Rwanda

Volcanoes

Q: What is Volcanoes National Park?

Volcanoes National Park is a success story for Rwanda’s conservation and communities. The rich biodiversity of the park is home to the Endangered mountain gorilla and the endemic golden monkey. The park generates employment opportunities, livelihood and infrastructure development, community projects and so much more.

Q: What animals can I see in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda?

Endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, bushpigs, duikers, spotted hyenas, a number of other primates and over 230 bird species.

Q: When is the best time to visit Volcanoes National Park?

Rwanda and the park can be visited all year round. The country has a warm, tropical climate, with two rainy and dry seasons. Whatever time of the year you choose to visit, make sure to bring a raincoat and boots, since it may rain at any time. Humidity is generally quite high.

Q: Where is Volcanoes National Park located?

Volcanoes National Park is located in the north-west of Rwanda, in the Virunga chain of volcanoes.

Q: What should I wear when gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Sturdy hiking boots are highly recommended. Waterproof trousers, jacket, a long-sleeved shirt, sweaters, long socks, rain jacket (especially during the wet season). Bisate will provide you with gloves, to help you hold on to trees, branches and avoid stinging nettles. A hat, sunglasses, a good walking stick, binoculars, and of course, a charged phone or camera to capture the magical experience.

Q: What should I pack on a safari to Volcanoes National Park?

As the name suggests, rainforests can be cool and wet so we suggest you pack warm, protective clothing and comfortable hiking boots. Also, a hat and lightweight parka or rain jacket.

Q: What is the weather like in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda?

Rwanda and the park can be visited all year. The country has a warm, tropical climate, with two rainy and dry seasons. Whatever time of the year you choose to visit, make sure to bring a raincoat and boots, since it may rain at any time. Humidity is generally quite high.

Q: How do I get to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda?

You will arrive at Kigali International Airport, which is located just outside the Rwandan capital. From here it takes roughly three hours to drive the 70 miles to Musanze, the national park’s closest village. Alternatively, a helicopter can be chartered between Kigali and Bisate, subject to weather conditions, as well as the model of helicopter used.

Q: What to do in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda?

Volcanoes National Park offers thrilling adventures: from wildlife encounters with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys to hiking up Mount Bisoke to see the jaw-dropping crater lake, or tackling the Dian Fossey trek. Bisate also offers guests the chance to get involved in our conservation projects. You can plant a tree in our 34-hectare reforestation project, and meet the local people who live in the neighbouring communities.

Q: How difficult is gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda?

Gorilla trekking involves hiking through difficult terrain, thick vegetation, water bodies, and hills and valleys - so you need to have more than a fleeting relationship with a treadmill. We advise guests to ensure good fitness levels and to bring comfortable walking shoes.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys the stars of the show.

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Encounter gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park

Spend one precious hour with the famous mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park. Grooming each other, climbing effortlessly into the bamboo. The young ones, playing, making faces, somersaulting over their mothers. Along the way, the sounds of myriad bird calls, and other wildlife, provide the soundtrack to this once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Ready to go gorilla trekking?

A visit to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is unforgettable. The adventure begins the moment you arrive at your luxurious Bisate Forest Villa - and gaze through a curtain of mist at the area’s two extinct volcanoes, Bisoke and Karisimbi. This is the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’; of warm, colourful people, rich and fascinating cultures, and iconic African wildlife.

Key Facts

Habitats

Wildlife

Weather

Volcanoes key facts

Bisate, perched dramatically on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in north-west Rwanda, is one of the most thrilling safari destinations in Africa, and has already racked up 34 awards. It is nestled in the perfect location to go trekking for mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and many other fascinating forest species and birdlife.

GEOGRAPHIC SIZE

160km²

BIRD SPECIES

+/- 180

MAMMAL SPECIES

+/- 189

BEST TIME TO VISIT

All year round

WILDERNESS CAMPS

2

Weather

Rwanda has a lovely temperate, tropical highland climate. Thanks to its high elevation, it experiences lower temperatures than one would expect of an equatorial country. It is warm every month, and has two rainy and two dry seasons. The mountainous north-west is generally cooler than the lower-lying east, and experiences about 886 inches of rain a year, with an average humidity of 84%.

RAINY SEASON

March to May & Oct to Nov

DRY SEASON

June to Sep & Dec to Feb

Key Facts

Volcanoes key facts

Bisate, perched dramatically on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in north-west Rwanda, is one of the most thrilling safari destinations in Africa, and has already racked up 34 awards. It is nestled in the perfect location to go trekking for mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and many other fascinating forest species and birdlife.

GEOGRAPHIC SIZE

160km²

BIRD SPECIES

+/- 180

MAMMAL SPECIES

+/- 189

BEST TIME TO VISIT

All year round

WILDERNESS CAMPS

2

Habitats

Wildlife

Weather

Rwanda has a lovely temperate, tropical highland climate. Thanks to its high elevation, it experiences lower temperatures than one would expect of an equatorial country. It is warm every month, and has two rainy and two dry seasons. The mountainous north-west is generally cooler than the lower-lying east, and experiences about 886 inches of rain a year, with an average humidity of 84%.

RAINY SEASON

March to May & Oct to Nov

DRY SEASON

June to Sep & Dec to Feb

THINGS TO DO

Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is ethereally beautiful, with extraordinary biodiversity, iconic wildlife, volcanoes and montane forests that few travellers have the chance to experience. Enjoy thrilling adventures traversing mountains covered in mist, tracking mountain gorillas, and seeing other magical wildlife and tiny creatures - a kaleidoscope of new sights, sounds and scents awaits.

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TRAVEL WITH US

Ready for a Rwanda journey?

A once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trek in the cloudforest of Volcanoes National Park completes your holiday in Rwanda. Here, encounters with precious endemic wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and environmentally conscious hosts inspire all who come to visit.

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Groundbreaking Bisate

Bisate, situated on 42 hectares (103 acres) of land, lies on the lower slopes of long-dormant Bisoke volcano, adjacent to Volcanoes National Park. Immediately outside the rock wall that marks the park boundary lies densely cultivated farmland taking advantage of the rich volcanic soil. It is here that our award-winning lodge and its groundbreaking reforestation project are located.

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JOURNAL

Volcanoes National Park featured stories

Longing to travel to see the mountain gorillas of Rwanda? Read our featured stories and discover the thrilling adventures that await on a trip to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Coffee hot? Comfortable? Enjoy.

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