Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park is a captivating, biodiverse conservation area in Rwanda. The park occupies the northwest provinces of Rwanda covering an area of up to 160 square kilometers. It is an outstanding destination due to the breathtaking extinct volcanoes it hosts that add to the overall beauty.

The outstanding volcanic landscapes include five of the eight Virunga mountains, that is to say mount Karisimbi, Bisoke, Mikeno, Nyiragongo, and Sabyinyo. The slopes of these mountains are covered with moist evergreen flora that is a habitat and feeding ground for a variety of animals especially primates, Wildcats, and most notably the mountain gorillas.

Volcanoes National Park is a must-visit for adventure-seeking travelers and nature enthusiasts not forgetting those seeking to uncover the awe-inspiring beauty of the heart of Africa.

History of Volcanoes National Park.

The first attempts to conserve the biodiversity of the park resulted in the gazetting of the land as a small reserve in 1925. It was mainly to protect the critically endangered mountain gorillas from poachers who seemed so determined to finish even the little remaining population of them.

They were doing this through acts like hunting them down for their next meal, cutting down their habitat in the name of firewood, and establishing settlements. Volcanoes National Park was the first National Park to be created on the African continent and boasts as the pioneer of conservation efforts.

The park was extended further into Rwanda by the Belgians in 1958 though they faced a lot of resistance from locals. In 1967, a renowned researcher Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center to further study the gorillas which led to the habituation processes and opened the door for gorilla tourism activities in the region. Unfortunately, in 1992, Volcanoes National Park became a disastrous area since it was turned into a battlefield during the Rwanda civil war. Gorilla tourism was at a standstill until 1999 when peace prevailed in the country.

 Uniqueness of Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park boasts among other national parks in the country as the only National Park where visitors can have a glance at the mountain gorillas. The fact that it was the first National Park to be gazetted on the African continent further sets it apart. Travelers to the park therefore have the opportunity to get first-hand information on the species that have been conserved for decades.

Activities carried out in Volcanoes National Park.

 Gorilla trekking and habituation.  Volcanoes National Park is home to 13 gorilla families that can be trekked down by visitors. These are fully habituated and therefore free of human presence in their natural habitat. There are other families undergoing habituation processes that the travelers can gladly join. Mountain gorillas are the highlights of the park since most travelers to the park have the urge to indulge in gorilla tourism activities.

Volcano hiking.  This is yet another exciting touristic activity travelers can indulge in when in Volcanoes National Park. Visitors choose one of the five volcanoes to climb and enjoy the hiking experience.

Research.  Visitors interested in research about the biodiversity of the African continent flock to Volcanoes National Park since it is a hidden gem of concentration of a series of them. Guests can research the primates of the park especially the black and white colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and the rest.

How to access Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park is a two to three hours’ drive away from Kigali International Airport. Visitors drive through the towns of Rubavu and Musanze to access the park. Also, you

 Favorable times to visit.

 The dry seasons of the year are the most appropriate travel times to visit Volcanoes National Park. They are characterized by dry weather which aids uninterrupted hiking through the mountainous terrain and the thick rainforests.

The dry seasons take place every year from early June to early October and from early December to late February: It is however important to remember that the park is always open all year round for visitors and therefore they can embark on exploration activities even in the wet seasons.

The wet seasons also offer awesome experiences especially for the primate trekking since they do not move long distances due to the abundance of food in the forest.

Things to do in Murchison Falls National Park.

Murchison falls national park is Uganda’s largest conservation area situated in the northern part of Uganda in Nwoya district, the park is one place to find the so-called big four of the wilderness (lions, leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes) in the 1990s the park used to be home to Rhinos however following a lot of poaching and political issues there was poaching which led to the elimination of the animal species, Murchison is named after the greatest feature of the park Murchison, it is bisected into two by the  Victoria Nile forming the northern bank of Pakuba and southern part, at a certain time the park’s name changed to Kabalega national park during the reign of Idi Amin Dada however later following his downfall, it was named back to Murchison falls national park.

Murchison falls national park is well known for the great Murchison Falls, the magnificent falls is one of the world’s most powerful fall, the water dramatically squeezes itself into the 7-meter slit along the gorge, the plunge fall make a loud roar sound that can be heard even at a distance, the park is home to a number of wildlife species including waterbucks, bushbucks, Rothchild’s giraffes, oribi, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeests, hippos, Nile crocodiles, civet cats, jackals, and over 400 species of birds, most of them are endemics of the Albertine rift valley region. The hospital people around the park in the communities of Bulisa and Mubaku go the extra mile to put a smile on travelers’ faces.

Things to do in Murchison Falls National Park include game drives, these are done in sessions beginning in the morning at 6:30 am in order to catch early morning risers, this is the best time to do game drives, it is also a busy time for animals as most of them come out to graze and hunt for the carnivores. The afternoon game drive begins at 2:30 p.m. in search of games through the well-distributed game tracks of the national park. This is one of the few places where doing night game drives is allowed with guidance from a Uganda Wildlife Authority team. Game drives are conducted using 4*4 vehicles in order to beat the tough terrain of the African wilderness.

A boat cruise to the bottom of the falls is a must-do activity while in the park, it is one of the best ways to experience the Nile, the cruise goes to experience the fall of the famous Murchison feature, it is done on motorized boats starting at 2:00 pm, it takes -3 hours on the waters passing across the walls of the metamorphic rocks, together with basking hippos and Nile crocodiles along the sandy banks of the river, in the marshy swampy areas, you might be chanced to see the critically endangered species of the shoe bill stock.

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park, of the 1030species of birds that have been recorded to date, over 400 species have been listed in the region including the Albertine endemics, savannah and forest birds, popular species that may be encountered include giant kingfishers, Abyssinian ground horn bill, Malachite kingfisher, African martial eagles, sunbirds, piapiac, pelicans to mention a few.

In addition to the above things to do in the Murchison Falls National Park, guests can enjoy a balloon safari raised above the wilderness, cultural encounters with the local communities, guided nature walks, and chimpanzee tracking in the Budongo forest. There is available accommodation in the park and surrounding areas ranging from the best budget to luxury, Examples of facilities include the Chobe Safari lodge, Para safari lodge, Murchison river lodge, and fort Murchison among other facilities.

What do mountain gorillas eat?

Mountain gorillas are primate species in a few ecosystems of Africa, they are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla’s gorilla beringei beringei living in mountainous areas in Uganda they are found in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Mghainga National Park, in Rwanda they are situated in the volcanoes national park while in the democratic republic of Congo in the Virunga national park, these are the only places of the world to see the critically endangered species, they roam freely in the conservation areas without being captivated. The Bwindi impenetrable national park in the southwestern corner of Uganda hosts half the population of the gorillas they love within the four sectors of the park Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Ruhija.

What do gorillas eat? This is a question that lingers so many times, mountain gorillas are mostly herbivores in nature, being the world’s largest primates they need lots of food to survive, they feed on forest plants, dead tree backs, leaves stems, fruits, mushrooms and occasionally insects, since it is a high altitude zone, there is less of fruit and more of plants, the primates are specific on what they want to eat on a particular plant type, for example, they have been sighted stripping plants in order for them to get the inner part of the stem other plants like mimlopsis they take on the leaves. An adult mountain gorilla eats about 18 kilograms of food.

Mountain gorillas are not so water friendly and hence it is hard to drink water however the plants which they feed on are succulent enough for them to have enough water in their bodies for survival. Gorillas do not feed in one point but rather after consuming, they move to the next part to allow the regrow of the vegetation. They live in families of up to 20 members led by a male silverback, baby gorillas are taken care of by their mothers until the age of 2 years. The primates are territorial in nature hence it is hard to find more than 1 silverback in the same group, families consist of blackbacks, juveniles, and females, they nest on the ground which sometimes makes it easy for travelers to know the actual number of the primates as each one of them makes a nest except for the babies who share with females. They are playful jumping from one tree to another.

Mountain gorillas present an opportunity to experience mountain gorillas, trekking is one of the amazing things to do while in Uganda, it takes place beginning at the park headquarters, in groups of 8 you will be allocated a gorilla family to track, it takes 2-8 hours in search depending on how far the gorilla families have moved. Gorilla trekking is a strenuous activity that will need preparation both mentally and physically, upon meeting the primates an hour is allowed while with them later which you return to be awarded a gorilla trekking certificate, for travelers who would like to spend more time with the primate’s gorilla habituation experience is the most ideal thing to do as it allows am all day experience.

Golden monkey trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

Golden monkey trekking activities are some of the fascinating touristic activities that have taken shape and gained popularity in the past two decades among travelers in East Africa. This activity takes place in the Virunga Mountain ranges where these primates are endemic to. Golden monkeys are a subspecies of the blue monkey and there are other monkeys in Eastern Africa that almost look like these orange- and gold-colored primates. They inhabit the forests in central Africa, especially in the highlands. Golden monkeys prefer bamboo habitats and that is where they are usually trekked.

Golden monkey trekking national parks in Uganda and Rwanda.

Uganda and Rwanda host the endangered golden monkeys. They can be found in the thick rainforests where national parks have been gazetted in the past two decades to ensure they are protected and conserved for the next generations. The national parks encompass;

Mgahinga national park.

Mgahinga National Park is the only National Park in Uganda that hosts golden monkeys. The park is located in the southwest of Uganda in Kisoro district and occupies an area of approximately 33.7 square kilometers. Mgahinga spans 3 of the 8 Virunga mountains that are great habitat for the golden monkeys. It is on the slopes of the mountains that the golden monkey’s exciting adventure takes place.

Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

Gishwati-Mukura National Park is comprised of two thick primeval rainforests that is to say Gishwati and Mukura after which the park is named. The park occupies an area of about 34 square kilometers in the northwest of Rwanda. It is a renowned home to several primates and golden monkeys are a section of them. Serious tourism in the park started in 2019 and it is now booming due to the popularity of the activities therein, a reason why an adventure-seeking traveler should check it out whenever in Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park.

Sitting on an area of approximately 160 square kilometers in the north of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is a portion of the huge Virunga conservation area. It is home to five of the 8 Virunga mountains which are the exact place where the golden monkeys reside and their trekking activities are hosted.

Volcanoes are home to not only golden monkeys but other primates too, especially the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, l’hoests, blue monkeys and owl-faced monkeys not forgetting the beautiful bird species too, especially the East African endemics. They encompass green turacos, green breasted pitta, bar-tailed trogon, bush shrikes, African paradise flycatcher, African fish eagles, African green pigeons, African darters and jacanas.

Volcanoes National Park is a renowned one-stop center for golden monkey trekking in Rwanda and offers extremely sensational experiences.

How it is done and what it costs.

The golden monkey trekking activity enables the visitor to explore the forests in East Africa, moving through various landscapes on foot in search of exciting creatures.

Once encountered, visitors are allowed to spend at least an hour observing the golden monkeys. Taking pictures of them and learning several things about them. The tourist guides provide information about the genetics and other aspects of the lives of the golden monkeys which even make the trip more exciting and informative.

Golden Monkey trekking permits in Uganda can be purchased at $60.00 for foreign nonresidents, $60.00 for foreign residents, and Uganda shillings 40,000 for East African citizens and in addition to this you add the park entry fees. In Rwanda, the Golden Monkey permits cost $100 for the foreign nonresidents, $65 for the foreign residents, and Rwandan francs 4000 for the Rwandan citizens.

The most appropriate time to visit and trek golden monkeys.

Uganda and Rwanda are closely located near the equator though Rwanda is not crossed by it like Uganda. Due to that fact, they are blessed with two seasons every year that is to say the dry and wet seasons. The dry seasons are the best to traverse through the rainforests and mountainous terrain.

The dry seasons occur from May to September and December to early March.

Community tours around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is not only a concentration for the world’s only remaining mountain gorillas but also a bustling destination for the exciting cultures travelers need not to miss out when in Uganda. Community tours in Bwindi are launched to the exciting indigenous homesteads of the people who coexist harmoniously with animals. These communities play a big role in ensuring that the forest is always intact, blooming, and evergreen. It is indeed exciting and more satisfying to embark on a cultural exploration after one has explored the nature and beauty of the park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as the host of community tours.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park spans a large primeval forest in the southwest of Uganda in the Kanungu district. It extends up to 331 square kilometers. The park lies in the Albertine Rift in the western arm of the great East African Rift Valley. Bwindi elevates from 1160 to 2607 meters above sea level, an elevation that makes it an ideal habitat for a large scale of biodiversity. It is indeed an exceptional National Park with about 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. The National Park harbors several fauna species, especially primates. Another jewel to be explored in the park is the exciting local communities.

Communities in Bwindi, people, and cultural experiences.

Community tours in Bwindi are launched to communities that are scattered all over the four gorilla trekking regions that is to say Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija. The communities are usually visited after guests have trekked the gorillas. The sensational entertainment in the form of cultural dances, storytelling about their hunter-gatherer life, and the deep immersion of travelers into what it feels like to be a forest person even makes the trip worthwhile.

Community tours in Bwindi are launched to mainly Batwa people villages. The Batwa people have lived in the forest for the past centuries. They are an interesting pygmoid society, vertically challenged but showcase a high level of intelligence through their commitment to sustainability.

Community tours are conducted in the form of village works for example the Buniga forest walk, the Buhoma community tour, the Nkuringo community tour, the Nkuringo cultural center, and the Rubuguri village walk. The community tours are further intertwined with voluntourism where travelers participate in humanitarian work to help empower the lives of the society. They always pick a subject on which to volunteer ranging from maternity, surgery, caring for diagnostics and counseling HIV/AIDS and TB patients.

Best time to embark on community tours in Bwindi impenetrable National Park.

The community tours in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are always indulged throughout the year since the park is always open. The dry seasons however provide the best experiences since they are associated with limited hindrances. Visitors get to maneuver through the local villages with limited hardships. The dry seasons are usually on from late May to September and early December to early March.

How to access the communities

Travelers need to drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to access the exciting communities. They can be accessed through Kampala – Mbarara – Kisoro road A drive that takes about 10 to 11 hours for the 501.4-kilometer distance. There’s also an option of flying to the park where visitors can get on board chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro airstrip from where they can be received by professional tourist guides for the onward transfer to the park.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park.

Kibale Forest National Park is a known home of primates in Uganda, the forest is one of the few remaining tropical rainforests of Uganda situated in the western part in the Kabarole district, chimpanzee are the main residents of the biodiverse ecosystem plus 12 other species including the black and white colobus monkeys, pottos, bush babies, blue monkeys, endangered red colobus monkeys, white-cheeked monkeys, retailed monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, to mention few, there are animals present within the park although they are rare to see for example forest elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs. The forest trees rise 55 meters above the ground forming a beautiful canopy overlooking the Fort Portal plateau.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is experiential, the primates have been scientifically proven to share up to 98% of the human DNA, they are characterized by their social behaviors, intelligence, and the ability to use tools, the diet of the Chimpanzee mainly comprises plants, fruits, stems, they occasionally hunt small monkeys for meat and termites, these live in families of up to 100 members by a male alpha,  chimpanzee communities are communicative with cooing charters they are also territorial in nature, there are over 1500induviudals living in the Kibale forest, they are popular for their nesting in the trees not to forget their super playful nature.

Chimpanzee tracking has been taking place in Kibale Forest National Park since 1993, the primates were first tracked at the Kanyanchu visitor center, and to date going into the forest to find Chimpanzee begins here, a briefing is conducted by the Uganda wildlife authority team about the forest and how to generally conduct yourself while with the primates, the walk through the forest will take you to experience the best of the park the hike through the well-distributed trails takes 2-3 hours while with the primates after an hour of interaction and taking pictures you return to meet your guide. The primates are tracked in sessions in the morning at 8:00 a.m. and in the afternoon at 2:00 p.m. East African time, this is led through the game ranger.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park requires the purchase of a tracking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the cost of the permit is $250 for foreign nonresidents, $150 for foreign residents, and 150,000 UGX Charged to all East African citizens, in order to enjoy a chimpanzee tracking experience it is important to pack right for the safari, take long-sleeved shirts and trousers, waterproof covers for phones and cameras, hiking boots, Rian gears, and any other important items of personal nature.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is mainly complimented by the Bigodi Swamp walks, the sanctuary hosts many birds notable for the great blue Turaco, while here expect to view more species of primates, birds, and butterflies’ kinds, a crater walk around Ndali or Kyaninga would be ideal to explore on your primate safari. There is available accommodation around the park ranging from the best budget to Luxury Examples of facilities include the Kyaninga Lodge and the Primate Lodge.