Volcanoes National Park Group Safaris in Rwanda are one of the most renowned travel experiences in Africa. Volcanoes National Park that has and still welcomes quite a lot of families, academicians, researchers, and primate lovers globally to participate in their prime activity, Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkey trekking.

A traveler takes approximately two hours to drive from Kigali international airport or Kigali city to Volcanoes national park, situated in a remote area of Kinigi, Ruhengeri, Rwanda in the northwestern part of the country, on the foothills of Virunga volcano massif, which is shared among Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo.

In the whole world, Mountain gorillas can only be found in Volcanoes National park (Rwanda), Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park in Uganda. Because of that, you will be so lucky to visit these gentle apes in their natural habitats, which happen to be possessing up to 96% human DNA, in Volcanoes national park

The park has a wide range of biodiversity, Bamboo trees, montane forest, cool climate, classic accommodations, good security, rare primate species, few notable mammals, over 178 bird species, and unique tree species.

Why Choose Volcanoes National park for group safaris?

Volcanoes National park gives any visitor a true experience of primate trekking activities, birding adventure, hiking experience, jaw-dropping sceneries, and memorable African savannah encounters.

You should also bear in mind that Volcanoes national park Rwanda hosts Mount Karisimbi, Mount Sabinyo, mount Bisoke, and mount Muhabura among others where you can go for Hiking experiences. Also, the park was the foundation for Gorilla research and conservation that started in 1967 after the arrival of American naturalist, Dian Fossey from DR Congo where she has escaped from prison and established Karisoke Research center where she dedicated all her entire life to researching the Mountain Gorillas, only to be murdered on the 26th December 1985 by unknown attackers who saw her as a threat to their poaching practices.

You can watch her contributions in the film “Gorillas in the Mist”, her body was laid to rest beside her favorite gorilla Digit, few kilometers to her research center that has now been elevated to a global primate research and studies.

The best time to visit volcanoes national park for group safaris

Any time of the year you can visit volcanoes national park but the dry season is the best time to visit the park, in the long holiday of December to February as well as June to September when there is very little/ no rain to disrupt your birding, hiking, or trekking activities. Tour operators like us at Africa Adventure Vacations always recommend this season because the Mountain Gorillas and other creatures are easily seen as they come out looking for what to eat and drink.

What to do while on group safaris in volcanoes national park?

The following are the main travel activities that can be done while on a group tour in Rwanda

Mountain gorilla trekking

This is the most done safari activity in Volcanoes National park Rwanda receiving hundreds of tourists each year. The gorilla trekking permits go for 1500usd per person who must be aged 15 years and above per day, Rwanda gorilla permits are the most expensive in the entire whole of East Africa, with Uganda following at 700USD and DR Congo at 400USD.

Mountain Gorilla tracking starts at exactly 8:00 local time, at the park’s headquarters with the park rangers verifying your documents, briefing you about the rules and regulations of trekking as well allocating you to one of the twelve gorilla families open for tourism at the park, namely; Amahoro gorilla group which is the most peaceful, Susa group, Kwitonda group, Hirwa gorilla group, Karisimbi group, Agashya group, Bwenge group, Sabyinyo group, Uganda group, Titus Gorilla group, and Karisimbi group among others.

Cultural encounter

An opportunity of a cultural encounter around Volcanoes national park will reveal to you the village life of Rwandese. You can take a visit to one of the organized cultural groups such as Iby’Iwacu village or the Nyange community, which will take you through interesting stories, history, show you how to make local wine, sewing, iron smelting, cooking, dance and drama among so many more activities.

Golden monkey tracking

Golden monkey trekking is also another amazing activity as you meet eye to eye with one of the most interesting creatures to watch in the natural habitat, they are very playful, jumping from one tree branch to another and depend on main vegetables, young bamboo leaves, bamboo branchlets, flowers, shrubs, invertebrates, bamboo shoots, fruits, and stems. Tracking them takes a shorter time like 2 hours to 5 hours depending on their location. Gorilla trekking permits in volcanoes national park go for $100 for foreign non-residents

Note that gorilla and golden monkey trekking is done in groups of a maximum of 8 people per day, to ensure the conservation of the environment and some of the set rules have to be carefully followed such as maintaining 7 meters away from the primates, avoiding littering, avoiding eating near them and making less noise, respecting the creatures at their home, using flashless cameras, and much more.

Mountain Hiking and Nature walk

Interestingly, mountain climbing and nature walk are some of the activities you shouldn’t miss out on volcanoes national park, they leave visitors with strong and memorable experiences that last for centuries.

Hiking any of the volcanoes takes hours to two days, with the most hiked volcano being mountain Karisimbi, which is ranked the 5th tallest mountain in entire Africa with a snow-capped peak, mount Bisoke, and mount Muhabura. Then nature walk is normally done in Buhanga sacred Forest, Walking around Musanze caves among others. These activities are less energetic and inexpensive with very interesting spots and attractions to look out for.

Birding expeditions in Volcanoes National park

With over 200 rare bird species recorded around the Albertine Rift region dwelling in volcanoes national park’s thick flora and slopes of the mountain, birding is the ultimate step to take. 27 species are believed to be endemic to this region among which include the sought-after shoebill stork, broad-tailed warbler, papyrus Gonolex, Rwenzori Apalis, Rwenzori Turaco, Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori nightjar, Bennett’s woodpecker, red-faced woodland warbler, Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, and the mountain sooty Boubou among others. An experienced birder guide leads you to all the different corners of the park with a good selection of birds.

Boat Cruise / traditional canoe expedition

Twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera are the place you shouldn’t miss spending your evening while on a safari in volcanoes national park, you can take part in a 2 – 3 hour’s boat cruise that will expose you to different water inhabitants namely, the crocodiles and Hippos, plus several mammals, primates and birds on the lake shores that come to quench their thirst here.

The boat cruise is done in 2 shifts with the morning session at 8:00 am local time, and the afternoon session at 2:00 pm, though booking can be done upon arrival.

Dian Fossey Graveyard walk

In recognition of her sacrifice towards the conservation of mountain gorillas, visitors’ hike to Dian Fossey’s tomb, where she was laid to rest beside her best gorilla friend – the fallen debit after unknown assailants assassinated her on the 26th of December 1985. This hike lasts for about 4 hours with a fully loaded narration of the benefits of conservation.

Joining a group to visit Volcanoes National park

Group tours are enjoyed when the whole group has similar likes and dislikes, cooperates, and communicates freely. Therefore, before rushing to join, you will need to first make research about the different people in the group to see if properly fit in. Choices differ but the experience is always the same, a teenager will automatically not fit in the group of old people and the reverse is true. So, contact us at Africa Adventure Vacations to recommend you to an amazing group for the safari.

A maximum of eight people is permitted to go for gorilla or chimpanzee trekking in Volcanoes National park Rwanda.

Choosing accommodation during Volcanoes National Park Group Safaris

The type of accommodation you stay in contributes a lot to the quality of experience you will have by the end of the safari. However, depending on your budget, taste, and preference as well as the group size, you can choose either accommodation in or out of the national park let it be luxury, Midrange, or budget. Camping is another astonishing experience, more so if you want a close interaction with nature, campsites are available for hire at an affordable price.

Some of the most common accommodation facilities in the place include; Mount Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo lodge, Virunga Lodge, Gorilla solution lodge, Kwitonda Lodge. Muhabura Hotel, Le’ Bambou Gorilla Nest Lodge, Bishop House, and Da Vinci Lodge among others.

Finally, Volcanoes National park group tours in Rwanda can be truly satisfying and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity worth grabbing; you come empty but return filled with joy, unforgettable sweet memories, and good images.