Volcanoes National Park.

September 1, 2019
Destinations in Rwanda

To the north-west of Rwanda lies the Volcanoes National Park, which protects the Rwanda portion of the Virunga Mountains – a Transfrontier Conservation Area that includes protected areas in Uganda and DRC, and forms a complex of mostly dormant volcanoes. These include Rwanda’s highest point, Mount Karisimbi (4,507m); and the two active volcanoes – Mount Nyirangongo (3,470m) and Mount Nyamuragira (3,058m), both on the DRC side.

The park boasts almost 100 bird species but is more famous for being home to the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Although visited predominantly for the mountain gorillas, another interesting trekking experience is that of the Golden Monkey.

There are also other tourism sites and activities in the park and the surrounding area.There is a chance for Day Hike to the top of Mount Bisoke and its crater lake (below the crater rim, or a hike to the summit of Mount Karisimbi (the 5th highest mountain in Africa). The scenic and photogenic Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo and the nearby Rugezi Swamp are recognized for their excellent water-birding opportunities. Within the area, there are a number of community-based tourism tours on offer, such as

Village visit, Agro-production plants, ethno-botany tour or even local fishing using traditional methods; or simply sit back and take-in the breathtaking scenery of the area.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *