas, 36 mammal species, 100 butterfly species, and 12 primate species, including the rare golden monkeys. The park’s rich biodiversity is supported by the presence of various natural systems, which provide habitats to various wildlife and bird species, such as swamps, tropical rainforests, and grasslands. The park offers different activities to all travellers visiting the park, whether you are seeking adventurous activities or simply immersing yourself in nature.
Tourist Activities in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla Trekking.
Gorilla trekking is one of the lifetime activities in Volcanoes National Park, which gives nature lovers and primatologists a chance to come up close to these awesome creatures in their natural habitats. Volcanoes National Park is one of the four destinations where travellers can see the endangered mountain gorillas. This involves hiking through the dense forest in search of the mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is a guided activity led by an experienced park guide who assists the participants in search of the gentle giants through the dense forest. Trekking takes between 2 and 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas slept at night. Once found, participants are allowed to spend strictly one hour with them, observing and learning more about their behaviors. Gorillas are our closest relatives on earth, sharing 98% human DNA, watching our closest relatives as they play, feed, and mothers grooming the young ones creates unique feelings and unforgettable encounters in the land of a thousand hills.
Bird Watching.
Bird watching is one of the best tourist activities in Volcanoes National Park, which attracts thousands of bird enthusiasts to indulge themselves in hundreds of bird species. The park hosts up to 238 bird species, such as water birds, migratory birds, high altitude bird species, Albertine Rift endemics and the park’s residents. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park guide who gives more information about the bird species encountered. Regal Sunbird, 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 and more.
Nature Walks.
Nature walks in Volcanoes National Park 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.
Golden Monkey Tracking.
Golden monkey tracking is one of the top tourist activities in Volcanoes National Park, which allows primatologists and nature lovers to have a close encounter with these playful monkeys. Golden monkey tracking starts in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the activity, and later meet your assigned guide who leads the group in search of these playful creatures. Unlike mountain gorillas, it’s easy to trek golden monkeys through the bamboo forests, and it doesn’t require hiking. Participants will have a chance to see these endangered monkeys as they play from tree to tree, feeding and grooming, which is a lifetime experience.
