Geography
The Volcanoes National Park is an extraordinary park situated in the northern part of Rwanda. The Park is most famous for hosting the mountain gorillas that live in the forested jungles of this region that is part of the larger Virunga conservation Area.
The Volcanoes National Park is blessed and crowded with impressive tropical rainforest, volcanic beauties and many tourists have enjoyed gorilla trekking adventures, adventure journeys on foot leading to the natural homes of the mountain gorillas.The rare mountain gorillas are seen in plenty here which makes it the best place in earth to visit these great apes that are only found in three countries in the world.
The Park is exactly located in North-western part of Rwanda and is bordered by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. The Park extends up to an area of 8090 square km. The National Park was converted into a battlefield during the Rwandan Civil War that ended into the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, when the park headquarters was attacked in 1992. But by 1999, everything was put back to normal and when the area was deemed to be safe and under control.
Wildlife in Volcanoes National Park
The Park is home to five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo), which are covered in rainforest and bamboo. The high altitudinal range of the Park always influences the vegetation here. Neoboutonia forest is present within 2400 and 2500 m.
Mounting 30 % of the Park area, Arundinaria alpina (bamboo) forest occurs from 2500 to 3200 m. Hagenia-Hypericum forest occurs in 2600 to 3600 m covering another 30% of the Park.The park is best known for the Mountain Gorilla and hence it is known as heaven of Mountain Gorillas. Mammals such as Golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti), Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) and Black-fronted duiker (Cephalophus niger) is also camps in this Park.
Few Elephants are also reported to be residing in this Park. The bird species recorded here counts up to 178, with at least 13 species and 16 subspecies endemic to the Virunga and Ruwenzori Mountains.
Tourism in the Park
The main tourist activities in the Park are Gorilla visits, Karisimbi and Bisoke volcano climbing, Golden monkey visits, Lake and Cave tours and visit to the tomb of Dian Fossey
Camping & Lodging
Volcanoes National Park has two drive-in campgrounds which are Namakani Paio (located off of Highway 11), and Kulanaokuaiki (located off of Hilina Pali Road). Important feature of these campgrounds are that they are free and the only fee you have to remit is the park entrance fee. Camping is provided on a first-come basis.The Namakani Paio campground has restrooms, water, fireplace and pavilion facilities where as Kulanaokaiki has only restroom, fireplace and a vault-type toilet facilities only.
Fees/Permits
The pay per private non-commercial vehicle is $10.00 and $5.00 for pedestrians or bicyclists. Non-commercial groups entering the park in a bus or vehicle with a capacity of 15 persons or more will be charged $5.00 for each person on board.
