Mountain gorilla resting among bamboo leaves and chewing a stem in Rwanda

National park · Kinigi, Musanze District, Northern Province

Volcanoes National Park

Mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and dormant Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda's far north-west

Ambient sound · similar settingRobin-chat song in highland forest undergrowth

Photo: Magdalena Kula Manchee (@magdalenakulamanchee) / Unsplash

Discover Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park covers the steep, mist-wrapped slopes of the Virunga massif on Rwanda's borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bamboo thickets, Hagenia woodland, open grassland and swamp climb towards a chain of dormant volcanoes, from Karisimbi, Rwanda's highest summit at 4,507 m, to Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura.

For most travellers the reason to come is a single, unforgettable hour with a habituated family of mountain gorillas. Twelve gorilla families here are habituated for tourism, and every trek begins with an early briefing at the park headquarters in Kinigi. Around that experience sit quieter rewards: tracking the playful golden monkey, hiking to a crater lake, paying respects at Dian Fossey's grave near the old Karisoke research camp, and learning about present-day conservation at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's campus just outside the park.

Don’t miss

01Mountain gorilla trekking with one of twelve families habituated for tourism
02Golden monkey tracking in the bamboo zone
03Dian Fossey's grave and the site of the Karisoke research camp at about 3,000 m
04The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and its conservation gallery
05Volcano hikes including Bisoke's crater lake and the two-day Karisimbi climb
06Buhanga Eco-Park, an old forest linked to Rwandan folklore

History & culture

The story of Volcanoes National Park

A small protected area around Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno was created in 1925 to shield gorillas from poaching, and it is often described as Africa's first national park. In 1929 it became part of the much larger Albert National Park, administered by the Belgian colonial authorities across what are now Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 1967 the American primatologist Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Centre in the saddle between Karisimbi and Bisoke (also called Visoke). Her long-term study drew worldwide attention to the plight of the mountain gorilla. She was murdered at her camp in 1985 and is buried there, beside gorillas she studied, including Digit. Tourism stopped during the years of conflict in the 1990s and resumed in 1999.

The conservation work Fossey began continues through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which dedicated its Ellen DeGeneres Campus near Kinigi on 1 February 2022. Designed by MASS Design Group, it combines research and education buildings with a public conservation gallery.

Local life & traditions

The park is surrounded by intensively farmed volcanic soils, where potatoes, beans and pyrethrum grow up to the stone wall that marks the park boundary. Kinigi and nearby villages depend heavily on tourism as porters, guides, drivers, artisans and lodge staff, and Rwanda channels a share of park revenue into community projects. Each year the Kwita Izina ceremony, held in the Kinigi area, gives names to newborn gorillas and celebrates the link between conservation and local livelihoods.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Gorilla trekking is the core activity: groups of up to eight visitors are assigned a family at the Kinigi briefing, then walk anything from half an hour to four hours or more to reach it, and spend a strict maximum of one hour with the gorillas. Porters can be hired at the trailhead to carry bags and help on steep, muddy sections, which also supports local families.

Many visitors add a second or third day. Golden monkey tracking is gentler and lively, the hike to Dian Fossey's grave is a demanding half-day that RDB suggests doing the day after a gorilla trek, and fitter walkers can climb Bisoke for its crater lake or attempt Karisimbi over two days with a night camping. Birdwatching, cycling and village experiences in the surrounding communities round out a stay, and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund campus explains the science behind the gorillas' recovery.

When to go

Trekking runs all year. The long dry season from June to September and the shorter dry spell from December to February usually bring firmer trails and clearer views of the volcanoes, which makes them the most popular periods; book permits well ahead. The rainy months of March to May and October to November mean slippery, muddy paths and frequent cloud, but the forest is lush and there are fewer visitors. Mornings at this altitude are cold in any season, so pack warm layers and rain gear.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Gorilla permit (as published by RDB, Oct 2026): Foreigner: US$1,500 per person. Lower promotional rates for Rwandan citizens, East African citizens, foreign residents in Rwanda and African citizens/residents are listed on the RDB booking portal and are stated as not applicable from June to October 2026. Source: visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw ↗
Gorilla trekking minimum age: 15 years (RDB). Source: visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw ↗
Group size and viewing time: Maximum of 8 visitors per gorilla group; viewing time is limited to one hour. Source: visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw ↗
Reporting time: Report at 07:00 for briefing at the RDB Tourism and Conservation offices (park headquarters) in Kinigi. Source: visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw ↗
Gorilla etiquette (RDB rules): Keep 7 m from the gorillas, speak quietly, avoid sudden movements, do not spit or litter, and turn away and cover your mouth to cough. Visitors with a cold, flu or other contagious illness may be refused entry. Source: visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw ↗
Golden monkey permit (as published by RDB, Oct 2026): Foreigner: US$100 per adult; minimum age 12 years; meeting point Kinigi headquarters. Source: visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw ↗
Dian Fossey's tomb hike (as published by RDB, Oct 2026): Foreigner: US$75 per adult; minimum age 15 years; starts 07:00 from park headquarters in Kinigi; physically demanding. Source: visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw ↗
Ellen DeGeneres Campus: Opened to the public on 1 February 2022; private tours can be arranged through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Source: gorillafund.org ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Book gorilla permits early for June to September and December to February; they are sold through the official RDB booking portal.
Wear sturdy waterproof boots, long trousers tucked into gaiters or socks and gardening gloves to protect against stinging nettles.
Hiring a porter is inexpensive, makes the climb easier and gives direct income to local households.
Bring a light rain jacket and warm layers; early mornings at Kinigi are cool and showers can arrive suddenly.
Stay home or postpone if you feel unwell, as gorillas can catch human respiratory infections.
Modest, practical outdoor clothing suits both the trek and the conservative rural communities around the park.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Volcanoes National Park: food, markets & places to stay

Musanze town, about 13 km from the Kinigi headquarters, is the main base, with banks, ATMs, markets, restaurants and a range of guesthouses and hotels; Kinigi itself has lodges and simpler guesthouses close to the park gate. Other nearby sights include the Musanze Caves on the Musanze to Rubavu road, the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo to the east, and Buhanga Eco-Park. Kigali is a few hours' drive away by road, and most visitors travel with a driver-guide or tour operator.