Parc National des Volcans

Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, the Parc des Volcans protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range - home of the rare mountain gorilla - and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.

An exhilarating trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virungas offers stirring views in all directions. Then, abruptly, the trail enters the national park, immersing trekkers in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colourful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, easily accessible and among the highest in Africa, beckoning an ascent. Eventually you reach the big attraction of this park: the rare mountain gorillas.

In the Parc National des Volcans (also known as Virunga National Park) you can visit four groups of gorillas: Susa, Sabinyo, Amahoro and Group 13. They are all on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). And because the mountain gorillas defy national borders, you can sometimes find the Ugandan Mgahinga troop in the Parc des Volcans.