Activities in Volcanoes National Park

Golden Monkey Tracking

Less famous than the gorillas but equally memorable, golden monkeys inhabit the park’s bamboo forests, particularly on the lower slopes of Mount Sabyinyo. These endangered, strikingly orange-gold primates move in large, energetic troops, leaping through the bamboo canopy in a way that makes for lively wildlife viewing and photography. A golden monkey permit costs around US$100 per person, making it one of the best-value activities in the park and an easy add-on to any Rwanda gorilla trekking itinerary.

Volcano Hiking: Bisoke, Karisimbi, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo

Beyond primates, a safari in Volcanoes National Park is also a genuine hiking destination. Each volcano requires its own permit and offers a distinct challenge:

• Mount Bisoke (3,711m) is the park’s most popular day hike, a roughly 12–15km round trip with about 1,200 meters of elevation gain, rewarding hikers with a striking crater lake at the summit. The permit costs about US$75.
• Mount Karisimbi (4,507m), Rwanda’s highest peak, is a demanding two-day trek with an overnight camp near the summit, priced at around US$400 and best attempted in the June–August dry window for the clearest views.
• Mount Muhabura (4,127m) offers a full-day climb to a crater lake and sweeping 360-degree views for around US$75–100.
• Mount Gahinga (3,474m) is a less-visited day hike priced similarly to Bisoke.
• Mount Sabyinyo offers a more technical scramble along ladders and ridgelines to a point where Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo meet.

All volcano hikes are best undertaken in the dry seasons — June to September and December to February — when trails are firmer and summit visibility is at its best.

The Dian Fossey Tomb Hike

For visitors drawn to the history of gorilla conservation, the half-day hike to the former Karisoke Research Centre and Dian Fossey’s grave is one of the park’s most moving excursions. The trail winds through gorilla habitat to the site where Fossey lived and worked for nearly two decades, and where she is buried alongside several of the gorillas she studied and protected. The permit costs approximately US$75 and requires a solid level of fitness, though it’s less strenuous than a volcano summit.

Culture, Community, and Conservation

Just outside the park boundary, the Gorilla Guardians Cultural Village (formerly known as Iby’Iwacu) offers visitors a chance to experience traditional Rwandan dance, music, and craft demonstrations, often led by former poachers who have transitioned into conservation and tourism work. It’s a powerful complement to the wildlife experiences inside the park and a tangible example of how tourism revenue supports surrounding communities. Rwanda also channels a share of park revenue directly into local schools, health centers, and infrastructure through a formal revenue-sharing scheme — a major reason the country’s high permit prices are often described as funding a “high-value, low-volume” conservation model, and one more reason travel-conscious visitors choose to visit Rwanda over other gorilla-trekking destinations.

Each September, the park is also the stage for Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s much-loved gorilla naming ceremony, celebrating the babies born into habituated families that year and drawing conservationists and dignitaries from around the world. Travelers who visit Rwanda during this period get a rare glimpse into the national pride Rwandans take in their conservation success story.

Other Activities

Birdwatchers will find over 200 recorded species in the park’s forests and bamboo zones, several of them Albertine Rift endemics found nowhere else on Earth. Nearby, the Musanze Caves offer a very different kind of adventure — a network of lava tube caves that can be explored for around US$40 — while the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera provide a scenic, low-key detour for travelers wanting a break from trekking.