Five Volcanoes, a Dozen Gorilla Families and Africa's Oldest Park Lineage
Volcanoes National Park protects the Rwandan slopes of the Virunga Mountains, a chain of volcanoes shared with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Five of them stand within the park: Karisimbi (4,507 m), Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura. Its forests of bamboo, Hagenia and Hypericum are home to roughly a dozen habituated mountain gorilla families, the endangered golden monkey and a remarkable range of birds.
The park traces its history to 1925, when the Albert National Park was created to protect gorillas in the Virungas — the first national park in Africa. Dian Fossey began her research here in 1967. Today, carefully limited gorilla tourism pays for much of the park’s protection, and a share of tourism revenue goes to the communities that surround it.
Photo: Lionpock, CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to Do
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
The main event: a guided trek to a habituated family, with one hour in their company. Groups are limited to eight visitors per family per day. How permits work.
Golden Monkey Tracking
A shorter walk to a troop of golden monkeys in the bamboo belt — fun, fast and very photogenic.
Dian Fossey Tomb Hike
Hike to the ruins of the Karisoke Research Center between Karisimbi and Bisoke, where Fossey is buried beside the gorillas she studied.
Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi
Bisoke is a demanding day hike to a crater lake at about 3,700 m; Karisimbi is a two-day climb to Rwanda's highest point.
Twin Lakes and Community Visits
Lakes Burera and Ruhondo lie a short drive east, and community-run cultural visits near Kinigi share traditional music, dance and farming.
When to Go
Gorillas can be visited all year. The long dry season (June to September) and the short dry season (December to February) bring firmer trails and are the busiest months for permits. March to May and October to November are wetter, but the forest is green, lodges are quieter and treks rarely get rained off for the whole day. Read our month-by-month guide.
Getting There
The park headquarters are at Kinigi, about 15 km from Musanze and roughly 110 km — around two and a half hours by road — from Kigali International Airport. The road is paved all the way. Trekkers must be at Kinigi for the 7:00 am briefing, so most people stay near the park the night before. From Rubavu on Lake Kivu, the drive is about an hour and a half.
Where to Stay
Tours Including Volcanoes National Park
2-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour
The shortest way to see mountain gorillas: drive north from Kigali, spend one night near the park, trek the next morning and be back in Kigali by evening.
View Tour
3-Day Gorilla Trekking & Golden Monkeys
Track mountain gorillas, then spend a morning with the endangered golden monkeys that live in the park's bamboo zone — two primate encounters from one lodge.
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4-Day Gorillas, Golden Monkeys & Dian Fossey Hike
The complete Volcanoes National Park experience: gorillas, golden monkeys and the hike to Dian Fossey's grave at the old Karisoke research camp.
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6-Day Gorillas, Lake Kivu & Nyungwe Chimpanzees
A west-of-Rwanda loop: gorillas in the Virungas, the beaches and fishing villages of Lake Kivu, then chimpanzees and the canopy walkway in Nyungwe Forest.
View TourFrequently Asked Questions
How many gorilla families can be visited in Volcanoes National Park?
Around a dozen habituated families are open to visitors. Each one receives a single group of up to eight people per day, so daily permit numbers are small.
How long is a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park?
From about one hour to five or more hours of walking each way, depending on where the family has moved. The hour with the gorillas is in addition to the hike.
What is the minimum age?
Visitors must be 15 or older to trek gorillas in Rwanda.
