Top 5 safari activities to do in volcanoes national park
Top 5 safari activities to do in volcanoes national park : Volcanoes National Park is one of the first national parks to be gazetted in Africa as well as Rwanda, this park is situated in the northwestern region of Rwanda covering an area of 160 square kilometers. Volcanoes national park is a famous habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas , the park consists of mountainous landscape dotted with Virunga volcanoes that is mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo. These volcanoes are entirely forested which makes them a thriving home for mountain gorillas, the park is situated in a distance of 2 hours drive for Kigali the capital city of Rwanda.
Volcanoes national park offers a number of safari activities and this article highlights the top 5 safari activities offered in the park and these include
Mountain gorilla trekking
Your safari to volcanoes national park can be complete without participating in the adventurous mountain gorilla trekking, volcanoes national park is a remarkable habitant for the endangered mountain gorillas and the one and only national park in Rwanda where you can find the mountain gorillas. The park hosting a huge population of mountain gorillas with only 11 habituated gorilla families that is Amahoro, Ugenda, Umubano, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Susa, Hirwa, Karisimbi, Bwenge, Titus and Agashya.
Mountain gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park starts with briefing at the park’s headquarters and is done in a group of 8 people, the experience takes for about 2-4 hours which greatly depends on the gorilla family you are assigned to trek and where the family spent the previous night. Mountain gorilla trekking experience offers tourists one hour of staying in the presence of mountain gorillas and in this hour you are free to take pictures as long as your flashlight off, for a safer ad entertaining experience it is very much advisable to listen to your ranger guide and a bid with the rules read to you during in the briefing session.
For any tourist to participate in mountain gorilla trekking experience you are required to be at the age 15 and above and be in possession of a mountain gorilla trekking permit.
Golden monkey tracking
Volcanoes national park is known home for primates not only for mountain gorillas but also for golden monkeys, golden monkeys living in the forests of volcanoes national park are underwent through habituation process with a purpose of making them get used to human presence and for golden monkey trekking purposes.
Volcanoes national park hosts two habituated troops of golden monkeys with each consisting of 80 individuals, like mountain golden trekking, golden monkey tracking starts with briefing at the park’s headquarters since golden monkeys are also sensitive primates. From the headquarters you hike into the forests of volcanoes in search for these amazing primates and they are usually found in the bamboo forests, upon finding them you are given one hour to be with them, taking pictures and sighting of them picking fruits and playing. To participate in golden money tracking you are required to be in possession of a golden monkey tracking permit
Volcano hiking
Volcanoes national park is has a mountainous landscape consisting of various forested volcanoes, the volcanoes are dotted in various regions of the park and they fall under the Virunga volcanoes chain. Virunga volcanoes in volcanoes national park include mount karisimbi, mount Muhabura, mount Bisoke, mount Sabyinyo and mount Gahinga. Though the park consists of many volcanoes, volcano hiking experience is offered on two volcanoes that is Mount Bisoke and Mount karisimbi.
Mount Bisoke also referred to as Visoke stands at the elevation of 3,711 meters above the sea level and lies along the border of Virunga national park of Democratic Republic of Congo and volcanoes national park, the slopes of this volcano are densely covered by equatorial forest and alpine meadows. The fascinating fact about this volcano is that its summit is shrouded in fog which is encountered on the hike. Hiking mount Bisoke is suitable for both experienced and in experienced, the hike starts at Kinigi park headquarters with briefing and hiring porters. Hiking to the summit takes approximately 6 hours and descending takes approximately 2 hours, as you hike you are rewarded with views of fog filled summit, crater lakes and beautiful alpine vegetation.
Mount karisimbi is the highest of the volcanoes in Virunga volcanoes chain and the 11th highest mountain in Africa standing at the elevation of 4,507 meters above the sea level, this volcano lies on the border Virunga national park of Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda’s volcanoes national park. The fascinating fact about this volcano is that its top is capped with snow during the dry season period that is in June, July and August, because of the snow the volcano was named Karisimbi a Kinyarwanda word which comes from Amasimbi word meaning snow. Hiking Mount Karisimbi takes two days of climbing to the summit and descending back, this experience starts from Kinigi park headquarters as early as 7:00 pm and the hike to the summit takes approximately 7 hours. On the first day of the hike you will spend the night at the altitude of 3,700 meters and the next morning you complete the last stretch to the summit, hiking to the summit is a bit challenging but rewarding as you get views of the snowcapped summit, Muhabura volcano, Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes.
Exploring Musanze Caves
Musanze caves are of the most magnificent feature in Volcanoes national park and Musaze district as well, these caves are traditionally significant to the local people as they were formally used as shelters and venue for crowning of kings. Musanze caves are made up of streams of water flowing from the rock ceiling down on the rocky walls to holes underneath the cave floor, the caves walls are dark in color due to smoke and has many tunnels which are home for birds.
Exploring musaze caves takes approximately 2 hours and at the entrance of the cave you are welcomed by green vegetation, in the cave you walk through dark tunnel consisting of hardened rocks and with a help of a flashlight you will enjoy the complete silence in the cave, echoes of the human footsteps and a huge population of bats hanging on the walls of the bats.
Visiting the Iby’Iwacu Village
The Iby’Iwacu Village also referred to as Gorilla Guardians Village is also situated in Musaze district where Volcanoes national park and Musanze caves are found, the name Iby’Iwacu Village is a Kinyarwanda slag meaning Treasures of our home and heritage. Visiting the Iby’Iwacu Village is an opportunity for tourists to enjoy the cultural traditions, people and history of Rwanda in this village you will encounter and enjoy the lifestyle of local people, traditional dances, traditional dressing code, local food, herbs and the ancient local kingdom setting. In this village you also get to learn ancient hunting skills, weaving baskets, carpentry work and many more.
