Volcanoes National Park

Bucket List Destination

Gorilla viewing at Volcanoes National Park is extremely well managed and well organised – the Rwandan government recognises the financial value of gorilla tourism. With 12 gorilla families now habituated, up to 100 tourists can gather at the park headquarters each morning. However once you have been assigned your guide and head off to your nominated gorilla family, it does feel more of an authentic, personal experience. The guides work hard to try to allocate your group according to your level of fitness.
To learn more about gorilla conservation, you can visit the impressive new Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, close to the park entrance.
Although obviously the gorillas are the rock stars, there are supporting acts on offer at Volcanoes National Park. You can track the little-known and endangered golden monkeys in the bamboo thickets. It is also possible to hike up through the forest to Dian Fossey’s tomb, lying alongside the gorilla cemetery.
Consider visiting Volcanoes National Park towards the end of your itinerary, to allow your body to have had time to adjust to Rwanda’s high altitude, before you embark on your hike up through the farmland to enter the national park boundary.