Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Dian Fossey's misty Virunga slopes
About Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park climbs the bamboo slopes of the Virunga massif — the landscape of Dian Fossey's life's work and home to Rwanda's habituated mountain gorilla families. Treks are the most accessible in Africa: the trailheads are just 2–3 hours from Kigali.
Beyond the gorillas: track troops of endangered golden monkeys, hike to Fossey's Karisoke research site, or climb Mount Bisoke's crater lake. Rwanda's premium permits are strictly limited — we secure them as part of your itinerary.
Wildlife
What You'll See
- Mountain Gorilla
- Golden Monkey
- Forest birds
Activities
What You Can Do
- Gorilla trekking
- Golden monkey tracking
- Dian Fossey hike
- Mount Bisoke climb
The Virungas
Volcanoes National Park: Rwanda's Gorilla Mountains
Volcanoes National Park protects the Rwandan flank of the Virunga massif, a chain of eight volcanoes shared between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Five of them stand on Rwandan soil, and their forested slopes are home to ten habituated mountain gorilla families.
This is where Dian Fossey established the Karisoke research camp in 1967 and worked for eighteen years, and where she is buried alongside the gorillas she studied. The research and anti-poaching model that came out of Karisoke is a substantial part of why the mountain gorilla is the only great ape whose numbers are currently rising.
Practically, the park's great advantage is access. Kigali International Airport to the park headquarters at Kinigi is two and a half hours on good tarmac, with no internal flights and no rough transfers. You can land in the afternoon and be with gorillas the next morning, which is why Rwanda is the obvious choice for travellers short on time.
What you do
Volcanoes Park Highlights
Gorilla trekking
Ten habituated families, eight visitors each per day, one strictly timed hour. Treks last one to six hours on steep volcanic slopes.
Golden monkey tracking
An endemic subspecies in the bamboo zone, at a fraction of the gorilla permit price and with much easier walking. A superb second day.
The Dian Fossey hike
A steep two-hour climb to the ruins of the Karisoke camp and to Fossey's grave beside those of the gorillas she studied.
Volcano summits
Bisoke, with a crater lake at the top, and Muhabura can both be climbed as demanding day hikes for those with a spare day and good legs.
Planning
Volcanoes National Park FAQs
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Treks run one to six hours each way on steep slopes between 2,500 and 3,000 metres, where the thin air is noticeable, and the ground is often muddy with stinging nettles. Rangers allocate groups by fitness at the morning briefing, so answer honestly. Porters are available at the trailhead for a small fee, are enormously helpful and support former poachers now working with the park.
How far ahead should I book permits?
As early as possible, and always before booking flights. Only eighty gorilla permits exist per day across the entire park, and June to September and the Christmas period sell out many months in advance. The permit is issued for a specific date, so everything else in your itinerary is built around it.
What is the daily routine?
Briefing at Kinigi park headquarters at seven in the morning with coffee and traditional dancing, group allocation, then a short drive to the trailhead. You trek, spend your hour, and walk back down. Most people are finished by early afternoon and receive a signed certificate at headquarters. Many guests are back in Kigali for dinner the same evening.
Itineraries
Safaris Featuring Volcanoes National Park
7 Day Rwanda Gorillas & Rain-forest Safari
Nyungwe → Volcanoes NP
- Mid-range
- 4×4 Land Cruiser
From $2,100 pp
View details
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