EVENTS AT VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
OVERVIEW:
All Rwandan gorilla safaris stop at Volcanoes National Park, which is home to the greatest concentration of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Conservation Area. The Volcanoes National Park is the most accessible gorilla national park in the world due to its ideal location, around two hours' drive from Kigali International Airport. In addition to gorillas, the Volcanoes National Park is home to golden monkeys, a wide range of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects, among other animals that complete a safari experience. The majority of safaris in Rwanda begin or conclude in Volcanoes National Park, which is the ultimate safari destination.
Volcanoes National Park, which covers 160 square kilometers in northern Rwanda, is a part of the vast Virunga volcano conservation region, which also includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in Congo. In order to save the mountain gorillas from extinction due to poaching, a limited region surrounding the Karisimbi, Mikeno, and Visoke volcanoes was first gazetted.
Elephants, black-fronted duiker, buffaloes, golden monkeys, mitis, spotted hyenas, and bushbucks may all be found in Volcanoes National Park. At least 29 of the 178 bird species found in the park are indigenous to the Virunga and Rwenzori mountains.
Similar to gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking occurs at 7:00 in Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park now features two habituated golden monkey tribes that are open to visitors, totaling approximately 80 members. These uncommon species are also categorized as endangered.
Habituation has enabled the golden monkeys in Rwanda, who inhabit the bamboo jungle along the base of the volcanoes, to get past their initial reluctance to accept the daily visits of tourists and researchers. The experience of trekking with golden monkeys and gorillas is comparable; you can spend an hour with the monkeys once you locate them, and you will be in a small group of no more than eight people.
Photographing endangered species can be challenging since they are highly active animals that hop from tree to tree.
The golden monkey hike is a unique and enjoyable experience that should not be missed if you are interested in wildlife when visiting Volcanoes National Park. In addition to Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Kisoro District, southwestern Uganda, is home to another colony of golden monkeys.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Musanze, once known as Ruhengeri, is home to Volcanoes National Park. It is easily accessible by public transportation from Gisenyi or Kigali, as well as from the airport. One can do gorilla tracking on the same day and drive back to Kigali after the hike because the drive to Volcanoes National Park takes two hours. If you want to trek gorillas for a day, you must get up really early to ensure you get on time because you will need to go to the ORTPN headquarters in Kinigi, near the park gate, by 7:00 am. Nevertheless, there is no public transportation available from Musanze to Kinigi, the park's headquarters.
ACTIVITIES IN THE VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK INCLUDE:
Gorilla trekking, hiking the 3,800-meter Karisimbi volcano, hiking the Mount Bisoke volcano for a day, going to see Dian Fossey, Exploring the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo.
MOUNT KARISIMBI HIKE:
One of the main tourist attractions you shouldn't miss on your Rwandan safari to Volcanoes National Park is climbing Mount Karismbi. MT. Karisimbi is a stratovolcano that rises approximately 4507 meters above sea level. It is the fifth highest volcano in Africa and the highest of the eight major volcanoes in the Virunga area. It marches along the western branch of the African Rift Valley, which separates Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The age of the Karisimbi lavas, which range from 0.24 Ma to 0.010 Ma, suggests that the volcano is very young. On the other side of the Rift Valley, Mikeno to the north, Bisoke to the east, and Nyiragongo to the west, form its flanks. In Volcanoes National Park, climbing Mount Karisimbi is a challenging but extremely rewarding journey that is typically done in addition to gorilla trekking. The six-hour ascent begins early in the morning and entails traversing the Bisoke side before arriving at the first resting spot at 3,700 meters for an overnight camp and completing the route the following day.
MUSANZE CAVES:
Unquestionably, a safari in Rwanda would not be complete without a visit to the Musanze Caves. The Musanze Caves, located in the center of the Volcanoes National Park in northwest Rwanda, are unquestionably worth a visit. Since its official recognition as Rwandan tourism products in 2013, the Musanze Caves have grown to be a must-see destination for any safari package. Take some time during your Rwandan gorilla trip in Volcanoes National Park to explore the two-kilometer-long Musanze Caves. The caves are located in Musanze District, north of the country. The site has undergone significant renovations, including the installation of tourist pathways, trails, and staircases that lead to the caverns' dim interior, which depicts a house with multiple rooms and hallways.. See the caves in Rwanda's volcanic region, which are said to have been formed by a volcanic eruption decades ago. These caves provide a comprehensive insight of the world's geological and geographical historical history. If you have time, you can tour Musanze Cave following gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park. You may easily access this location after gorilla tracking in the evening because it is situated in the foothills of Volcanoes National Park.
DIAN FOSSY TOMB TOUR:
One of the most popular safari activities done while on a gorilla expedition at Volcanoes National Park is trekking to the Dian Fossey Tomb. In order to reach the Karisoke research camp, tourists must drive 30 minutes from the park headquarters to the trail head. From there, they must walk 10 minutes to reach the park's edge.It takes approximately one to one and a half hours to walk from the park's edge to the research center, where Dian's burial is located. Along the way, you can see a variety of monkeys, birds, forest hogs, and forest elephants.
This trekRwanda Hiking Tours is an amazing intellectual, emotional, and physical experience. Finding out about someone who was so committed and created a legacy that endures now is incredibly motivating. The hike calls for a certain level of patience and fitness because it includes climbing slopes and traversing through woodlands.
The house where Dian Fossey was inexplicably murdered in 1985 is located at the location, but the more serene area is where she was buried close to Digit, her favorite gorilla friend, and roughly 20 other mountain gorillas who were either slain by poachers or died for other reasons.
KWITA IZINA (GORILLA NAMING CEREMONY):
Every year, all of the baby gorillas born during the year are given names at the gorilla-naming ceremony, which is known locally as Kwita Izina in Kinyarwanda. The customary baby-naming ritual performed in Rwanda upon the birth of a newborn served as the model for the ceremony. The primary goal of identifying infant gorillas is to facilitate daily monitoring of each individual in their groups as they move through their natural habitat.
The ceremony's introduction also sought to raise awareness of the value of preserving the endangered mountain gorillas on a national and worldwide scale.
GORILLA GROUPS:
There are currently ten habituated gorilla groups available for visitors to see in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, as well as one designated for research from which the Kwita Izina baby gorilla naming ceremony is chosen. Interestingly, each gorilla group has a distinct and unique characteristic that sets them apart from one another. The following are among the Gorilla groups: SABYINYO, AGASHYA, KWITONDA, HIRWA, UGENDA, BWENGYE,
THE TITUS FAMILY:
Born during Dian Fossey's studies at Karisoke, the gorilla group she was studying, the Titus group is the first family named after the Silverback Titus. Titus, your gorilla, was left to be raised by an unrelated male gorilla after his mother and sinter joined other families and his father, uncle, and sibling were all killed by poachers. Dian Fossey Titus claims that the baby appeared "underdeveloped and spindly" and had trouble breathing, but Titus overcome these issues.
SUSA GROUP (SUSA A):
The most well-liked family is the Susa group (Susa A), which had 42 members prior to the breakup. The Susa A group got its name from the Susa River that flows through their homeland.
KARISIMBI GROUP (SUSA B):
This group, commonly known as Susa B, broke away from the original Susa in 2008. There are two silver backs among its sixteen members. Because it lives on the upper slopes of Mt. Karisimbi, which is 4507 meters above sea level, the group is the most difficult to trace. The group is appropriate for trackers who are interested in strenuous hiking and has made their home up in the upper mountains. Although RDB rangers will initially identify the group a day prior, tracking this group can occasionally get challenging as they go higher.
THE AMAHORO GROUP:
As the name suggests, the family is noted for its peace and friendliness, which has led to some of its silver back Ubumwe members leaving for another group known as Umubano. Amahoro is a Kinyarwanda term that means tranquility. Amahoro, which translates to "peace," has lived true to its name and is recognized as the most tranquil community. It has 18 members, including two silverbacks, and is a little difficult to follow because it requires hiking up the slopes of Mount Bisoke, where the group made its home.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
In and around Volcanoes National Park, there are numerous lodging options to suit all types of tourists, from upscale to midrange and low-cost lodging. This is a list of a few lodging options in the Volcanoes National Park area:
FIVE VOLCANOES BOUTIQUE HOTEL:
The five-star Volcanoes Boutique Hotel is located in Musanze, formerly Ruhengeri province, right next to the road that leads to the headquarters of Kinigi Volcanoes National Park. The resort provides luxurious, tranquil lodging with stunning views of the Land of a Thousand slopes. The accommodations include a VIP cottage and 13 double/twin bedrooms. Every facility has a flat-screen TV and air conditioning. A kettle and refrigerator. In addition, there is a restaurant, a swimming pool, a traditional sauna, and a steam sauna. Our staff is eager to make your stay enjoyable.
JACK HANNAH’S COTTAGES:
This is located in the Musanze province of northern Rwanda, this ultra-luxurious lodge is tucked away in a eucalyptus forest. The lodge provides lovely family-sized lodging at Jack Hannah's cottages, which have stunning views of the Volcanoes National Park's hills and slopes.
A wraparound porch/veranda that can be accessed from the living room offers a beautiful view of Rwanda's undulating hills and a "green" golf course. The cottage is rather peaceful and private. The Jack Hannah Lodge will take excellent care of you. The service is excellent; the personnel is polite, competent, and willing to help you feel as comfortable as possible.
SABYINYO SILVERBACK LODGE:
Situated in the Musanze area, close to the Parc National des Volcans park headquarters, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is ideally situated for Rwandan gorilla safaris, as it is close to the Kinigi head offices. Located in the foothills of the Virunga ranges, Sabyinyo Lodge offers a stunning view of the surrounding countryside and the undulating slopes of the volcanoes. The lodge has eight homes, each with a beautiful view of the Virunga Volcanoes. The cottages are carefully separated, providing plenty of seclusion.
BEST VIEW HOTELS:
Every guest should stay at the Best View Hotel, which is located in Ruhengeri. The hotel provides visitors to Volcanoes National Park and throughout Rwanda with first-rate lodging options. Every accommodation in the hotel has a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and free Wi-Fi Internet access. Furthermore, after a long day of hiking, guests can relax in the seating areas with stunning views in every accommodation. . The restaurant offers a three-course buffet menu that includes both local and international cuisine.
GORILLAS VOLCANOES HOTEL:
Located in Musanze, north of Kigali, this contemporary hotel has a distinct personality and a welcoming atmosphere. The motel has thirty-one roomy, pleasant rooms with showers and bathtubs. Breakfast is given heartily from 6:30 till 10:30 for visitors who rise early in the morning to visit the gorillas. Trekking may notify hotel management ahead of time so that breakfast is prepared at the desired time.
LA PALME HOTEL:
The three-star La Palme Hotel in Musanze City provides both business and leisure travelers with opulent lodging. A distinctive and well-known restaurant that satisfies your senses with Oriental, and African cuisines awaits you for an amazing dining experience. In the Mini Bar, savor a variety of cocktails that have been thoughtfully chosen to suit your particular preferences.
BEST TIME TO VISIT VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK:
You can travel to Rwanda at any time of year to track gorillas. The dry seasons, which run from December to early March and June to September, are the ideal times of year to visit Rwanda. While March through mid-May and July through September are considered to be the rainy months in Rwanda, December through March is a long dry season with occasional highs of 29 degrees Celsius.
Although Rwanda enjoys pleasant weather all year round, the dry season is better. The weather is usually pleasant, and it's also more typical to see wildlife during this time. Since there is little danger of rain during the walk and excellent trekking terrain in the rainforest, this is also the ideal time of year for people who want to see gorillas.