Visiting Volcanoes National Park Rwanda in September – Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, also called Parc National Des Volcans in French and Pariki Y’lgihugu y’lbirunga in native Kinyarwanda, is a home to various flora and fauna in Rwanda.
It adds up to about the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Rwanda due to the booming tourism activities that are carried out within the volcanoes.
It is also home to the 5 great Virunga mountains. That is to say, Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Gahinga, which harbor the endangered mountain gorillas that give a great taste to tourist activities in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park is located in the Northwestern province of Rwanda in Musanze, formerly called Ruhengeri, giving a two and a half hours’ drive from Kigali International Airport and covers an average space of 160 sq km.
It is worth noting that Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is the oldest National Park in Africa, harboring a variety of flora and fauna such as golden monkeys, birds, elephants, gorillas, buffaloes, bush-bucks, and many others.
In addition to that, Volcanoes National Park is a great historical site as far as the gorilla conservation works of the American Zoologist Dian Fossey is concerned, which make it one of the most visited by both national and international visitors.
Therefore, its uniqueness is encompassed around its rich ecosystem and vibrant mammal species.
The temperature around Volcanoes National Park varies according to seasons, that is wet and dry seasons, and as it is, September is a wet month giving a fall in temperature as compared to that of August, which is dry and warm.
Temperatures are around 14°C / 57°F during the day; nights are very cold with an average of 8°C / 46°F.
Points to note: Tourists should be aware of the regular rains in this month, especially much rain in the afternoon than in the morning hours.
Activities carried out in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda in September
Visiting Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda in September is quite limiting in terms of gorilla trekking in the mountains and mountain hiking due to wet terrains on the mountain slopes.
This is because the month of September is a wet month.
However, all tourist activities can be carried out under guidance and careful instructions by tour guides.
Such activities include:
- Gorilla trekking
- Birding
- Mountain hiking
- Touring twin lakes
- Visit to Dian Fossey’s grave
- Nature walks and many others.
Requirements tourists are advised to carry for their tours:
- Hiking boots
- Cameras
- Hiking gears
- Insect repellents
- Hats/caps
- Hiking stick
- Gorilla permits
- Warm and waterproof clothes
- Jackets and many others.
Precautions: Children below the age of 15 cannot participate in gorilla trekking among the tourist activities.
Cost of visiting Volcanoes National Park: The cost of visiting Volcanoes National Park Rwanda varies from person to person, their activities, the amount of money they plan for their tours, as well as their home countries.
However, an estimate of USD 1500-15000 per person per tour can be given to guide the tourist.
Remarkably, September visits at Volcanoes National Park are worth an adventure.
