Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda: Gorilla Trekking and Travel Guide

Volcanoes National Park is a 160-square-kilometre park in north-west Rwanda, about 110 km and two to three hours by road from Kigali. It protects five of the eight Virunga volcanoes and is the only place in Rwanda where you can trek mountain gorillas. The same park also offers golden monkey tracking, the hike up Mount Bisoke and the walk to Dian Fossey's grave. The base for all of it is the town of Musanze.

This guide covers what to do in the park, how to get there, when to go and how tourism supports it. It is part of our complete guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Fees and rules were checked in October 2026.

The park lies in the Virunga mountains on Rwanda's border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The headquarters are in Kinigi, a short drive from Musanze. From Kigali International Airport, the road to Musanze is paved and takes two to three hours, depending on traffic. Gorilla trekkers report at the RDB office in Kinigi at 7:00 a.m., so we suggest sleeping in or near Musanze the night before. Unlike many safari destinations, there is no domestic flight and no long dirt road. Some travellers land in the morning and are in the foothills of the volcanoes by the afternoon.

This is the main reason people come. Groups of up to eight visitors trek with rangers to a habituated family and spend one hour with it. The walk lasts 30 minutes to four hours or more. A permit for international visitors costs US$1,500 per person (RDB, checked October 2026). Read how to book a permit and our gorilla trekking tips.

Golden monkeys live in the bamboo forest at lower elevations. They are small, fast and active, so tracking is different from gorilla trekking. It has its own permit, and many visitors do it on the day after the gorillas. Read our golden monkey trekking guide, or see the 4-day golden monkey tracking tour.

Mount Bisoke rises to about 3,700 metres and has a crater lake at the top. The hike takes five hours to a full day, depending on your pace and the weather. The walk to Dian Fossey's grave runs on the saddle between Bisoke and Karisimbi. Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center there in 1967, and she is buried near Digit, the gorilla poachers killed in 1977. See the guide to visiting Dian Fossey's grave, the 3-day Mount Bisoke hike and the 4-day gorilla trek and Dian Fossey grave hike.

Around Musanze you can visit Buhanga Eco-Park, the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, community projects and cultural villages. Our guide to cultural experiences in Rwanda lists options.

The gorillas and golden monkeys are in the park all year, so the question is the state of the trails. The drier months, June to September and December to February, give firmer paths and clearer views. The wetter months, March to May and October to November, are greener and quieter but muddier. The forest is cool and damp in every season, so bring a rain jacket. Our packing list covers what to wear.

Protection of this area goes back to 1925, when the Belgian colonial administration created Albert National Park across the Rwandan and Congolese sides of the Virunga mountains. Today the Rwanda Development Board manages the Rwandan park. Permit income pays for rangers and trackers. In addition, RDB shares 10 per cent of park tourism revenue with communities near the park, which funds schools, health centres and water supplies. The IUCN moved mountain gorillas from Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2018, and the last full censuses counted about 1,060 animals across the Virunga volcanoes and Bwindi.

We add to this with our own projects: the 1k Trees ReGreen Initiative, where guests plant and name trees near the volcanoes, and visits to the Gorilla Guardians on our 7-day Signature Journey.

We suggest at least three nights around Musanze: one before the gorilla trek, one after, and one for a second activity such as golden monkeys, Bisoke or a cultural visit. Many travellers then combine the park with Nyungwe for chimpanzees, Akagera for savanna wildlife or Lake Kivu for rest. See the 5-day gorilla trekking and Akagera safari and the 6-day gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking.

• Travellers who want gorillas and a second primate or hiking activity in the same area
• Couples and families with teenagers aged 15 and over
• Visitors on a short trip, because the park is close to Kigali

• Travellers who dislike steep, muddy walking
• Those who want a classic big-game safari, for which Akagera is a better fit

• Driving up from Kigali on the morning of the trek instead of sleeping near Musanze.
• Planning only one night, so there is no spare day if the weather turns.
• Underestimating the altitude and the mud.
• Not booking the golden monkey permit separately.
• Thinking the park is only about gorillas.

Yes, if you want to see mountain gorillas or golden monkeys, or to hike a volcano. It is also easy to reach from Kigali.

The walk takes 30 minutes to four hours or more, followed by one hour with the gorillas.

Waterproof boots, long trousers, a long-sleeved top, a rain jacket and light gloves.

Yes. Trained rangers and guides lead every activity. See our guide to safety in Rwanda.

Tell us what you want to do in the park and how many days you have, and our tour specialist can design a private or small-group trip. Talk to Our Tour Specialist.

Sources: Rwanda Development Board, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.