Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a cornerstone of conservation in northwestern Rwanda, protecting a critical portion of the Virunga Mountains. Established in 1925, it holds the distinction of being the first national park created in Africa, originally intended to protect mountain gorillas from poachers. The park spans 160 square kilometers of dramatic landscapes, encompassing the slopes of five of the eight Virunga volcanoes: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo.

The park is globally renowned as a sanctuary for the endangered mountain gorilla, which represents a major conservation success story. It was also the long-term base for pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey, who arrived in 1967 and established the Karisoke Research Centre. Her work, which brought international attention to the gorillas’ plight, is credited with saving them from extinction. Today, the park is part of a transboundary ecosystem with Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, collectively safeguarding over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

Beyond the iconic gorillas, the park boasts remarkable biodiversity shaped by its significant altitude range. Vegetation transitions from bamboo forests to Hagenia woodland and Afro-alpine zones, supporting a variety of wildlife. This includes the endangered golden monkey, forest elephants, buffaloes, and over 178 bird species, with many being Albertine Rift endemics. The park also features significant cultural and geological sites within its boundaries, such as the sacred Buhanga Eco-Park and the Musanze Caves, formed by volcanic activity 62 million years ago.

For visitors, Volcanoes National Park offers a profound ecotourism experience centered on gorilla trekking, where small groups can spend an hour with a habituated family. Other popular activities include hiking the volcanoes—such as Mount Bisoke with its crater lake or the demanding ascent of Mount Karisimbi—tracking golden monkeys, and visiting Dian Fossey’s grave. The Rwandan government actively manages tourism as a conservation tool, with initiatives like the annual Kwita Izina gorilla-naming ceremony and a major park expansion project announced in 2022 to reduce human-wildlife conflict.