Kinigi
The park headquarters and briefing point, with lodges on the volcano foothills.
Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Bamboo forest on the flanks of the Virunga volcanoes, two hours from Kigali — the most seamless gorilla journey in Africa.
Gorillas in the Virungas
Volcanoes National Park protects the Rwandan slopes of the Virunga Massif, a chain of five volcanoes cloaked in bamboo and Hagenia forest. It is the landscape of Dian Fossey's research, home to habituated mountain gorilla families and troops of golden monkey, and reachable within a morning's drive of Kigali.
Volcanoes National Park at a glance
- Destination
- Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
- Ideal for
- Short trips, honeymooners, first-time primate trekkers
- Wildlife focus
- Mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, forest birds
- Activities
- Gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, Dian Fossey hike, Musanze caves
- Access
- Two to three hours by road from Kigali
- Child policy
- Trekkers must be 15 years or older
- Best time
- Year round; June to September for the driest trekking
Volcanoes National Park at a glance
Gorilla trekking
Groups of eight trek to a single habituated family each morning, guided by trackers already with the gorillas. Terrain is steep but the forest is more open than Bwindi, and treks are typically shorter.
Travelling within Volcanoes National Park
Key regions
The beauty of Volcanoes National Park lies in its seasonal flexibility. These are the key areas that shape the experience through the year.
01 / 04
Bamboo zone
Golden monkey country on the lower slopes of Sabyinyo and Gahinga.
Bisoke & Karisimbi
Crater lake summit hikes and the route to the Karisoke research site.
Lake Kivu
A soft landing after trekking — terraced hills, quiet water, warm evenings.
Things to do
Volcanoes National Park experiences
Trekking here is bracing and brief: up through farmland, over the buffalo wall, into bamboo, and then an hour that reorders how you think about wild animals. The rest of the day belongs to the hills.
Gorilla trekking
One hour with a habituated family on the flanks of the Virunga volcanoes.
Golden monkey trekking
A shorter, livelier trek into the bamboo after a troop of endangered golden monkeys.
Community & culture
Village visits, coffee cooperatives and the Musanze caves below the volcanoes.
Travel with us
Journey with Enduata
Browse our tailor-made East African journeys. Completely customisable, we can cater to your every need — find inspiration or get in touch with our travel designers.
3-Day Full Kigali City Tour & Mountain Gorilla Trek
Discover the vibrant culture of Rwanda’s capital and encounter the majestic mountain gorillas in their natural habitat on this 3-day adventure. You'll begin with a guided tour of Kigali, vis…
Explore journey2 nights
1 regions
From USD 0
per person
4-Day Luxury Bisate Lodge - Mountain Gorilla Tour
This 4-day luxury private tour at Wilderness Bisate costs from $7,408 in low season to $9,697 in high season per person sharing. Stay in iconic bird’s-nest-style villas while exploring Volca…
Explore journey3 nights
1 regions
From USD 8,386
per person
10-Day Rwanda Double Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
Meet Rwanda’s Primates in their natural habitat on this 10–day Rwanda Double Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari. On this unforgettable Rwanda Primate Safari, you will indulge in gorilla tr…
Explore journey9 nights
4 regions
From USD 8,868
per person
FAQ
How do I get to Volcanoes National Park?
It is a two to three hour drive from Kigali International Airport, or a short helicopter transfer. Most guests arrive and trek the following morning.
How much is a gorilla permit?
Rwanda's permits are premium priced and strictly limited, with the fee funding conservation and neighbouring communities. We reserve them at the time of booking.
Rwanda or Uganda for gorillas?
Rwanda is faster and easier to reach with shorter treks; Uganda is more affordable with a wilder, more remote feel. We are happy to advise on the right fit.
Explore more regions
Begin
Tell us how you like to travel. We will draw the rest.
Every Enduata journey is designed one at a time, by people who live where you are going.