Volcanoes National Park is famous home to mountain gorillas, it is a tourism hot spot for travelers to Rwanda attracting many travelers from all over the world, it is Africa’s oldest national park lying along the Rift Valley region in central East Africa. It hosts 5 of the 8 series of the great Virunga volcanoes some of which straddle along borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the park is the most accessible conservation areas of Rwanda hence can be reached by road privately or using public means, it can also be accessed by air from the Kigali international airport.
How to reach Volcanoes National Park begins with first accessing Rwanda as a country, the journey starts with arrival at the Kigali International Airport. It is Rwanda’s major entry point situated in the city suburbs, entry to the country requires a visa. These are acquired online the process is completed with a valid passport at least 6 months to expiry date, yellow fever vaccination card, passport size photograph, confirmation voucher and itinerary from the respective lodges or tour and travel companies.
How to reach Volcanoes National Park is by road from the Kigali International Airport, a tour operator will pick you up by car from the Kigali International Airport, drive through the countryside of Rwanda, the backdrop of rolling mountains and cool weather is one of the most thrilling experiences passing through several tea plantations. It takes 2 hours to arrive at the destination while using a tour operator it is luxurious treats transfers are fine using 4*4 land cruisers, safari drones, tourist vehicles. Driving can be done by hiring an Uber from the airport to take you to Volcanoes National Park as it is a few hours to the park. It is also possible to use public means all routes pass through Musanze although the public means stop right in Musanze which implies that one has to board a cub to take them to park headquarters.
Flying to Volcanoes National Park can be arranged with Akagera Aviation, the scenic flight to the national park is experiential it takes 30 minutes to reach from the Kigali International Airport to Ruhengeri airstrip. There are no scheduled transfers by air hence helicopter flights are all arranged on a charter basis, there are hotels where you can land at their helipad directly for example the Bisate Lodge.
How to reach Volcanoes National Park may vary in time taken to reach depending on the method that you choose to use, popular activities of the conservation area include gorilla trekking, which takes place beginning at the park headquarters. The primates are tracked all year round best during the dry season, Golden monkey trekking in search of the unique endemics of the great Virunga volcanic region, these enjoy living within the park’s bamboo forest. it is a great moment to come face to face with the primates of the protected conservation area. Hiking the Dian Fossey is an amazing experience to indulge in when you get to the park.