Volcanoes National Park

Home Volcanoes National Park

A premier conservation area that protects the Rwandan section of the Virunga massif. The park holds the highest concentration of mountain gorillas within the Virunga range, with habituated groups distributed across its slopes. This is where Dian Fossey conducted her research, and the infrastructure built around gorilla tourism here remains the most developed of the three countries sharing this habitat. The park supports mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in forests that shift from bamboo at lower elevations to hagenia and hypericum zones higher up. Multiple habituated gorilla groups allow for daily permit allocations that exceed those of neighboring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Golden monkeys occupy the bamboo belt, moving quickly through dense vegetation in troops that tolerate close observation. The volcanic peaks: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabinyo, offer hiking routes that range from half-day climbs to overnight expeditions. Fossey's former research station at Karisoke remains accessible by foot.

Iconic Wildlife

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Black Rhinos

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Golden Monkeys

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Chimpanzees

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Mountain Gorillas

Park Highlights

Multiple habituated groups occupy different sectors of the park, with permits issued daily for each family. Rangers locate the gorillas before trekkers depart, and the hike takes you through bamboo and montane forest to reach them. One hour with a gorilla family allows observation of feeding, infant care, and silverback behaviour at close proximity.

The trail to Bisoke’s summit climbs through vegetation zones that change with altitude, ending at a crater lake enclosed by the rim. Steep sections pass through mud and dense growth, demanding full-day commitment and reasonable fitness. From the top, the crater opens below while neighboring peaks line the horizon in clear conditions.

A half-day trek brings you to the site where Dian Fossey lived and worked until her death. The station sits in a saddle between Bisoke and Karisimbi, accessible through gorilla habitat. Fossey’s grave lies beside those of gorillas she studied, maintained as part of the conservation history of this park.

The trek to Fossey’s burial site passes through forest where gorilla groups range, combining historical interest with wildlife possibility. Guides explain her research methods and the threats that gorillas faced during her years at Karisoke. The grave sits within a small cemetery where several gorillas, including the silverback Digit, are also buried.

Habituated troops occupy the bamboo zone, moving fast through dense vegetation where visibility drops and positions shift quickly. Following them means pushing through stands where the monkeys feed on young shoots and leap between stems. The experience runs shorter than gorilla trekking but brings you closer to a species restricted to the Virunga-Bwindi region

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