Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is located in northwestern Rwanda along the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, forming part of the protected Virunga Massif ecosystem. Covering approximately 160 square kilometers of montane rainforest, bamboo forest, open grassland, and Afro-alpine vegetation, the park encompasses five of the eight dormant volcanoes in the Virunga mountain range: Mount Karisimbi (the highest summit at 4,507 meters), Mount Bisoke (featuring a crater lake), Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Gahinga. The park sits at elevations ranging from 2,400 meters to over 4,500 meters above sea level.The park is internationally celebrated as one of the few remaining wild sanctuaries for the endangered mountain gorilla. Visitors can participate in strictly regulated guided treks to observe habituated gorilla families, as well as track rare golden monkeys. Beyond primates, the diverse forest habitats harbor around 178 bird species—including species endemic to the Virunga and Rwenzori ranges—alongside African buffaloes, forest elephants, spotted hyenas, and bushbucks. Additional activities include multi-day volcano summit hikes, nature walks, guided tours of the ancient Musanze lava caves, and visits to the Buhanga Eco-Park.Established originally in 1925 as part of Albert National Park, Volcanoes National Park is Africa's oldest national park. It gained worldwide prominence through the conservation work of American primatologist Dian Fossey, who established the Karisoke Research Center between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke in 1967. Her research and anti-poaching efforts played a pivotal role in saving the mountain gorilla population from extinction, a legacy preserved today through ongoing conservation programs, local community revenue-sharing initiatives, and the annual Kwita Izina gorilla-naming ceremony.