Volcanoes National Park- Travel Tips
What to See, How to Plan & Tours- Natural Scenery
- 5 Reviews
Introduction
Nestled in north-western Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park covers around 160 km² of rainforest, bamboo zone and volcanic slopes, forming part of the iconic Virunga Range. The park is a prime destination for tracking endangered mountain gorillas while offering dramatic scenery and rich cultural experiences.
1. Why the Park Matters
Volcanoes National Park holds five of the eight major volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains—Mount Karisimbi (4,507 m), Mount Bisoke (3,711 m), Mount Muhabura (4,127 m), Mount Gahinga (3,473 m) and Mount Sabyinyo (3,669 m). The park’s steep forest slopes and bamboo groves create one of the last strongholds of the endangered mountain gorilla, making it globally significant for conservation.
Historically, the park is closely linked to primatologist Dian Fossey, who set up her research base in the area and brought attention to gorilla protection. As early as 1925 the region was gazetted for protection, leading to this area becoming Africa’s oldest national park.
2. What the Visitor Experience Looks Like
Gorilla Trekking
One of the primary attractions at Volcanoes National Park is gorilla trekking. Visitors join small groups (maximum eight trekkers) led by experienced trackers and rangers. A permit is required and needs to be booked well in advance—this not only grants access but also supports conservation efforts. The trek may last from a few hours to a full day depending on the location of the gorilla family, but once you find them you are allocated one hour to observe them in the forest. During the trek you’ll walk through humid forest, bamboo zone, often climbing or descending steep terrain, so reasonable fitness and suitable gear are recommended.
Other Activities: Volcano Hiking & More
Beyond gorillas, the park offers volcanic hikes, most popularly to Mount Bisoke’s crater lake or the summit of Mount Karisimbi. Golden monkey tracking is a lighter option, often accessible after the gorilla trek in the same area. Cultural excursions such as visits to the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village allow visitors to engage with local life, learn traditional dances and local craft practices.
How to Get There & Plan Your Stay
The park is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours by road from Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali, using fairly good tarmac roads to Musanze and then onwards to the park headquarters. For accommodation, options vary from luxury lodges at the forest edge to mid-range guesthouses in Musanze. Advance booking is advisable, especially for gorilla-trekking lodges. Best months tend to be the drier periods when trails are less slippery.
3. Conservation, Community & Responsible Travel
Visiting Volcanoes National Park is more than a wildlife encounter—it is a chance to support conservation and local communities. Gorilla permit fees feed directly into anti-poaching patrols, habitat protection and community development. Respectful travel is essential: trekkers must follow strict protocols (such as keeping distance, avoiding coughing/sneezing near gorillas) to reduce disease transmission risks to these critically endangered apes.
Local communities in the park frontier benefit through employment as guides, trackers, lodge staff or through cultural tourism ventures. This creates a sustainable model where conservation and economic gain can go hand in hand.
- Endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat
- Five major Virunga volcanoes: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo
- Gorilla trekking with expert guides and permits
- Volcano hiking and golden monkey tracking
- Cultural experiences in Iby’iwacu village
- Responsible tourism supporting conservation and local communities
Volcanoes National Park Tours
Operators offering tours in Rwanda
Attractions in Rwanda
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Reviews of Volcanoes National Park
Randy Lau - 5
Definitely need to visit at least once on the Big Island, pretty much all the main sites can be seen in a day trip. They even provide a short itinerary or longer one if you have time. West takes you through the steam vent and the crater lookouts, while east takes you through the lava tube, and all the way down to the coast and to the sea arch along with plenty of stops along the way. I highly recommend the petroglphs hike, which, while listed as 0.7 miles one way seemed more like 1.5-2 miles. We saw pretty much all of the main sites after arriving around 10am and left after 5pm. The visitors center is a bit small but has all the facilities you'll need.
Rachel Jans - 5
We spent from 8am to 3pm here because there was just that much to do. We really enjoyed seeing all of the different locations within the park, from lava tubes to craters. Lunch at Volcano house was so delicious. We enjoyed the short hike to the petroglyphs that was clearly marked. We were able to use the National Park Service app, no matter if we had service or not, which was super helpful and reassuring. The ranger was able to help us find a different area we didn't know about, where you have to leave the park and kinda drive down further. There are a total of 3 gift shops in the park so don't do like us and think there's just the 1 small one right when you walk in.
Simon - 5
Super fun! It's probably the best national park I have ever been to. With some short and long hikes, depending on what you want to do. I like how you also have the lava tube, not a long hike, so everyone can see it.
Estefany Mendez - 5
It was so much fun! There is so much to do! It is a full day experience, so plan a full day to stay in the park. If you are a Veteran, remember to bring your American The Beautiful National Park pass. Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking. So many beautiful hikes and good places to eat while you are in the park. The lava tube and the End Point hike were my favorite experiences there!
yai vongsaphay - 5
Absolute MUST see and visit. We bought our park pass online -it’s per car not per person entrance fee. Be prepared to spend the whole day there. We got there very early which was a good thing as we didn’t run into large crowds. There were a ton of visitors on tour buses. The visitors center has park rangers/guides that are able to advise you on which sites to see. They also have paper guides. Restrooms and gift shop also located there. There are port a potties at some sights. There is no food stalls so bring your own snacks and plenty of water. This park was beautiful. Take your time and enjoy the scenery. We cannot wait to return and do some hiking
