Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri, Rwanda
The “Parc National de Volcans” (or PNV as it’s known by locals) lies along the Virunga Mountains, with 8 ancient volcanoes, which are shared by Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just a short two hour drive from Rwanda’s capital of Kigali, the park is a central location for exploring some distinctly Rwandan experiences. While a visit to the mountain gorillas is often at the top of visitor, the dramatic landscape also offers thrilling hiking and visits to the fascinating golden monkeys.
PNV is also one of Rwanda’s conservation epicenters, where many non-profit organizations base their operations. Visitors can pay homage to the legendary scientist and gorilla advocate Dian Fossey with a hike to her tomb or a visit to the Dian Fosse Gorilla Fund that continues her legacy of research and advocacy to this day.
Near the park, the bustling and vibrant markets of Musanze are a place to immerse yourself into everyday Rwandan culture. Go deep into the earth with Musanze’s caves – one of the area’s newest attractions.
Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The national park is known as a haven for the rare and endangered mountain gorilla and golden monkeys. It is home to five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains, and spans 160 km2 covered in rainforest and bamboo. The park was the base for the zoologist Dian Fossey.
The park was first gazetted in 1925, as a small area bounded by Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno, intended to protect the gorillas from poachers. It was the very first National Park to be created in Africa. Subsequently, in 1929, the borders of the park were extended further into Rwanda and into the Belgian Congo, to form the Albert National Park, a huge area of 8090 km2, run by the Belgian colonial authorities who were in charge of both colonies. In 1958, 700 hectares of the park were cleared for a human settlement.
Between 1969 and 1973, 1,050 hectares of the park were cleared to grow pyrethrum.
The park later became the base for the American naturalist Dian Fossey to carry out her research into the gorillas. She arrived in 1967 and set up the Karisoke Research Centre between Karisimbi and Visoke. From then on she spent most of her time in the park, and is widely credited with saving the gorillas from extinction by bringing their plight to the attention of the international community. She was murdered by unknown assailants at her home in 1985, a crime often attributed to the poachers she had spent her life fighting against. Fossey's life later was portrayed on the big screen in the film Gorillas in the Mist, named after her autobiography. She is buried in the park in a grave close to the research center, and amongst the gorillas which became her life.
The Volcanoes National Park became a battlefield during the Rwandan Civil War, with the park headquarters being attacked in 1992. The research centre was abandoned, and all tourist activities (including visiting the gorillas) were stopped. They did not resume again until 1999 when the area was deemed to be safe and under control. There have been occasional infiltrations by Rwandan rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda in subsequent years, but these are always stopped quickly by the Rwandan army and there is thought to be no threat to tourism in the park.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) runs several activities for tourists, including:
• Gorilla visits – as of January 2015, there are ten habituated gorilla groups open to tourists, allowing for a total of 80 permits per day. Each permit costs $1500. Tourists report at the park head office by 7:00 for a pre-tracking briefing. Once tourists meet the gorillas they spend an hour with them.
• Golden monkey visits.
• Climbing of Karisimbi volcano – this is a two-day trek with overnight camping at an altitude of 3,800 m.
• Climbing of Bisoke volcano – one day.
• Tour of the lakes and caves.
• Visiting the tomb of Dian Fossey.
• Iby’Iwacu cultural village tour
The majority of revenue from tourism goes towards maintaining the park and conserving the wildlife. The remainder goes to the government and (around 10%) to local projects in the area to help local people benefit from the large revenue stream generated by the park.
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Rwands Gorilla Trekking October 2013
Two days of trekking for gorillas and one day of trekking for golden monkeys in Rwanda as an extension to a Kenya wildlife safari.
Bisate Lodge – The Virunga Volcanoes and Golden Monkey Trekking
The Virunga Volcanoes in Rwanda are a biodiversity and endemism hotspot. Many of the bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian and plant species found here occur nowhere else on earth. The charismatic golden monkey is one of these. Its total global distribution is limited to this mountain massif where around 5 000 – 6 000 exist and where it is highly dependent on bamboo.
Groups of between 20 and 80 individuals can be observed feeding on creeper species as well as bamboo leaves and shoots in the forest. They are regarded as endangered, with every visit to their misty bamboo habitat helping conserve the species.
Visit Rwanda: Bisoke Volcano Hike.
Saturday 12, 2019, My Friends and I got an opportunity for hiking and discover more about Mountain Bisoke.
Mountain Bisoke is a dormant Volcano rising at 3711 meters above sea level with a spectacular crater lake at the top and it is one of the series of volcanoes that make up the Virunga Mountain Range which sprawls along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda & the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain Bisoke straddles the border of Rwanda & the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the biggest part, including the peak and two stunning crater lakes, lies on Rwanda’s side, in Volcanoes National Park and this adventure is one of the most memorable activities in Rwanda.
It is simply a 6 – hours hike including the 2 hours descending down to the starting point. Experienced hikers can get to the top of this mountain in a matter of 3 hours or even less and return to the base in about an hour.
Along the trail you come by dung of Forest Elephants, Buffaloes and Gorillas.
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Golden Monkeys
Golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri, Rwanda
Rwanda Travel Guide
Rwanda Travel Guide
Rwanda is a relatively stable East African country, and easily accessible from Kenya and Uganda. It is relatively easy, safe and simple to travel around. Its renowned Volcanoes National Park is home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. The park encompasses 4,507m-tall Mt. Karisimbi and 4 other forested volcanoes. In the southwest is Nyungwe National Park, with ancient montane rainforest that's a habitat for chimpanzees and other primates.
Rwanda is landlocked, surrounded by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Rwanda is not only the land of a thousand hills, but also a country rich in flora and fauna and stunning natural beauty in its scenic rolling and breathtaking green savannah. The country hosts some rare species of animals like the silverback mountain gorillas as well as unique birds and insects in the tropical forest of Nyungwe.
It's been more than two decades since the civil war and genocide of 1994 that devastated this tiny country, and it's come a long way, being now a member of the Commonwealth. Expect a warm and friendly welcome to a beautiful country, as well as security advisories.
Regions and Cities of Rwanda :
Kigali district
Northern Rwanda
Western Rwanda
Eastern Rwanda
Southern Rwanda
Kigali
Byumba now called Gicumbi
Gisenyi now called Rubavu
Gitarama now called Muhanga
Huye formerly Butare
Kibungo
Kibuye now called Karongi
Ruhengeri now called Musanze
Akagera National Park
Volcanoes National Park
Nyungwe National Park
Kinyarwanda is the chief spoken language in Rwanda. It is also spoken in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the south of Uganda (Bufumbira-area). Kinyarwanda is a language of the Bantu linguistic family. It is closely related to Kirundi spoken in the neighboring country Burundi and to Giha of western Tanzania.
English and French are also official languages, and many residents (particularly in urban areas) will speak one or the other in addition to Kinyarwanda.
The Genocide Memorial in Kigali is a good insight into one of the world's greatest tragedies. It's free to walk around but audio guides are $15. The Nyamata Genocide Memorial is a worthwhile complement to the Gisozi Memorial Centre in Kigali. Located in the town of Nyamata, 40 minutes south of Kigali on a newly paved road, the memorial is in a church where over 10,000 people were killed during the 1994 genocide. The Ntarama Genocide Memorial, just 20 minutes away from the Nyamata memorial, is also worth visiting. National Museum of Butare in Huye is the National Museum of Rwanda.
Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda is a large lake bordering the DRC, it's a nice place to relax for a week or so. Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park) , home of the mountain gorillas, and the setting for Gorillas in the Mist, author Dian Fossey's research. If you can afford it it's an excellent experience, and even possible as a daytrip from Kigali. Nyungwe Forest, in the southwestern region of Rwanda, is one of Africa's oldest and largest protected mountain rainforest.
A lot to see in Rwanda such as :
Volcanoes National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Kigali Genocide Memorial
Mount Karisimbi
Mount Bisoke
Mount Gahinga
Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
Lake Ruhondo
Lake Ihema
Lake Burera
Inema Arts Centre
Gishwati Forest
Ethnographic Museum
Kimironko Market
Kigali City Tower
Musanze Caves
Caplaki Craft Village
AmahoroIvuka Arts Studio
Murambi Genocide Memorial Centre
Nyamirambo Women's Centre
Niyo Arts Gallery
Nyabugogo
Rwanda Art Museum
King's Palace Museum
Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre
Volcanoes National Park Headquarters
Akagera National Park
Lake Kivu
Summer Palace Water Park
Akagera National Park
Foret Naturelle de Cyamudongo
NyamiramboKandt House
Gabiro
Mukura Forest Reserve
Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial
Nyamata Church
Mount Huye
Kandt House Museum
Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Sainte-Famille Church
Gorilla Statue
Bisesero
National Liberation Museum Park/Mulindi
Mgahinga National Park
Monastère SS. Pierre & Paul de Gihindamuyaga
Rwanda is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Rwanda. Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Rwanda.
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Virunga Lodge | Volcanoes National Park | Rwanda | Expert Africa
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