In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat,” wrote the eminent primatologist Dian Fossey, “are great, old volcanoes towering almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest – the Virungas.”

Lying in the far northwest of Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park, a paradise inhabiting the steep slopes of the magnificent Virunga range, and a home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.

The park lies in the heart of central Africa, whose name is derived after the dormant volcanoes.  Volcanoes National Park is one of Africa’s must-visit destinations. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park protects some of the most unique biological, ecological, and cherished landscapes in Africa. Extending from sea level to 4507m high, the park encompasses the summits of five of East Africa’s dormant volcanoes – Mount Kasimbiri, Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Bisoke.

In 1929, the Belgian Congo expanded Volcanoes National Park into Rwanda, naming it Albert National Park, which was administered by the Belgian Colonial Authorities. In the 1960s, the park was partitioned as Rwanda and Congo attained their independence, resulting in the park’s size being nearly halved by the decade’s conclusion.

In 1967, American primatologist Dian Fossey abandoned the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo due to insecurity and created her study facility between the Visoke and Karisimbi volcanoes, now referred to as the Karisoke study Centre or Karisoke Research Center. Dian Fossey spearheaded the Gorilla Conservation initiative and galvanized efforts to safeguard gorillas from hunting until her assassination in 1985. She was interred at the research site adjacent to the tomb of Digit, one of the Mountain Gorillas that was once her favorite.

In the early 1990s, Volcanoes National Park became a conflict zone during Rwanda’s civil war, severely disrupting tourism until 1999. In 2005, to enhance conservation initiatives and gorilla tourism, Rwanda established the annual baby naming ceremony for newborn gorillas, known as Kwita Izina. This has functioned flawlessly thus far, yielding remarkable outcomes for the Gorilla population in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda 

This gem lying in ‘the land of a thousand hills’ is the best of its kind for any traveler interested in having amazing adventures and unique moments to cherish for a lifetime. For the longest time, the park has rewarded its visitors with enchanting sights of landscapes as well as setting one’s heart a flutter with elusive wildlife. Volcanoes National Park is an exceptional tourist destination endowed with beautiful scenary, rare wildlife, bird species, mountains, water bodies and many others. 

Tracking endangered mountain gorillas through the mysterious intimacy of the rain forest, alive with the calls of 200 species of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey is only one of the truly unique experiences in the area.

Within the boundaries of Volcanoes National Park are Buhanga Eco-Park, an ancient forest holding Rwanda’s most intriguing folklore and Musanze caves formed 62 million years ago after the last estimated volcanic eruption.

Volcanoes National Park is nearer to the country’s capital and easily accessible in terms of road distance compared to Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda which may require longer hours of driving. Bwindi impenetrable national park from Kampala is about 460 km approximately 8- 10 hours’ drive by road. Mgahinga Gorilla is 494.8 km from Kampala approximately 10-12 hours’ drive by road. While Volcanoes national park is about 106.3 km from Kigali, close to 2 hours’ drive on a smooth road from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.