This is the most visited tourist destination in the whole of Rwanda. The journey to Volcanoes national begins in the capital city Kigali, driving through the beautiful rolling hills of the countryside with breathtaking views of the Virunga ranges. It is a three hours drive from Kigali to the park and offers a great opportunity to take photographs.
Several tourists come from different countries to enjoy different activities within Volcanoes National Park. Below we have highlighted some of the leading attractions and things to do here.
Track the Mountain Gorillas
Gorilla tracking is the most enjoyed tourist activity in Volcanoes National Park. In accordance with the Rwanda development Board (RDB), the majority of the visitors this park receives come to track Gorillas on a Rwanda Gorilla Safari. There are over 7 habituated gorilla families in this park and these include: Ugenda gorilla family, Umubano group Bwenge group, Karisimbi gorilla family, Amahoro gorilla group, Hirwa group, Susa gorilla family, Kwitonda gorilla group, Sabyinyo group, and the 13 group (also known as Agasha group). Coming face to face with these giant Gorillas within their nature habitat is among the most exciting wildlife encounters you will ever have in the world.
Golden Monkey Tracking
This is the second commonly enjoyed activity in this park. Volcanoes National Park has two habituated Golden Monkey groups, one with about 80 and 100 members and it lives at the bottom of Mount Sabyinyo. This activity is conducted early morning starting at Kinigi Park Headquarters and just as with gorillas, visitors are allowed to spend only one hour with them.
A Golden Monkey tracking permit currently costs US$100 per individual for each trek.
Bird Watching
Volcanoes National park is gifted with a great profusion of bird. There are guided bird watching tours led by English speaking guides who are very knowledgeable about this forests eco-system and the birds living here.
Visit the Dian Fossey Research Centre
This centre is found in between Mount Bisoke and mount Karisimbi. It’s here that Dian Fossey a great former research on gorillas carried out her research and was buried just close to her most favorite gorilla digit. It is a 3 to 4 hours hike that begins at the Kinigi headquarters in the morning. Currently every visitor pays US$ 75 for this tour person.
Visit Lake Ngezi
This small lake is located inside Volcanoes National park at the bottom of Mount Bisoke. It is a 3 hours walk to Lake Ngezi and offers tourists breathtaking view over the Virunga range of D.R Congo. Don’t forget to carry your camera and take some photographs.
Hike Mountain Bisoke
This is a 5 hours hike or may even take the entire day, basing on hiking speed and the number of stops you make. The ascent normally takes three hours and may need some level of physical fitness. They begin early morning at Kinigi headquarters and it costs US $ 75 per individual.
Iby’ Iwacu Cultural Village
The locals living in this area have a great skill in art and crafts. 
Willing Visitors can spare sometime and learn how to make different items from the local materials. Majority of this community were former poachers however, thanks to the great work of the Rwandan government, they were convinced to change their lifestyle and today are surviving on profits attained from tourism. During this village, you will checkout their traditional houses, visit the local medicine man who uses herbs to treat the people, visit the local king’s house, try some bow and arrow shoot, as well as enjoy cultural performances done by the local people and take some photographs.
Hike Mountain Mgahinga
This hike begins at the Kinigi Park headquarter and goes for 6 to 12 hours. The hike costs US$ 75 per individual.
Hike Mountain Muhabura
This full day hike will take you to the top where you will enjoy breathtaking of 5 other volcanoes as well as the “twin lakes”. You will also see a beautiful crater lake close to the peak. The unique vegetation will be a very impressive site as well. The hike begins at Kinigi headquarter at 7:00am and costs US$ 75 per individual.
for more information about Volcanoes national park, please visit http://www.gorillasafarirwanda.com/
