Volcanoes National Park

Welcome to Volcanoes National Park, a haven of mist-covered mountains, dense bamboo forests, and the captivating presence of mountain gorillas. Nestled in the heart of the Virunga Mountains, this Rwandan gem invites you on a journey of discovery, adventure, and conservation.

You will first see five immense ancient volcanoes, now covered in a dense green rainforest – these are the Virunga Mountains. It is here you will find the wonders of Volcanoes National Park – mysterious mountain gorillas, rare golden monkeys, towering massifs, bamboo forests, and pristine mountain lakes. You’ve arrived at one of the most dynamic national safari parks in Africa. No experience compares with trekking for gorillas and that heart-stopping moment when you come upon an immense silverback staring at you in the forest. Surrounded by adorable gorilla babies and the others in its family group, it’s a moment no one ever forgets.

Of the 1,000 mountain gorillas in the world, the Virunga area hosts over 600. The park itself is home to 12 gorilla families – each with a silverback male, several females and their young. On a hosted trek you can spend up to an hour in their presence – plenty of time to observe their family dynamics, snap pictures, and make lifetime memories. But the park hosts many other natural surprises – you can trek for rare golden monkeys. Take a trek to find a habituated troop and spend an hour or so with these shy but active primates as they curiously look you over while scampering overhead from tree to tree.

Other animals you may spot on your wildlife safari are the black-fronted duiker, buffalo, spotted hyena, and the bushbuck. And throughout you’ll hear the calls and catch the flitting colors of over 200 species of birds. The park was also made famous by the zoologist Dian Fossey, who fled from the troubles in the Congo to establish her research center here. Fossey studied the gorillas and created a conservation campaign to stop their poaching. She is credited with saving their population from extinction, publicizing their endangered plight to the world. Fossey was murdered by unknown assailants in 1985 and her story was told in the film, Gorillas in the Mist.

But Fossey’s conservation efforts continue. To publicize these endeavors and the wonders of gorilla safaris, the park began an annual naming ceremony for baby gorillas called “Kwita Izina”. The mountain gorilla infants born during the year are named based in the traditional Rwandan ceremony for naming human babies.