Facts About Volcanoes National Park Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park is located in the Northern Province of Rwanda.
It covers 160 square kilometers and was established in the early 1920s as a wildlife conservation area.
The reason for its name is that it is home to five major volcanoes: Karisimbi (4,507 m), Muhabura (4,127 m), Gahinga (3,474 m), Bisoke (3,711 m), and Sabyinyo (3,634 m).
These volcanoes extend all the way to Uganda. When Dian Fossey set up her gorilla research station here in 1967, it gained significant publicity and became the most visited national park in Rwanda.
The Karisoke Research Center, established by Dian Fossey, helped curb the rampant poaching that had become unmanageable.
Fossey secured funding for the park and devoted the majority of it to the conservation and research of gorillas.
As a result, the park became associated with Dian Fossey’s research work on the endangered gorillas.
Volcanoes National Park is visited by thousands of tourists every year who come to enjoy the mountain scenery, lakes and rivers, lush green forests, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, birds, and other wildlife.
There are four types of vegetation in the park:
- Hagenia/Hypericum vegetation at high altitudes, but not more than 3,300 m
- Afro-Alpine vegetation at 4,000 m or higher
- Sub-Alpine vegetation dominated by bamboo forests on lower slopes
The variety of animals in Volcanoes National Park is vast, with mountain gorillas being the key attraction.
The park is home to 30% of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, as well as golden monkeys, forest hogs, bush pigs, leopards, duikers, spotted hyenas, forest buffalo, and elephants.
Bird watchers will be pleased to know that the park is home to over 200 recorded species of birds, the most popular of which are the Rwenzori turaco and the Francolins.
Visiting Volcanoes National Park offers a variety of activities for visitors, with gorilla trekking being the most popular.
Other activities include visiting the graves of famous naturalists, trekking with golden monkeys, hiking in the mountains, visiting the cultural village of Iby’Iwacu, and taking tours of Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo, among others.
What Time of Year Is Best to Visit Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?
The dry season, from June to September, is usually considered the best time to visit because it’s easier to hike or follow the gorillas.
The rainy season is between December and February.
During the rainy season, the scenery is more picturesque, the grass is greener, and there are fewer people in the park, providing more privacy.
However, the park can be visited at any time of the year, and activities take place year-round, whether it’s a holiday or not.
In conclusion, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is a significant conservation area known for its mountain gorillas and diverse wildlife.
Visitors can enjoy various activities such as gorilla trekking, bird watching, and hiking, with the dry season being the most popular time to visit.
