Volcanoes National Park, situated in Rwanda, serves as one of the last remaining habitats for mountain gorillas in the world, and it’s where gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place. Explore our Rwanda gorilla safari packages to see how a visit here fits into your trip.
Alongside Rwanda gorilla tours, this national park is home to five of the eight volcanic ranges that make up the Virunga Massif, which stretch across the Albertine Rift Valley, part of the Great East African Rift Valley.
Volcanoes National Park is also home to several other wildlife species besides mountain gorillas, including bushbucks, bush pigs, buffalos, elephants, forest hogs, golden monkeys, black-fronted duikers, black and white colobus monkeys, and olive baboons, among others.
Volcanoes National Park is bordered by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in Congo. Both parks are also home to mountain gorillas, monkeys, forest elephants, and other primates. Volcanoes National Park covers an area of 160 square kilometers. Given how close it sits to the Uganda border, many travelers pair it with combined East Africa tours.
The park was the base for the American primatologist Dian Fossey, who dedicated her life to studying and protecting mountain gorillas. She established an institute that still stands today, known as the Karisoke Research Institute.
History of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park was originally part of Albert National Park, established in 1925 to protect endangered mountain gorillas. It comprised areas around Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, and Mount Mikeno. The park’s boundaries were extended into the Belgian Congo in 1929, covering 8,090 square kilometers at the time.
In 1958, 700 hectares of the park’s land were cleared for human settlement, with more cleared between the 1960s and 1973 for pyrethrum farming. In 1967, Dian Fossey arrived at the park to research mountain gorillas.
Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Institute in Ruhengeri Province, between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. The institute’s name combines the first four letters of “Karisimbi” and the last four letters of “Bisoke.” Covering 25 square kilometers, locals nicknamed Fossey “Nyirmachabelli,” meaning “the woman who lives alone in the mountains.”
Fossey conducted extensive research on mountain gorillas and appeared on the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1970. Despite laws against poaching, enforcement was inconsistent at the time, and many gorillas were lost to poaching for bushmeat and zoos. Dominant silverbacks and mothers protecting infants often fought to defend their families, at times fatally.
Fossey created the Digit Fund to combat poaching, and within four months, 987 poachers’ traps were destroyed near the Karisoke Research Institute.
Her resolve deepened after her favorite gorilla, Digit, was killed. Fossey herself was murdered on December 27, 1985, but her work laid the foundation for the mountain gorilla conservation efforts that continue today.
In 1992, the park headquarters were attacked, buildings were burned, and several rangers were killed. The Rwandan civil war and 1994 genocide also heavily affected the park, leading to its closure and the abandonment of the research center until 1999. Although there have been occasional rebel incursions since, these have been contained, and the park is now considered safe for tourism.
Top Things to Do in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking
The main activity is gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, one of the more accessible gorilla trekking experiences in the region. To trek mountain gorillas, visitors need a Rwanda gorilla permit costing $1,500. Discounted permits are available for $1,050 in May and November, for tourists who spend at least three days in Rwanda and visit another national park.
Essential trekking gear includes waterproof hiking boots, garden gloves, insect repellent, sunglasses, a hat, long-sleeved clothing, a raincoat, a jacket, and other warm clothing.
Trekking begins early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters, where tourists learn about the gorillas and the rules for trekking.
Groups are assigned based on age and fitness level, with older or less fit individuals allocated to nearby families and more energetic hikers sent to families located further away.
The trek can take 1 to 3 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. Tourists with illnesses like flu or a cough are not allowed to trek, since these illnesses can be transmitted to gorillas with weaker immune systems.
Once the gorilla family is located, visitors spend an hour observing and photographing them, while guides explain their behavior and answer questions.
Birding
Volcanoes National Park is a strong destination for bird watchers, with 178 recorded bird species, including 13 species and 26 subspecies endemic to the region. Notable birds include Grauer’s swamp warbler, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, Archer’s ground robin, handsome francolin, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, dusky turtle dove, dusky crimson wing, Baglafecht weaver, African long-eared owl, brown-necked parrot, Doherty’s bush shrike, red-faced woodland warbler, strange weaver, and Rwenzori nightjar, among others.
Mountain Gorilla Families in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is home to over 15 mountain gorilla families that roam the foothills of the Virunga Mountains. Visitors can meet these groups during trekking tours. Below are some of the most notable gorilla families in the park.
Bwenge Gorilla Family: Gets its name from a local word meaning “wisdom” and was featured in the film “Gorillas in the Mist.” The family formed in 2007 when the dominant silverback, Bwenge, broke away from his original family. This group can be trekked from the slopes of Karisoke, between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke.
Ugyenda Gorilla Family: Derives its name from a local word meaning “on the move,” reflecting the family’s tendency to constantly relocate, making it challenging to track. The group roams the Karisimbi slopes and has 11 members, including two silverbacks.
Hirwa Gorilla Family: Formed by combining members who split off from the Sabyinyo and Agashya gorilla families. This family is known for twins born in 2011.
Kwitonda Gorilla Family: Can be trekked on the slopes of Mount Muhabura. The group’s name comes from the dominant silverback, Kwitonda, meaning “Humble One,” and the family is said to have migrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Agashya Gorilla Family: Also known as Group 13, dominated by the silverback Agashya, who took over leadership from Nyakarima. The group can be trekked around Mount Sabyinyo, and Agashya is known for leading his family to higher slopes when sensing danger.
Sabyinyo Gorilla Family: The name means “old worn-out teeth” in the local language, taken from Mount Sabyinyo, one of the Virunga ranges. This group is dominated by Guhonda, the heaviest silverback in Volcanoes National Park, and inhabits the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga. It is one of the easiest families to trek.
Umubano Gorilla Family: Formed when Charles broke away from his natal group after fighting with Ubumwe, the dominant silverback. The group’s name means “Living together” and has 13 members, including two silverbacks.
Amahoro Gorilla Family: Meaning “peace,” this family can be trekked from the slopes of Mount Bisoke and is one of the most peaceful families in the park, though it has lost some members to the Umubano family.
Karisimbi Gorilla Family: Also known as the Susa B family, this group broke away from the Susa A family in 2008. It’s one of the more challenging families to trek, since it inhabits the higher slopes of Mount Karisimbi, and has 16 members, including two silverbacks.
Susa A Gorilla Family: Once studied by Dian Fossey, this family was one of the largest, with 42 members before it split. It is known for twins, Impano and Bwishimo, and can be trekked near the Susa River on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi.
Titus Gorilla Family: Researched by Dian Fossey and named after its silverback, Titus, who overcame significant challenges, including losing much of his family to poachers, to lead the group.
Booking Rwanda Gorilla Permits
A gorilla permit allows a person to trek mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Permits can be obtained through a trusted local tour operator or the Rwanda Development Board.
Permits are only issued to persons aged 15 and above. Travelers are advised to book at least three months in advance, especially during peak season, when demand is high. Carry your permit on trekking day, as you will need to present it.
People showing signs of illness, such as flu or a cough, are not allowed to trek gorillas, in order to prevent transmitting illnesses to the animals, whose immune systems are more vulnerable.
Rwanda offers a premium gorilla trekking experience, with permits costing $1,500 per person per trek, compared to $800 in Uganda and $400 in Congo. Discounted permits are available in May and November at $1,050, for visitors who spend at least three days in Rwanda and visit another national park.
Is There Gorilla Habituation in Volcanoes National Park?
Gorilla habituation involves training gorillas to grow accustomed to human presence, a process that takes 2 to 3 years. Rwanda does not currently offer gorilla habituation.
This experience is only available in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
When to Visit Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking is available year round, but the best time to visit is during the short dry season, from December to February, and the long dry season, from June to September.
The wet season can make roads to the park more difficult and trekking trails muddy and slippery.
Temperatures average around 22°C during the day and drop to about 12°C at night, with annual rainfall ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 mm.
Getting There: Location of Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, bordering Virunga National Park in Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Accommodation: Where to Stay
Accommodation options near Volcanoes National Park include Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorillas Nest Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Garden Place Hotel, and La Bambou Gorilla Lodge.
Other options include Kinigi Guest House, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, and several others in the surrounding area.
