Mountain Hiking in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a lovely destination hosting many natural features of the Rwanda, the backdrop of the rolling beautiful mountains of the land of a thousand hills. The national park protects 5 of the eight series of the Virunga volcanic mountains. The national park straddles along the country’s border with Rwanda and the democratic republic of Congo, the walls of the mountain are blanket is different vegetative zones ranging from farm lands, montane forest, bamboo forest , heath, and moorland, the dormant volcanoes in the national park include (Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Mgahinga, Mountain Sabinyo, Mountain Bisoke, and the Mountain Muhabura), these are shared with the neighboring countries along the foot base of these are populations of wildlife that call this home most notably the Mountain gorilla species.

Hiking the mountains will give you the best first impressions, with memories that will last you a lifetime! The rugged ridges of some of the mountains make it impossible to do the hike, however, each of these each of the mountains possible to be hiked from either side of the country hiking mountain Karisimbi. The summit can be reached in 2 days climbing the mountain begins early in the morning with a briefing from the park rangers, it is the highest mountain rising 4507meters above sea level hiking the mountain requires senior hikers due to the high steeps, Mountain Bisoke. The mountain is one of the most hiked in the national park, a hike to the top of the mountain will lead you to the best zones it takes 6-7 hours to climb and descend, the trail on this one is friendly to beginners as well, Mountain Muhabura and Gahinga can be hiked from either Uganda or Rwanda.

It is advisable to plan your trip during the dry season of the year as the main trails seem to be drier in December –February and June to September, despite this mentioned the park can be visited all year round, they give the best hiking experiences when arranging to hike it is important to consider physical fitness, hikers need to bring along hiking sticks, long sleeved shorts and trousers, insect repellants, camping gear and any other items of personal nature, it is an amazing experience of Rwanda, other park activities include Gorilla trekking in the national park this is conducted beginning early in the morning with a briefing from the park rangers, they have trekked in groups of eight per gorilla family taking 2-3 hours depending on how far the families have moved, Hiking the Dian Fossey, the American primatologist who lost her life in protection of the mountain gorillas, along the trail are possibilities of viewing many birds of the forest. The walk through the forest takes about 2 hours on a lucky day there are views of the forest elephants, warthogs to mention a few, and the Iby’wacu cultural experiences.

Volcanoes national park is located in the northern part of Rwanda, it is most sought after when it comes to the mountain gorilla species, and it is a prime destination with a touch of other activities and things to do while in Rwanda. It is approximately 2 hours’ drive helicopter flights can be arranged to the destination for 25 minutes from the Kigali International Airport.