How to get to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali, Volcanoes National Park stands as the most prominent attraction among Rwanda’s national parks and other tourism sites in the country. The park was previously referred to as the Parc National Des Volcans (PNV), a premier destination and major refuge for the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, complemented by its location amidst five of the eight Virunga volcanic mountains that make up the Virunga Massif. The Volcanoes National Park offers both enjoyable and exhilarating experiences to visitors, thus making it a destination truly worthy of exploration.
The Volcanoes National Park is considered Rwanda’s smallest national park, occupying 160 square kilometers, situated in the northwestern region of the country in the Ruhengeri region, within the Musanze district of Rwanda’s Northern Province. It was recognized as a park in 1929. This park is part of the Virunga massif that also covers Virunga National Park in DR Congo, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Besides mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is home to other wildlife creatures, including the rare golden monkeys, forest elephants, baboons, duikers, and several bird species.
Volcanoes National Park offers different tourism activities, with gorilla tracking the main attraction. Other activities include Dian Fossey tomb hike, hiking one of the Virunga volcanoes, golden monkey trekking, taking on guided nature walks, cultural tours, hiking the tropical waterfalls, or just doing some camping in the forest. Experience the park’s bamboo forest interspersed with montane forest and grassland.
How to get there
There are several options for getting to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali it’s either by a scenic road trip or a helicopter ride.
By road: The scenic route
The most common and cost-effective way to get to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali is via vehicle. The journey is approximately 105 kilometers, which usually takes 2 to 3 hours by car. The drive provides scenic views of Rwanda’s breathtaking landscapes that are filled with lush, terraced hills, rural villages, and lovely valleys.
Road transfer options
Travelling by road can either be private or public.
Pros of private road transfers:
Private transfers are the best way to get to Volcanoes National Park if you need comfort, privacy, and ease.
Private transportation is provided by the different rental companies, with professional English /French speaking driver guides who comfortably drive you in the company vehicles as they brief you about the country and the park activities.
With private transportation, there’s freedom to have stopovers along the way to take pictures, eat, or enjoy a particular beautiful spot like shopping stalls, vegetation, and interact with the local natives. This helps to make your trip more enjoyable.
At times, private transfers to the park are by self-drive. In this situation, after settling your rental agreement with a rental company, you can drive at your own pace to the park, as you set your own itinerary. This provides a chance to explore the park on your own and carry out different activities depending on your budget.
Public transfers
Public transport is a good option for visitors traveling on a tight budget. Visitors take buses and minibuses (matatus) from Nyabugogo bus station to Musanze bus park. The buses are a bit cheaper than the private vehicles, but from Musanze bus park, you need to hire a 4×4 to transfer to Kingi park headquarters, the starting point of all activities in Volcanoes National Park.
Road conditions to the park.
The road from Kigali to Musanze is well-paved and maintained, which makes driving so easy. The road has many blind curves /corners, thus the need for extra care and maintaining the desired speed limit while driving. The driving speed in Rwanda is 60 km/hr, so as you plan to travel to Volcanoes National Park for activities like gorilla tracking, budget your time accordingly.
Some parts of the road from Musanze town to the park headquarters (Kinigi) are bumpy with varying terrain. A 4×4 is highly recommended, mainly in the rainy season.
By Air: The aerial route.
This is the quickest means of transport to Volcanoes National Park.
If you need to get to Volcanoes National Park quickly or just want to make your trip something luxurious, a helicopter ride is a great choice. Flights are organized by companies like Akagera Aviation. The flight trip lasts about 25-30 minutes from Kigali International Airport to Ruhengeri Airstrip provides stunning aerial views of Kigali city and the Virunga Mountains, and the land around them.
Pros of air transfers.
A flight provides memorable aerial views. You will see the beautiful Rwanda, the green hills, the winding rivers, and other freshwater bodies in the country.
It’s the quickest way to reach your gorilla tracking destination. On landing in Ruhengeri, you need to hire a 4×4 vehicle for a transfer to the park center.
Though the flight cost seems higher than using road transport, the experience is extraordinary and so priceless to adventure/nature lovers. Depending on your budget, you can opt for a one-way flight transfer to be in time for your tracking adventure and return to Kigali with a vehicle.
Tips about travelling to Volcanoes National Park
If you booked gorilla tracking or any other activity that starts in the morning, you should be at the park center, Kinigi, by 7 am for a briefing. If you are driving from Kigali, the set off time should be 4 am, while with a flight set off at 6 am. Driving time is 2- 3hours and flight time is 25-30 minutes.
The weather in Volcanoes National Park is unpredictable, so you should pack warm clothing, waterproof jackets, and good hiking gear to navigate some tricky/slippery parts of the hiking trails.
Tracking permits should be booked in advance to avoid last-minute inconveniences. Travelers are advised to book their permits at least 3 months before the tracking date. This is because the competition is so stiff during the peak season, accommodations also fill up quickly and transportation costs are high. Always consider a trusted tour agent for all your bookings to Volcanoes National Park.
In conclusion:
Accessing Volcanoes National Park from Kigali is a reasonably great opportunity to witness Rwanda’s natural splendor up close, whether you decide on the scenic broad trip or the luxurious helicopter ride, the journey to the park, home to the renowned mountain gorillas, is part of the adventure that promises a memorable life experience.