Volcanoes National Park, the Primate jungle Africa
Volcanoes national park is located in the North Western part of Rwanda covering 160 kilometers. It was established in 1925 and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga mountains that is Bisoke, Gahinga, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo and Muhabura. Volcanoes national park is bordered by Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda. It is a home of the mountain gorillas as well as the golden monkey and is also a home to re-known primatologist Dian Fossey.
The Park was first gazetted as a small area bounded by Mikeno, Karisimbi and Bisoke and its main reason was to protect the mountain gorillas from the invading poachers that were roaming into the national park. Dian Fossey arrived in 1967 and set up Karisoke Research center situated between Karisimbi and Bisoke where she spent most of her time doing research about the mountain gorillas. She is mostly credited for her love and dedication to saving the mountain gorillas. However, she was gunned down by unknown assailants at her home in 1985. She was buried in the Volcanoes national closer to the research center amidst the mountain gorillas that became part of her life.
Things to do in Volcanoes
Volcanoes national Park has a range of activities and they include the following;
Gorilla trekking
This is one of the major activities carried out in Volcanoes national park. Most tourists to the volcanoes are always excited to embark on a life changing experience as they get to meet the mountain gorillas in their habitat.
In order to trek these gentle giants, one should observe the rules which include the following;
All tourists entering the national park for gorilla trekking should ensure that they are not suffering from any cough or flu as well as other infectious diseases because these could catch the mountain gorillas.
You are also advised to burry human waste in a 30cm (12inches) deep
The maximum number of visitors that are supposed to visit the gorillas is eight per gorilla group
The minimum age of tracking the gorillas is 15 years
Tourists are also advised to maintain a 7-meter distance from the mountain gorillas
Tourists are advised not to use flash photography because this may lead to a gorilla attacking and charging at you in most cases, they may think you want to start a fight with them
Tourists are only permitted to visit the mountain gorillas for only one hour
In case of any cough or sneezing during gorilla trekking, you are advised to cover your face and turn away from the gorillas because they can catch the flue or cold like human beings.
Cost of Gorilla Permit
A normal gorilla trekking permit costs USD1,500 and it is worth it as you come face to face with man’s closest relatives.
Golden Monkey Trekking
This is also one of the major reasons tourists travel to Volcanoes national park. The national park has habituated troops of golden monkeys and the most visited group is found on the slopes of Sabyinyo with over 100 individuals. Golden monkey tracking is made possible with the help of your tour operator that will organize in paying the permit through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and this can be purchased at USD100 at the moment though the price can change with a change in the government tax range.
