Volcanoes
national park is Rwanda’s most attractive protected park, it’s located in
Ruhengeri musanze district in the north western region of Rwanda near the edge
with the Virunga national park in the democratic republic of Congo and Mgahinga
gorilla forest national park in Uganda. Volcanoes national park is part of the Virunga
Mountains, which is arrange of six extinct and three active volcanoes situated
in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo. The park can be reached
out in just about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali Rwanda’s capital and largest
city up to the park, its easy access can enable one to do gorilla tracking and
drive back to Kigali on the same day.
The park covers an area of about 160sqkm
and it is regarded as the oldest national park in Africa and it was gazetted in
1929 during the Belgian colonial times and it was then named Albert National
park and extended into DRC. It was confirmed to remain a national park after
the Rwanda independence to protect the Mountain gorillas that were facing the
threat of extinction as a result of poaching. The park is regarded as one of
the three countries that houses the rare mountain gorillas the other two are
Uganda and the democratic republic of Congo; however Rwanda is regarded as the
best safari destination for gorilla tracking as Rwanda gorillas are a little
easier to track than that of Uganda and Rwanda houses almost a half of the
world’s gorilla’s population. Tracking mountain gorillas is according to us,
one of the absolute highlights of the journey anywhere in Africa the delight
and excitement when meeting these gentle giants cannot be explained.
George Schaller in 1960s and more recently an
American zoologist Dian Fossy 1967 studied the behaviors of mountain gorillas
to human standard for over a period of 20 years. Dian Fossy established her
research base at a place between Visoke and Karisimbi volcanoes that was yet to
be known as Karisoke research center. She fought herd against poachers and fronted
the campaign of mobilizing resources against poaching activists, however her
work was put to an end in 1985 when she was killed by the said poachers whom
she had made herself very unpopular. She was buried at the research center next
to the grave of her favorite gorilla called Digit. Without her persistent
efforts to have poaching stamped out and the work of committed locals since her
death, there is possibly wouldn’t be any gorillas remaining in Rwanda, and
Rwanda could not be much known in terms of tourism as its today.
Volcanoes
national park is the only place for tracking mountain gorillas, however the
park is also a home to other primate species likes the golden monkey
(Cercopithecus mitis kandti), they are also regarded as endangered, the park
also houses mammal species like spotted hyena, buffaloes, elephant, black
fronted duiker, and bushbuck can also be seen. It also hosts over 250 species
of birds including at 29 endemics to Rwenzori Mountains and the Virungas.
Tourist activities done at the park
include
Gorilla tracking:
Tracking gorillas in the volcanoes mountain or
bamboo forest is regarded as a magical experience you will never forget in
life. Mountain gorillas are the second close relative of man sharing almost 95%
of human DNA make up, they are so fabulous fan to watch in their nature
habitat. Tracking mountain gorillas begins very early in the morning after
reporting at the park headquarters to receive a short briefing from the park
officials on safety measures and what to expect during the day about gorillas
tracking. You are reminded to carry your passport and your gorilla permit in
order to verify that you are the right owner of the permit. You will get assigned
to a group about 8 members per group maximum and each group is assigned one
gorilla family to trek as Rwanda is blessed with 10 habituated gorilla groups
ready for tracking which means that 88 members can track gorilla in Rwanda.
Each person is assigned to the group he/she fits, for example those age 45
years and above and those who are less fit are assigned to easy to find’
gorilla families which do not wander far away from the trail heads. And those
who are physically fit may be given a specific group. However you should note
that given the fact that gorillas are wild animals it is not a guarantee that
they must be near or easy to find, The one you may consider easy may turn to be
the difficult and those you may consider difficult can be seen easier on a
specific day, so this makes the total experience very interesting and difficult
to predict. You also remained to come
with your tracking gears like gloves, trekking boots/shoes, rain jacket since
it can rain at any time, walking stick if necessary, bottled water and
sometimes packed lunch. Ounce you meet these giants you expect to stay with
them for only one hour while studding their behaviors as well as taking as many
photos as you can.
To
be among the 8 members who are allowed to track in each gorilla group you have
to possess a gorilla permit which is at a fee of $750 per person per tracking
and you are advised to book your Permit at least 3 to 6 months in advance,
especially during Rwanda's high season of June – September and December to
February and permits are booked on first come first served basis the earlier
the better. We do not encourage you to book a gorilla’s permit yourself since
us www.elephantsafaris.co.ug among
other reliable tour operators can book for you a gorilla permit without any
extra change. A 3 Day gorilla trekking safari in the best itinerary you can
have for your gorilla tour in Rwanda.
Golden monkey tracking:
Just like mountain gorillas, golden monkey are
also listed as endangered and currently are tracked in the volcanoes national
park. There are two habituated golden monkeys troops that are available for
visiting by tourists and there about 80 members at the park. Tracking begins
very early in the morning at 7:00am after reporting at the park headquarters to
receive a short briefing from the park officials about the dos and don’ts while
with these elusive monkeys. After the ranger guide will head you to the forest
to begin the activity. Golden monkeys most of the time live in the bamboo
vegetation towards the base of the volcanoes that’s kabatwa or karisimbi. Just
like gorillas tracking time is unpredictable it can go from 30 minutes to eight
hour so a reasonable degree of fitness is needed. These creatures are fabulous
fan to fun to watch, they are active creatures and jump from tree to tree which
is really very interesting although not like gorillas golden monkeys are a little
difficult to photograph, you only allowed to stay with them for only one hour observing
their behaviors as well as taking as many photos as you can (a flash camera is
not allowed) and only eight members are allowed to track in each group. Golden
monkey tracking is at a fee of $100 per person per tracking.
Iby’Iwacu village tour:
If you’re among those interested in learning
more about the African way of life, volcanoes national park offers this
activity. You will be fortunate to have a visit to Iby’Iwacu village in the
northern province Kinigi musanze district of Rwanda to share with the local people,
life style and also test their local food. This Cultural Village is much dedicated
at showcasing the ways of living, traditional lifestyles and dances to tourists.
They will entertain you through their cultural dance and music and they will also
pass you through their interesting stories about traditional medicine from a
local traditional heal, their historical background about how they have managed
to live in the area for over 50,000 year, and if interested take part in their
activities like cooking, dancing and singing . Don’t miss community walk, it’s
so interesting.
Dian Fossy tomb tour
For any gorilla safari in the volcanoes
national park don’t miss to visit a grave yard of Diane Fossy who was a
prominent primatologist who carried out research on the behaviors of mountain
gorillas for a period of over 20years until when she was murdered in 1885 by
poachers whom she had made herself very unpopular. The trek involves a 30
minutes’ drive from the park headquarters to the trail head to access the
Karisoke research camp where visitors walk for 10 minutes to the park boundary.
From the park headquarters to the research centers where she was killed takes
about 1-1and half hours and the walk provide an opportunity to come across
several species of animals like forest elephant, giant forest hogs, a variety
of primate species and various species of birds. Ounce you reach at the site
you will learn more about Diane Fossy who was so dedicated and left a legacy
that exists even today. Without her, mountain gorillas would not be herd of in Rwanda.
You will find a house where she was buried at the research center next to the
grave of her favorite gorilla called Digit and about 20 other mountain gorillas
either killed by poachers or suffered death for other reasons. The hike to the
Dian Fossy is somehow tough as it involves passing through the forest and slopes
so a relative degree of fitness is needed and it is regarded as a full day
activity.
Bird watching:
Rwanda is known as a bird paradise out of
about 1450 species of birds that live in the country, volcanoes national park
only is home to over 250 species of birds including at 29 endemics to Rwenzori
Mountains and the Virungas giving a good platform for bird lovers to enjoy
watching plenty of them. On any activity
at the park you can’t miss seeing several species of birds. Birding can take
place either in the morning or in the evening and the park has kin bird
watchers who are not only experienced but also passionate in the field. Some of the bird species expected to see
include the Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Mountain Sooty Boubou,
Rwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Archer’s Robin-chat, Rwenzori
Hill Babbler, Grauer's Rush, Neumann’s and Grauer's Warbles, Masked Mountain
Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit and Strange Weaver, and a full range of Rwenzori
double-collared, purple-throated, blue-headed, the list is endless.
Mount trekking: for
those who are physically fit the park provide a challenging hike to volcanoe
mountains it can go from 1-10 days depending on the travelers fitness climb the
Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo,
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