Volcanoes National Park is situated in the northern part of Rwanda in the Ruhengeri district, it is popular due to its resident species of the Mountain gorillas, these are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla –gorilla beringei, they live freely within the national park without being captivated, the national park is part of the great Virunga volcanic region hosting five(mountain Karisimbi, mountain Sabinyo, mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhabura, and Mountain Gahinga) of the great 8 series of the Virunga, the park is an evergreen ecosystem with lush growing angelic bamboo forest, some of the volcanoes are shared amongst the neighbors of Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The national park was gazette in 1925, it is one of the oldest conservation areas in Africa.
The national park was made famous when they acted in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist” it stroked a viral knowledge of the critically endangered gorilla species and the great works of the American primatologist Dian Fossey, the growing bamboo forest of the national park hosts 30% of the mountain gorillas left in the world, they have been listed as endangered according to the IUCN red list, it is home to other forest animals although these are rare, shy and cannot easily be seen, these include spotted hyenas, forest hogs, Forest elephants, major attractions of the national park include the Mountain gorillas, Dian Fossey, Mountains, Birds of the national park, and Golden monkeys.
Gorilla trekking is one of the major activities done in the national park, the gorilla species live freely within the ecosystem, without being captivated, and the primates live in families of up to 20 members led by a male silverback there are 18 habituated gorilla families in the national park, each of these can be tracked in groups of 8 people, tracking through the tough terrain, you will require a physical fitness, it takes 2 or more hours depending on how far the gorilla families have moved, a gorilla trekking session is done while observing gorilla rules and regulations like keeping the 7 meter distance rule, guests with communicable diseases are not allowed in the forest, the activity begins early at 8:00 am with a morning briefing from the park rangers. Gorilla permits are charged $1,500
Golden monkey track just like the mountain gorillas you will assemble at the park center for a morning briefing, and explore the best of the national park, the life within the lower slopes of the forested bamboo region, they are beautiful creatures ticked in black and white, it takes 2-3 hours they are fast and you must take pictures, it is important to set your cameras ready. Hiking to the Dian Fossey tomb where the tombs of the great American primatologist lie, in 1985, the researcher lost her life in a murder Mistry which has not been solved to date, the hike takes 3 hours and on a lucky day you may be chanced to see the Mountain gorilla’s enroute.
Visit the Iby’wacu community, these are people of Rwanda living around the national park they are the guardians of the forest, and they will show you how the old Rwandan kings and queens lived in the old days. They are said to have been poachers who later on appreciated tourism.