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.

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.