Vegetation of Volcanoes National Park

The Vegetation of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, is located in the Northern Province of Rwanda.

The park covers an area of 160 km² and was designated as a wildlife conservation area in the early 1920s. The vegetation zones in the park are closely connected to the park’s elevation; therefore, different altitudes have different vegetation covers.

The park’s floral species are mainly defined by the altitudinal range of the area. However, various factors influence the vegetation type of a country.

Volcanoes National Park has distinct vegetation, featuring alpine forests, marshes, thickets, grasslands, and swamps, which exist at various altitudinal ranges.

At an altitude of 2,500-3,200 meters, the bamboo forest occupies more than 30% of the park’s area. The Hypericum forest, one of the vast forests of Hagenia abyssinica, lies at 2,600-3,600 meters in the southern and western parts of the park.

The Lobelia species primarily grow at 3,500-4,500 meters, occupying over 24% of the park.

Grasslands are found at an altitude of 4,300-4,500 meters, hosting a variety of bird species.

The giant heather dominates the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo and some parts of the drier areas of Mount Muhabura.

Open meadows are also found around the saddles of the Virunga volcanoes.

Below is a brief description of the vegetation types of Volcanoes National Park:

The Bamboo Forest at 2,300-2,600 meters
The Hagenia and Hypericum Forest at 2,600-3,300 meters
The Subalpine Zones at 3,300-4,000 meters
The Afro-Alpine Zone at over 4,000 meters

The Bamboo Forest

The bamboo forest grows up to about 20 meters and dominates the extensive saddle lying between the Virunga volcanoes, including Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Gahinga.

These forests occupy soft, wet, and nutrient-rich areas. They feature over 30% bamboo with minimal undergrowth.

The bamboo takes several years to grow and mature, providing a major habitat for the mountain gorillas and monkeys.