Explore Volcanoes national park for gorilla trekking & golden monkey tracking on a visit Rwanda experience

Volcanoes national park; home to mountain gorillas

Situated in the Northwest of Rwanda (-1.42476° S, 29.49746° E) in Musanze district, Volcanoes national park protects the steep slopes of the magnificent mountain range which is home of Rwanda’s endangered mountain gorillas and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems. Volcanoes national park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant crater lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura. Volcanoes national park is 115km from the Kigali city on a 3 hours road drive.

Volcanoes national park gorillas & golden monkeys tracking packages

1 day gorilla trekking safari

The 1 day gorilla trekking Volcanoes national park safari starts from Kigali city on a 2.5 hours drive. Volcanoes national park has almost 50% of the world's remaining endangered mountain gorillas. With the park's high level of accessibility and 100% chances to encounter mountain gorillas, Volcanoes national park offers great affordable and luxury gorilla trekking experiences. This 1 day gorilla trekking Rwanda safari sets off very early from Kigali for the day's trekking or on a 1 day 1 night itinerary plan.

2 DAYS Gorilla trekking safari

2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda safari starts with a Kigali city tour on the 1st day and wind up with a transfer to Volcanoes national park vicinity. Day 2 and last day sets you very early in the morning for mountain gorilla trekking experience. Thereafter you will also take a tour around Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey fund- an ecotourism center that was set up for conservation purposes. You'll also enjoy birding, butterfly watching, volcanic feature scenes, hiking etc.

Golden monkeys on Rwanda Gorilla trekking & wild safari

4 DAYS Gorilla trekking & Golden monkey trekking

Rwanda primate trekking focused safari on a 4 days trip in the Volcanoes national park featuring the park's endangered species- mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkeys. While hiking Volcanoes national park around the 5 volcanic mountains of the Virunga massif, you also encounter crater lakes, snow capped peaks, colobus monkeys, butterflies and more than 200 bird species. Along gorillas and golden monkey trekking, other experiences include the Batwa culture tour and visit Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey fund on this safari.

5 days gorilla & wildlife Rwanda safari

Focused 5 days gorilla and wildlife Rwanda safari takes you in to the Volcanoes and Akagera national parks. Gorilla trekking and Africa's big 5 (lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, rhinos) are the main highlights for this safari itinerary. Hiking and game drives get you to encounter several wildlife for example colobus monkeys, bird species, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, antelopes, volcanic features, butterflies, hippos, crocodiles, water bucks, hyenas etc. Other exciting experiences that can be added to this itinerary include air balloon tours, photography, volcanic feature sightings, camping, boat cruises, birding, nature walks and city tours.

10 DAYS Rwanda Gorilla- primates & WILDLIFE SAFARI

10 days Rwanda primate trekking and wildlife safari in all the country's popular game parks includes a visit Volcanoes national park to encounter mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. After the Kigali city tour on the 1st day, the 2nd day takes you to chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk experience in Nyungwe forest national park. You then head to Volcanoes national park via lake Kivu shores for mountain gorillas and golden monkey tracking. 10 days Rwanda safari wind up with amazing Akagera national park's Africa's big 5 game (lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards), zebras, giraffes, warthogs, antelopes, hippos, nile crocodiles, water bucks, hyenas etc. and more than 500 bird species in all these parks.

Masai Mara- Serengeti Wildebeest migration

4 days gorilla trekking & great migration experience

Book a multinational 4 days safari combining gorilla trekking and the great wildebeest migration. After gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park after which you will fly to Kenya's Masai Mara game reserve or Tanzania's Serengeti national park to encounter the largest Africa animal migration. The wildebeest migration herds of over 1.5 million ungulates traverse the Serengeti- Masai Mara ecosystem every year in search for fresh pastures. Wildlife game drives also get you to encounter Africa's big 5 (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos) tours, birding, Masai culture, air balloon tours, camping etc.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park

The unique opportunity to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is unforgettable. Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up the mountain slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour just a few feet away from the gentle creatures.

Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes national park

Another exciting experience in Volcanoes National Park is trekking to see the golden monkeys. With the golden coated fur that makes them strikingly beautiful, two golden monkey groups can be tracked- one on the slopes of Mtn. Karisimbi and the other in the bamboo forest on Mtn. Sabinyo. Tracking through the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of 200 species of colorful birds and their chattering, is only one of the truly unique experiences in the area.

The Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey fund

This multi-acre, eco friendly facility adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park includes three main buildings- the research center, education center and conservation gallery- as well as housing for visiting students and researchers. The Ellen Campus is designed to serve as a gateway to conservation for the many stakeholders as well as visitors from around the world, helping to create the next generation of conservationists.

Musanze Caves

There are 52 caves in the Northern province with 15.2km of cave passages, most of which are developed from Cenozoic volcanic rocks. The Musanze Cave is 2km long and the most frequently visited. It dates back to 65 million years, where the lava flows contributed to the Albertine Rift valley. Musanze cave is part of the lava basaltic layers from the Bisoke and Sabinyo volcanoes. The site is formally protected and access is limited to guided tours, which last two and half hours.

Activities done at Volcanoes national park

Gorilla trekking
Golden monkey tracking
Bird watching
Hiking & nature walks
Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey fund
Cave visits
Virunga massif sightings
Photography & filming

Gorilla families in Volcanoes national park

As of today, Volcanoes national park has 16 trekked mountain gorilla families with 7 up to 40 members per single family led by alpha males called silver backs. These gorilla families include;

Susa gorilla family which has 38 members is the most popular gorilla family in the volcanoes national park.
Titus gorilla family was named after the legendary gorilla also know as “gorilla king” that was born during the time of researcher Dian Fossey.
Umubano gorilla family with 13 members is led by a silver back called Charles.
Hirwa gorilla family has 18 members that is led by a silverback called Munyinya.
Amahoro gorilla family has 19 members led by a silver back called Ubumwe.
Agashya gorilla family has 13 members named after their leader silverback Agashya.
Kwitonda gorilla family has 23 members led by a silverback named Akarevuno.
Sabinyo gorilla family has 17 members led by a silver back named Guhonda.
Kwisanga gorilla family has 16 members led by a silver back called Kigoma. This group separated from the Kwitonda group
Noheli gorilla family has 7 members all of which are female. These left Isimbi and Susa groups.
Bwenge gorilla family has 11 members led by the silver back and name bearer Bwenge.
Kirisimbi also known as Susa B gorilla family led by a silver back called Nyagakangaga
Igisha gorilla family has 34 members led by a silver back and name bearer Igisha
Muhoza gorilla family has 17 members led by the name bearing silver back Muhoza. This is the most easily tracked family and is located in the middle of the park.
Isimbi gorilla family has 16 members led by a silver back called Muturengera.
Ugenda gorilla family has 11 members. Ugenda means mobile and this family got this name from being mobile- moving from one place to another.

Kwita Izina- Gorilla naming ceremony

Kwita Izina meaning “to give a name” is a traditional Rwandese ceremony that is done when naming a new born baby among the Rwandese people. In the same way, a naming ceremony is held every year to name all the newly born baby gorillas in the different mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes national park. Travelers move from all over the world to give names to baby mountain gorillas and also attend to celebrate the conservation efforts of these endangered species. Book a safari to the Kwita Izina ceremony to be part of this global celebration.

How to get to Volcanoes national park

Volcanoes national park can be accessed through;

Road: Volcanoes national park is a 2hrs 30 minutes drive from Kigali city- Rwanda’s capital.
By air: You can get to the Volcanoes by a helicopter on a 1hr flight.

Lodges at Volcanoes national park

One&Only gorillas' nest lodge

One&Only gorillas’ nest lodge is a world class luxury staycation wild lodge with forested tree houses and suites on the montane slopes with Volcanoes national park with staycation guarantees of the best serene and luxurious safari holiday while on a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.

Forest tree houses and suites rates start at $6,488 to $11,740 per person with all meals amenities given.

Tiloreza lodge

Tiloreza lodge located on the montane slopes in Volcanoes national park at -1.47040° S, 29.62049° E, is also a luxury safari lodge where you can stay when you visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking safari.

At Tiloreza room offers for standard, deluxe rooms and suites rates start at $530.

Ingagi park view lodge

The Ingagi park view lodge is also located in Volcanoes national park and offers luxury staycation too while on Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.

Ingagi park view has a beautiful overlooking sceneries of Volcanoes national park and makes its location easy to catch up with gorilla trekking activities with stay offers starting going for;

Single occupancy starting at $280
Double occupancy starting at $500 and
Triple occupancy

Wilderness Bisate lodge

Wilderness Bisate lodge is made of luxurious ensuite forest bandas with balcony sheds that over look Volcanoes national park vast wilderness all set up to ensure a perfect staycation experience on a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.

The luxury Wilderness Bisate lodge offers staycation services start at a rate at $2,432.