Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Five volcanoes, 24 gorilla families and a guide who grew up beside them.
Volcanoes National Park in north-west Rwanda has 24 gorilla families, and 12 of them are visited by guests every day. Permits cost US$1,500 per person for international visitors, with 96 issued daily. The park is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Kigali. It also offers golden monkey tracking, volcano hikes and the Dian Fossey tomb hike.
Volcanoes National Park in numbers
- Location
- Virunga Mountains, north-west Rwanda
- From Kigali
- About 105 km, 2.5 to 3 hours by road, depending on traffic
- Gorilla families
- 24 in the park, 12 visited by guests every day
- Permits a day
- 96, with 8 visitors per family
- Time with the gorillas
- 1 hour
- Gorilla permit
- US$1,500 per person, international non-resident
- Minimum age
- 15 for gorillas, 12 for golden monkeys
- Highest point
- Mount Karisimbi, 4,507 m
Permit rates for every kind of visitor are in our Rwanda safari cost guide.
A mountain park in the Virunga chain
Volcanoes National Park sits in the Virunga Mountains in the north-west corner of Rwanda. It protects the forest and volcanic slopes where mountain gorillas live. The same mountain chain continues into Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park has 24 gorilla families. Twelve of them are habituated, which means they are used to people being near, and these are the families guests visit every day. The park issues 96 permits a day, so no more than 8 visitors meet each family, for one hour. Treks start at 2,300 to 2,600 meters above sea level, and the altitude is part of the effort.
Most of our 3 and 4 day itineraries focus on this park, and you can see them in our Rwanda safari packages. For the wider country, start with our Rwanda destination guide.
10% of tourism revenues goes back to the communities around the park. The people you meet on the mountain, from the trackers and rangers to the porters and lodge staff, come from those communities. Read more in our sustainability commitment.
Five volcanoes, five different days
The park takes its name from the line of volcanoes that rise above Musanze. They stand in a row, and each one offers something different.
Karisimbi
4,507 m
The highest volcano in the park and in Rwanda. It is a two-day hike with a night of camping on the mountain.
Bisoke
3,715 m
The classic day hike. It takes 6 to 7 hours round trip and ends at a crater lake on the summit.
Muhabura
4,127 m
The second-highest volcano in the park, with a crater lake near the summit.
Sabyinyo
3,669 m
Known for its jagged ridge, near the point where Rwanda, Uganda and Congo meet.
Gahinga
3,474 m
The smallest of the five volcanoes in the park.
What to do in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking
This is the reason most people come. Twelve of the park’s 24 gorilla families are visited by guests every day, and each group of up to 8 visitors spends one hour with one family. The trek takes 2 to 8 hours door to door, depending on where the family is that morning. The minimum age is 15, and a permit is US$1,500 per person for international visitors. Read our complete guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda for the day step by step, or see our Rwanda gorilla trekking trips.
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkeys live in the bamboo forest on the volcano slopes. They are smaller than gorillas and they move fast. In my experience, the trek is shorter and easier than most guests expect. The minimum age is 12. Golden monkey tracking is included in any itinerary of ours that lists it. When a package does not list it and you want to add it, the permit is US$100 per person, and the current permit rates are in our cost guide.
The Dian Fossey tomb hike
The hike takes about 4 to 5 hours round trip. It leads to the site of the Karisoke Research Center, which Dian Fossey set up after she arrived in 1967, and to her grave. She is buried next to her favorite gorillas. It is a quiet visit, and a reminder of why the work of protecting mountain gorillas continues. Your park guide shares the history on the way.
Volcano hikes
Bisoke is a 6 to 7 hour round trip, and the walk ends at the crater lake on the summit. Karisimbi is a two-day expedition with a night of camping. Both climbs suit guests who enjoy walking and want a day or two beyond the gorillas. Weather on the volcanoes can change on any day, so we plan with that in mind. Speak with a safari specialist about adding a volcano hike to your trip.
Gorilla Guardians Village
Gorilla Guardians Village, formerly Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, was set up by Dr. Edwin Sabuhoro for former poachers. Most of them poached to feed their families. When he asked whether they would still poach if they had another way to earn, they said no. Today they host guests, and the income pays for food and school fees. A visit is an optional extra at US$25 per person. It is a demonstration, with a royal litter wedding, dances and a replica of the king’s house, not a ceremony.
What a gorilla trek day looks like
The evening before
Your guide files your fitness, health and family request form with the park.
About 6:30 am
Pick-up at your lodge.
Arrive at the park office
Be at the park headquarters in Kinigi by 7:00 am for the briefing. Permits are checked against passports.
Family assignment
Park officials assign your family that morning, based on age, health and the number of consecutive treks you have done. Nothing is guaranteed.
Briefing
Your park guide explains the family you will visit and how long the trek is likely to take.
Drive to the trailhead
25 minutes to almost 2 hours, depending on the family.
Trailhead
You meet the porters, whose hire is optional, and receive a last briefing.
The trek
2 to 8 hours up and back, with an average of 4 to 5 hours, and one hour with the gorillas inside it.
Back at the lodge
Most guests arrive between about 1:00 and 3:30 pm.
The full day is in our gorilla trekking in Rwanda guide · what happens during a gorilla trek · how difficult gorilla trekking in Rwanda is.
Where to stay near Volcanoes National Park
Most of the luxury lodges are in Kinigi, close to the park headquarters, and that is where we usually stay. In Musanze town, the luxury option is The Bishop’s House. We choose lodges for position, service and how well they suit each guest.
Ultra-luxury
Bisate Reserve
Four private villas beside the older Bisate Wilderness. My pick for its architecture and its close connection with nature.
Singita Kwitonda Lodge
One of the three ultra-luxury lodges we use near the park.
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
The lodge that is the main driver of the price of our 4 Day Ultra Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Safari.
Luxury
Virunga Inn Resort & Spa
The Bishop’s House
In Musanze town.
Sambora Kinigi
Mid-range
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Upper mid-range, warm and comfortable, with a spa and swimming pool. My pick for comfort at a lower price.
Ingagi Park View Lodge
Tiloreza
The best time to visit Volcanoes National Park
The park is open all year, and gorilla trekking runs in every season.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Dry | Dry | Wet | Wet | Wet | Dry | Dry | Dry | Dry | Wet | Wet | Dry |
Dry months. June to September and December to February give the driest trails. For couples, June to September is my first choice, because rain is least likely. December to February is also a good choice.
Wet months. March to May and October to November are greener, and the forest is muddy and slippery. Bring boots, gaiters and walking sticks, and hire a porter, who knows the terrain and helps on slippery ground. Weather can change on any day, so we never promise dry conditions.
Planning around the seasons. Book 3 to 6 months ahead, and earlier for June to September and December to February. From November to May, travelers who stay at least two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe can pay a lower gorilla permit rate; see the permit rates by season.
See also: best time for gorilla trekking.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali
Kinigi, where the park headquarters stand, is about 105 km from Kigali. By road the drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic, through Musanze. Airport transfers are included in every itinerary of ours. Most guests stay at a lodge in Kinigi the night before, so the park is close. On trek day every guest needs to be at the park headquarters in Kinigi by 7:00 am for the briefing. The exception is the exclusive permit, which costs US$15,000 and lets your group trek a gorilla family alone. If you prefer, your guide can give that briefing at your lodge and start the day from there.
If you are short of time, a helicopter transfer takes about 25 to 30 minutes. It is not part of the standard price, and the details are on our ultra luxury Rwanda safari page. A one day trek from Kigali is also possible, leaving at 4:30 am; see 1 day gorilla trekking from Kigali and our day trips from Kigali.
About 105 km, 2.5 to 3 hours by road
Growing up beside the volcanoes
The chain at sunset
When I was a boy in Musanze, our football field looked straight at the five volcanoes in a line. In the evening the sun went down between Karisimbi and Bisoke, and we played to that view. I still miss it in Kigali, where nobody stops to look. As a child I wondered how those mountains came to stand in a row.
The first mother I saw
The first time I trekked, we hiked for four hours. The first thing I saw was a mother nursing her baby. The baby looked at her, and she groomed its head. It was so human that I thought of a mother at home with her child. That is what I want every guest to take down the mountain.
The people who protect it
The families at Gorilla Guardians Village were poachers. They told the founder they poached to feed their children, and that they would stop if they had another income. Tourism gave them that. The porters, rangers, trackers, guides and lodge staff are all from the same communities.
Eric SabiFounder and RDB-licensed guide
Most guests underestimate the altitude and what it does to the trek, which starts at 2,300 to 2,600 meters. We send a packing list ahead, so you arrive prepared.
What I do not promise. I never promise the weather, how long the trek will take, how far the gorillas are, or how hard the day will be. It can rain in the dry season. Trackers go out before the groups to find the families, so in my experience sightings are close to certain, but I never call them a guarantee.
Rwanda safaris that include Volcanoes National Park
These itineraries include gorilla trekking in the park, and we tailor each one to your dates and travel party.
For a first gorilla trek, start with Rwanda gorilla trekking.
For lodges and a fuller route, see luxury Rwanda safaris or a private Rwanda luxury safari.
Celebrating something? See luxury Rwanda honeymoon safaris or family luxury Rwanda safaris.
Short on time? See Rwanda short safaris.
Comparing options? See all Rwanda safari packages.
Prices on the cards are guide prices per person sharing. Permit rates, lodge rates and what is included are in our Rwanda safari cost guide, and the payment terms are in our booking policy.
Questions about Volcanoes National Park
More answers are in our Rwanda safari and gorilla trekking FAQs.
How far is Volcanoes National Park from Kigali?
The drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park takes 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic. Most guests spend the night before in a lodge in Kinigi, close to the park headquarters, where the briefing is held at 7:00 am. A helicopter transfer of about 25 to 30 minutes is available for guests who want to save time.
When is the best time to visit Volcanoes National Park?
The park is open all year, and gorilla trekking runs in every season. The driest months are June to September and December to February, with the easiest trails. March to May and October to November are wetter, greener and muddier. For couples, we suggest June to September, because rain is least likely.
What are the main things to do in Volcanoes National Park?
Gorilla trekking is the main activity, with one hour in the company of a habituated family. The park also offers golden monkey tracking, the Dian Fossey tomb hike of about 4 to 5 hours, hikes up Bisoke and Karisimbi, and a visit to Gorilla Guardians Village. Our 3 to 4 day trips focus on Volcanoes National Park.
How much does a gorilla permit cost in Volcanoes National Park?
A gorilla permit costs US$1,500 per person for international non-resident visitors. It gives you one hour with a habituated family and is non-refundable once purchased. Golden monkey tracking is US$100 when your package does not already include it. Rates for residents, East African citizens and the low season are in our Rwanda safari cost guide.
What is the minimum age for gorilla and golden monkey trekking?
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, and for golden monkey tracking it is 12. There is no child rate for the gorilla permit, because the price is the same at every age. These are the minimum ages the park sets, so we cannot make exceptions for younger travelers.
Can I see the gorillas in one day from Kigali?
Yes. Our one day gorilla trek leaves Kigali at 4:30 am and drives 2.5 to 3 hours to the park. The trek takes 2 to 8 hours, including one hour with the gorillas. It costs US$1,950 per person sharing, with the permit included. We cannot promise a return time, because it depends on when the trek ends.
Can I see gorillas and golden monkeys on the same day?
No. Only one activity can be done in the park each day, so gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking are always on separate days. A gorilla trek takes 2 to 8 hours door to door and has no fixed finish time. The golden monkey permit is US$100 per person when it is not already included in your package.
Which lodges do you recommend near Volcanoes National Park?
Most of the luxury lodges are in Kinigi, close to the park headquarters, and that is where we usually stay. Bisate Reserve and Singita Kwitonda Lodge are ultra luxury choices. Virunga Inn Resort and Spa and Sambora Kinigi are luxury choices. Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel is upper mid range, and Ingagi Park View Lodge and Tiloreza are mid range.
Speak with a safari specialist
Tell us your dates, the number of travelers and what you want to see. We reply within 24 hours, usually within 1 to 4 hours.
Speak with a safari specialist
WhatsApp: +250 788 602 524 · Email: info@hopetoursafrica.com · Phone: +250 788 602 524